Afternoon Briefs: Judge says she’d castrate defendant if law permitted it; Schulte Roth sued for alleged bias
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Judge says she would castrate man if law allowed it
A judge in Oklahoma City sentenced a man who installed home security systems to life in prison for putting secret cameras in clients’ bedrooms and bathrooms to make videos of girls. Judge Amy Palumbo told the defendant, Ryan Alden, that she would have him castrated if the law allowed it. (KFOR, the Associated Press)
Schulte Roth sued for alleged bias
A facilities clerk at Schulte Roth & Zabel has filed a lawsuit claiming managers did nothing to stop sexist behavior, homophobic remarks, and discriminatory comments about his religion and national origin. When Sebastian Alonzo referred to the behavior on his self-evaluation, he was told that he was being too sensitive and too emotional, his suit alleges. The law firm said it investigated Alonzo’s allegations, as did the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which declined to act. (The New York Law Journal, Aug. 20 lawsuit)
Special prosecutor appointed in Jussie Smollett case
A Chicago judge has appointed former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb to investigate the handling of the case against actor Jussie Smollett, who was accused of faking an attack on himself and reporting it as a hate crime. Prosecutors later dropped the charges. Webb, co-chair of Winston & Strawn, will handle the case pro bono, though he will charge for out-of-pocket costs. He will investigate whether Smollett or anyone else engaged in any wrongdoing and whether Smollett deserves further prosecution. (The Chicago Tribune here and here)
Navy lawyer who represents al-Qaida suspect is denied promotion
A Navy lawyer and Georgetown University law grad who represents an al-Qaida suspect was recently passed over for a promotion. Allies of Lt. Alaric Piette think the snub was retaliation for his representation of the man accused of orchestrating the attack on the USS Cole. Every civilian lawyer on the defense team quit after a microphone was found in a client meeting room. Piette repeatedly objected to handling the case on his own, citing his lack of death penalty experience. (The New York Times)
Judge grants US request to force-feed detained immigrant
U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw of San Diego granted an emergency government request Thursday to force-feed a detained Russian immigrant on a hunger strike. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
