Criminal Procedure

Afternoon Briefs: At least 86 judges reject election claims; granddaughter of Biden joins BigLaw

At least 86 judges reject election claims At least 86 judges have rejected claims by President Donald Trump or his supporters in election lawsuits, according to a count published Dec. 12 by the Washington Post. “The dozens of opinions serve as a resounding reaffirmation of the judiciary’s nonpartisan commitment to…

Dec 14, 2020 4:39 PM CST

Does CBS series ‘All Rise’ realistically portray the pandemic-plagued legal system?

“Every time I walk into a crowded area with a large number of masked individuals, I have to remind myself this isn’t some Orwellian dimension; this is reality,” writes Oklahoma lawyer Adam Banner.

Dec 10, 2020 9:30 AM CST

AG Barr appoints special counsel to investigate illegality in probe of Russian election influence

U.S. Attorney General William Barr disclosed Tuesday that he has appointed Connecticut U.S. Attorney John Durham as a special counsel to investigate any illegality by officials in the federal probe into Russian election influence in 2016.

Dec 2, 2020 11:03 AM CST

DOJ probed possible bid to pay for presidential pardon, unsealed opinion says

The Department of Justice has investigated whether an individual offered a substantial political contribution in exchange for a presidential pardon, according to a redacted opinion released Tuesday and unsealed by Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell.

Dec 2, 2020 9:44 AM CST

Litigant accused in strangulation death of suburban Chicago lawyer lands on most-wanted list

A lawsuit defendant wanted in the strangulation death of a lawyer in the Chicago suburb of Northbrook, Illinois, has been added to the 15 Most Wanted list of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Dec 1, 2020 2:35 PM CST

Bail reform in this county didn’t have any impact on new criminal activity, new study says

Bail reform in the county that includes Chicago had no impact on new criminal activity or violent criminal activity of defendants who were released before trial, according to a new study.

Nov 24, 2020 12:39 PM CST

Can being forced to listen to ‘Baby Shark’ be considered cruel and unusual punishment?

I can’t pinpoint exactly what makes the song so intolerable after repeated listens. All I know is I’m not alone. Other adults have realized “Baby Shark” can be weaponized, and they are using it to their advantage.

Nov 24, 2020 9:05 AM CST

2 justices dissent over Supreme Court’s refusal to restore COVID-19 safety steps at ‘tinderbox’ prison

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied a request by two older inmates at a Texas geriatric prison to reinstate a judge’s order requiring COVID-19 safety measures.

Nov 17, 2020 9:50 AM CST

Voters across US approve measures on police reform and criminal justice

Ballot measures intended to reform policing gained approval in jurisdictions across the country last week, while several other criminal justice reforms also won approval.

Nov 9, 2020 2:55 PM CST

Oregon voters legalize psychedelic mushrooms, decriminalize drugs; 4 other states OK recreational marijuana

Voters in several states loosened drug laws Tuesday, going so far in Oregon as to legalize psychedelic mushrooms and to decriminalize small amounts of heroin and other drugs.

Nov 4, 2020 11:39 AM CST

Lawyer is accused of working for Stanford, 2 law firms while collecting disability payments

Updated: A lawyer who was formerly a financial analyst to the Federal Reserve System’s board of governors is accused of collecting disability benefits while working for two law firms, three companies and a university.

Nov 3, 2020 9:02 AM CST

Lawyer is charged with operating sex-trafficking ring; woman says no one ever believed her

A Portsmouth, Ohio, lawyer, who was formerly a city council member, was arrested Friday for allegedly running a sex-trafficking ring over a 15-year period.

Oct 26, 2020 10:47 AM CDT

Vandals ‘picked the wrong guy’ when they defaced my home for client work, BigLaw partner says

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher partner Randy Mastro has said he won’t be intimidated by vandals who spray-painted his home with epithets, apparently due to his involvement in a homeless issue.

Oct 26, 2020 10:00 AM CDT

‘Death by Cop’: A judge joins the brother of a Black man killed by police to promote racial healing

On a cold December morning in the town of New Milford, Connecticut, Officer Scott Smith was driving an unmarked police car along Route 202 looking for Franklyn Reid, who was wanted on some warrants. Smith, who is white, spotted Franklyn, who is Black, near a gas station.

Oct 26, 2020 9:16 AM CDT

Owner of Legal Genius law firm pleads guilty to conspiracy involving stolen police crash reports

A Michigan lawyer who ran the Legal Genius law firm has pleaded guilty in an alleged scheme to steal nonpublic traffic crash reports from the Detroit Police Department.

Oct 23, 2020 3:21 PM CDT