Government

$8.4M Sex, Lies & Texts Settlement Puts Detroit Lawyers on Hot Seat

The first of a series of legal ethics hearings has begun concerning five attorneys involved in a controversial $8.4 million settlement by the city of Detroit over police whistle-blower litigation and steamy text messages sent by the former mayor to his then-top aide. Because the text messages also showed that…

Jul 14, 2009 6:12 PM CDT

Colo. Governor Gave No-Bid Contract to Hogan & Hartson, His Ex-Firm

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter hired his former law firm, Hogan & Hartson, to analyze the federal stimulus bill and make sure the state gets its share of federal funds. Ritter hired Hogan & Hartson under a no-bid contract and has so far used $40,000 in federal funds to pay the…

Jul 14, 2009 1:21 PM CDT

Ex-Colleagues Say AG Holder Is Aging Before Their Eyes

Former colleagues of Attorney General Eric Holder say he is “working like a dog” and aging before their eyes. Holder is fielding criticism from Republicans who see him as soft on terrorism and from some Democrats disappointed to learn he is mulling the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate…

Jul 14, 2009 12:54 PM CDT

Prominent Fla. Lawyer Faces Bar Case in Settlement ‘Scheme to Defraud’

A proposed class action settlement characterized by a state appeals court as “a scheme to defraud” has put a prominent Miami lawyer in hot water with the Florida Bar, along with his opposing counsel in the case. In a disciplinary filing, the lawyer regulatory agency contends that founding partner Hank…

Jul 13, 2009 7:18 PM CDT

Medicare Slow to Accept Lawyers’ Offers of Money

Some personal injury lawyers say their clients are willing and ready to reimburse Medicare for the costs of their care, but the agency is taking as long as a year to come up with a figure for the amount owed. Kansas City, Mo., lawyer John Kurtz told McClatchy Newspapers he…

Jul 13, 2009 4:08 PM CDT

AG Holder May Appoint Prosecutor for CIA Torture Inquiry

Attorney General Eric Holder may appoint a criminal prosecutor to investigate whether terrorism suspects were tortured during CIA interrogations. Three sources told the Washington Post that Holder has reviewed a secret CIA inspection report that details several instances that could be likened to torture. He could decide whether to proceed…

Jul 13, 2009 12:45 PM CDT

Did Cheney Break the Law by Hiding CIA Program from Congress?

A report this weekend says former Vice President Dick Cheney told the CIA to withhold information from Congress about a secret counterterrorism program, raising questions about whether such an order violates the law. Two unidentified sources told the New York Times that the new CIA director, Leon Panetta, has halted…

Jul 13, 2009 12:12 PM CDT

SEC Official Says Her Resignation Isn’t Tied to Madoff

The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s examinations division is resigning after 14 years in the position, but she says the reason for her departure is not Bernard Madoff. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), Lori Richards denied that the controversy over the SEC’s failure…

Jul 9, 2009 3:34 PM CDT

Karl Rove Testifies in US Attorney Probe

Former White House political adviser Karl Rove was questioned yesterday by lawyers for the House Judiciary Committee seeking information on the firings of nine U.S. attorneys. Committee chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., told Politico that the deposition began around 10 a.m. and ended at about 6:30 p.m. The transcript may eventually…

Jul 8, 2009 12:10 PM CDT

White House Lawyers Make Less Than $200K

Being a White House lawyer may be prestigious, but it’s not as high-paying as a big law firm job. Salary information released by the Obama administration shows White House counsel Gregory Craig makes $172,200—far short of the $1.7 million he made last year as a partner at Williams & Connolly,…

Jul 6, 2009 3:19 PM CDT

Google Books Settlement May Violate Antitrust Law, DOJ Contends

A pending settlement between Google Inc. and groups representing authors and publishers could violate antitrust law, the U.S. Department of Justice says in a letter to the federal judge in the Southern District of New York who is overseeing the case. Although the DOJ has made no finding that antitrust…

Jul 2, 2009 9:33 PM CDT

Counsel for Accused Lawyer Must Be Given Control of Claimed Child Porn

Defense counsel for an attorney and former New Jersey lawmaker accused in a child pornography case must be given access to the images allegedly found on Neil Cohen’s computers, a state appeals court has ruled. Prosecutors had argued that Cohen’s defense team should only be allowed to view the evidence…

Jul 2, 2009 8:52 PM CDT

Wis. Appeals Court Orders Man to Turn Over Claimed Roadkill Deer Trophy

It’s too late for John Longo to return the deer carcass he is accused of taking from beside a Wisconsin roadway without a permit: He ate it. But a state appeals court has ordered the 69-year-old to return the head, which he had mounted, to state wildlife officials, reports WKOW-TV.…

Jul 1, 2009 5:08 PM CDT

Sotomayor’s Nomination: Today’s News

ABAJournal.com: “Was Sotomayor Reversed, or Did the Supreme Court Change Course?” Associated Press: “Legal group sending Sotomayor documents to Senate” Des Moines Register: “Grassley to Sotomayor: Expect New Haven case questions” The Hill’s Congress Blog: “Supreme Court reversal of Sotomayor raises more questions than it answers (Sen. John Cornyn)” Wall…

Jul 1, 2009 12:07 AM CDT

Meet John Rizzo, Acting CIA General Counsel

When John Rizzo retires as acting general counsel of the CIA this summer, he will leave amid controversy over his role in approving harsh interrogations for terrorism suspects. Rizzo will be remembered as the most influential career lawyer in the department’s history, the Los Angeles Times reports in a profile.…

Jun 29, 2009 6:24 PM CDT