Criminal Justice

Terrorism Cases Being Built on Early Plans

Prosecutors worried about the risk to life are bringing charges in terrorism cases before plots are fully developed, resulting in cases that appear to be built more on talk than action. An example, according to the New York Times, is the criminal complaint filed against four men accused of plotting…

Jun 4, 2007 3:05 PM CDT

Hiring in Civil Rights Division Scrutinized

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are turning their attention to allegations of political hiring in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Bradley Schlozman, who formerly was acting assistant attorney general in the division, will testify before the committee on Tuesday, Legal Times reports. Democrats plan to ask him whether…

Jun 4, 2007 1:07 PM CDT

PD on the Defense for ‘Sham’ Marriage

A former chief public defender in St. Louis was indicted today on charges he arranged a “sham marriage” so that his boyfriend could stay in the United States. Prosecutors announced the indictment, which was reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The former PD, Eric Affholter, 40, and his live-in boyfriend…

Jun 2, 2007 1:27 AM CDT

400 Prosecutors Saved From Furloughs

Georgia’s governor transferred more than $800,000 into the state budget for district attorneys’ offices this morning, avoiding furloughs of about 400 state-paid prosecutors. Gov. Sonny Perdue took action after Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears declared a “judicial emergency,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The budget shortfall was created…

Jun 1, 2007 9:18 PM CDT

‘Dr. Death’ Freed to Rejoin Suicide Fight

Jack Kevorkian, the so-called Dr. Death who reportedly helped an estimated 130 people, by his count, commit suicide, is to be freed from a Michigan prison today after serving eight years for second-degree murder in the death of a man stricken with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The 79-year-old former…

Jun 1, 2007 8:22 PM CDT

Computer Musings Could Help Spector Defense

The judge overseeing the murder trial of record producer Phil Spector is mulling whether to admit writings from the home computer of the woman found dead in his home. Defense lawyers want to introduce the material to show that actress Lana Clarkson was depressed and likely shot herself, the Los…

Jun 1, 2007 8:11 PM CDT

Likely Promotion for Federal Prosecutor

A respected career prosecutor is expected to be nominated as the new U.S. attorney in Los Angeles. The Bush administration appears poised to name Thomas O’Brien, now the chief of the U.S. attorney’s criminal division in Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times reports. The move comes as the Justice Department…

Jun 1, 2007 7:28 PM CDT

Wash. Ruling Limits Capital Factors

A Washington Supreme Court ruling could limit death penalty prosecutions in the state. Yesterday the court limited the circumstances in which aggravating factors can be applied in murder cases, according to the Seattle Times. Aggravating factors are a requirement for the death penalty. The court ruled in the case of…

Jun 1, 2007 6:30 PM CDT

Ex-GC Tries ‘Career Suicide’ Defense

The former general counsel of Hollinger International, accused of helping direct noncompete payments to other companies owned by company executives, is claiming at trial that he was unfamiliar with securities law and relied on the advice of outside counsel. That strategy could work in the short term for Mark Kipnis,…

Jun 1, 2007 6:17 PM CDT

Lawyers Seek Leniency for Libby

Lawyers for the vice president’s former chief of staff argued yesterday that their client should be spared from prison because of his distinguished record of public service. Lawyers for I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby said in a court filing that the prison term of 30 to 37 months requested by prosecutors…

Jun 1, 2007 5:06 PM CDT

KPMG Fee Ruling Spurs Dismissal Motion

Ex-employees of KPMG who battled to force the accounting company to pay their legal fees will ask a judge to dismiss the criminal case against them. Judge Lewis Kaplan of the Southern District of New York has scheduled a July 2 hearing on the matter, according to the New York…

Jun 1, 2007 3:48 PM CDT

Milberg Weiss Discusses Plea Deal

Four top partners from Milberg Weiss & Bershad met with federal prosecutors in Los Angeles on Wednesday to talk about settling charges that the firm paid kickbacks to lead class-action plaintiffs. The securities class-action law firm has been indicted along with former name partners David Bershad and Steven Schulman. The…

Jun 1, 2007 1:02 PM CDT

CA Supreme Court: Lawyer May Be Guilty of Murder in Dog Mauling Death

A former lawyer convicted of manslaughter after her two uncontrolled dogs killed a San Francisco neighbor on the doorstep of her home could face additional prison time due to a California Supreme Court ruling today. However, the ruling is something of a victory for Marjorie Knoller, 52, because it leaves…

Jun 1, 2007 1:47 AM CDT

UN Tribunal Controversial in Hariri Case

A vote yesterday by the U.N. Security Council to establish a tribunal to try suspects in the assassination two years ago of Lebanon’s former prime minister has drawn cheers and jeers from the international community today. The vote led to celebration in the streets of Lebanon by some supporters of…

May 31, 2007 11:36 PM CDT

Judge to ID Supporters of Light Sentence for Scooter Libby

Some 150 supporters of a light sentence for former White House top aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby should soon be identified, including a number of current and former government officials. That’s because U.S. Dist. Judge Reggie B. Walton said today he will make public all of the letters he received…

May 31, 2007 10:10 PM CDT