Criminal Procedure

States reconsider the permanent sanctions of child abuse registries

Just one phone call accusing someone of child abuse, whether it turns out to be true or not, can mark that person for life, slapping them with a host of collateral consequences outside of the criminal justice system.

Jun 1, 2023 12:01 AM CDT

Lewis Brisbois report cited as Texas AG heads to state Senate trial after impeachment

Impeached Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton had a legitimate reason to fire whistleblowers, according to a tweet by his office citing a law firm report backing up that claim.

May 30, 2023 10:22 AM CDT

Ex-lawyer Murdaugh, in prison for murder, is charged with stealing from clients

A disbarred lawyer who is serving a life sentence for the murder of his wife and one of his sons has been indicted on federal charges for allegedly stealing money from clients and his housekeeper’s family.

May 26, 2023 12:08 PM CDT

‘Jury Duty’ offers some realism hidden in the absurdity

My sister is a huge true-crime fan (shoutout, Ivy). She is professedly obsessed, even to the point that her favorite streaming platform is ID Go. She’s always been intelligent and curious. I think her brother being a career defense attorney might influence her intrigue. Maybe I shouldn’t flatter myself, though.

May 25, 2023 2:21 PM CDT

State investigators accuse Texas AG of abuse of office in public hearing

Investigators outlined allegations of abuse of office against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in a public hearing by a GOP-led Texas House of Representatives panel in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday.

May 25, 2023 9:34 AM CDT

Lawyer says community service isn’t ‘viable,’ chooses jail for spitting misdemeanor

A Wisconsin lawyer chose jail over community service Tuesday for spitting on a Black teenager during a 2020 protest.

May 24, 2023 3:56 PM CDT

Trump’s post-trial sexual assault denials are relevant in separate defamation suit, lawyer for accuser says

A lawyer for the woman who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual assault told a federal judge Monday that Trump’s post-trial comments denying the incident are relevant in a separate pending lawsuit against Trump.

May 23, 2023 10:48 AM CDT

Questions remain after manslaughter charges in New York subway killing

There are still plenty of questions surrounding the killing of a homeless man on a New York City subway May 1. The Manhattan district attorney’s office in New York has filed second-degree manslaughter charges against 24-year-old Marine veteran Daniel Penny, but the debate continues over the delayed response by police and prosecutors.

May 18, 2023 8:49 AM CDT

False-records case against Trump ‘stands apart,’ newspaper review finds

The felony business-records case against former President Donald Trump “stands apart” because the indictment does not include any separate charges, according to the New York Times, which reviewed about 30 such cases.

May 9, 2023 1:56 PM CDT

Top South Carolina court vacates ‘phantom order’ granting early release of convicted murderer

The South Carolina Supreme Court acted “in rare haste” when it vacated a judge’s secret order for the release of a convicted murderer 16 years before the end of his sentence, according to a published report.

May 3, 2023 8:42 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: ‘State takeover’ of city policing challenged; lawyers sentenced in trip-and-fall scheme

NAACP sues over ‘state takeover’ of city policing, courts The NAACP has filed a lawsuit challenging two state laws that “represent a state takeover of Jackson,” Mississippi, a predominantly Black city, according to a press release. One law expands the jurisdiction of the Mississippi Capitol police to act as a…

Apr 28, 2023 2:49 PM CDT

Lawyer-turned-playwright celebrates Broadway debut with powerful legal drama

Prima Facie is a new one-woman play on Broadway, centered on an ambitious lawyer who, after building her reputation representing men accused of rape, must navigate the same legal system to seek justice for herself after her sexual assault.

Apr 26, 2023 8:26 AM CDT

‘Bluey’ and teaching your children about the legal system

An episode of the TV show “Bluey” provided columnist Adam Banner an excellent opportunity to talk with his son about court proceedings, how you can tell when someone isn’t being honest, and the importance of telling the truth.

Apr 25, 2023 12:38 PM CDT

Former prosecutor gets prison time for stalking by subpoena

A former homicide prosecutor in Baltimore has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for using subpoenas to obtain confidential phone records that provided personal information about two former girlfriends.

Apr 24, 2023 12:01 PM CDT

Through overseas currency exchanges, California deputy DA helps online romance scam victims get their money back

In the criminal justice world, pig butchering refers to bacon—but not literally. Instead, it’s a term used to describe scamming someone online out of all their money through promises of romance and cryptocurrency windfalls, says Erin West, a prosecutor in the Santa Clara County, California, district attorney’s office.

Apr 24, 2023 8:40 AM CDT