Prosecutors

State AG wants misdemeanor hit-and-run charges against him dismissed

Ariz. Attorney General Tom Horne is seeking the dismissal of misdemeanor hit-and-run charges against him on the grounds that he’s being singled out for special prosecution as part of a political vendetta by FBI agents. Horne is accused of backing his borrowed car into another vehicle in a Phoenix parking…

Feb 14, 2013 7:40 PM CST

Maximum sentence sought in shooting of Chicago honor student; defense says politics at play

Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, have been charged with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, in the shooting death of Chicago honor student Hadiya Pendleton. The duo—who were taken into custody just hours after first lady Michelle Obama and other dignitaries…

Feb 13, 2013 9:30 PM CST

Son of accused Delaware courthouse gunman is detained in probation case at judge’s order

A U.S. Magistrate Judge ordered David Matusiewicz detained today until a hearing is held on charges that he violated the terms of his federal probation. Matusiewicz’s appearance occurred three blocks from the New Castle County Courthouse, where police say that Matusiewicz’s father, Thomas Matusiewicz, shot and killed his son’s ex-wife…

Feb 12, 2013 9:25 PM CST

Death row inmate gets a reprieve over execution drug’s provenance

A federal judge has canceled next week’s scheduled execution of a Louisiana man because the state hasn’t provided the defense with enough information about its planned execution protocol. Christopher Sepulvado, 69, was scheduled to be executed Wednesday for the 1992 murder of his 6-year-old stepson, Wesley Mercer, who was beaten…

Feb 8, 2013 6:02 PM CST

Closed hearings, sealed docs and gag order as convicted Chandra Levy killer seeks new trial

Closed-door hearings are expected to continue concerning a convicted killer’s request for a new trial in the high-profile Chandra Levy murder case, after the District of Columbia Court of Appeals agreed with a trial judge Thursday that the safety of a witness justified sealing documents for a limited time. It…

Feb 8, 2013 4:51 PM CST

Judge orders prosecutors to pay defendant’s costs for pursuing ‘reprehensible’ child-support claim

Falsely accused by his ex-wife, after a bitter divorce, of being behind in his child-support obligations by more than $3,500, Tony Schehtman was prosecuted for months and had his passport confiscated, restricting his business travel. But last month he won a measure of vindication when a South Florida judge issued…

Feb 8, 2013 11:40 AM CST

Ukrainian lawyer arrested for client’s alleged crime and jailed

A 31-year-old Ukranian lawyer who was arrested and jailed two years ago when he went to the Kiev police station to visit a client accused of car theft has become a focal point in a growing controversy over the oppressive power of prosecutors fueled by a lack of judicial independence,…

Feb 7, 2013 6:50 PM CST

Critical murder case evidence was withheld by then-DA, defense lawyer tells court of inquiry

As an unusual court of inquiry proceeds concerning the long-ago work of a prosecutor in a Williamson County murder case, lawyers for the now-exonerated defendant testified that critical evidence had been withheld from the defense. Earlier, a lawyer for District Judge Ken Anderson, who was the Williamson County DA at…

Feb 7, 2013 5:31 PM CST

Did DA and defense lawyer use ‘undeniably invalid order’ to commit schizophrenic man?

Apparently agreeing with a retired Oregon judge’s complaint that a sitting district attorney and a defense lawyer used an “undeniably invalid order” when committing a mentally ill man to the state hospital for treatment, bar authorities have filed a legal ethics complaint. Describing the issue a little differently than retired…

Feb 6, 2013 4:20 PM CST

Can grand juries serve as check on prosecutorial overreach? Law profs offer ideas

The suicide of Internet “hactivist” Aaron Swartz is shining a light on proposals to rein in prosecutors through more powerful grand juries. Swartz took his life as he was awaiting a felony trial for downloading scholarly papers, leading to criticism that the U.S. Attorney’s stance in the case amounted to…

Feb 6, 2013 12:00 PM CST

Investigators of prosecutor’s slaying are still seeking suspects, a motive

As a special U.S. flag was flown at half-staff this week in honor of a veteran prosecutor gunned down on the way to work at a Texas courthouse Thursday, investigators are still seeking to identify a suspect or suspects in the case. Witnesses say as many as two people shot…

Feb 5, 2013 9:53 PM CST

Rare court of inquiry is convened over judge’s work as a prosecutor in 1987 murder case

A Texas judge is facing a rare court of inquiry concerning his long-ago work, as a state prosecutor, in a murder case. If the judge overseeing the inquiry determines that district judge Ken Anderson of Williamson County acted improperly while serving as district attorney for the county, he could potentially…

Feb 5, 2013 7:05 PM CST

Case of murder-kidnapping of 12-year-old tossed on speedy-trial grounds; state high court affirms

The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld a trial judge’s decision to dismiss kidnapping, sexual assault and murder charges in the death of a 12-year-old girl because prosecutors violated the accused’s right to a speedy trial. The unanimous supreme court today expressed its distaste for doing so, but detailed how badly the…

Feb 4, 2013 9:00 PM CST

Grand jury chair is a felon; 800 indictments now in question

Indictments from nearly 900 cases in the Nashville area are under review after officials discovered a man who served as grand jury chair in 2011 is a convicted felon. Eugene Grayer was appointed to lead the grand jury, even though the Davidson County district attorney’s office had been notified of…

Feb 4, 2013 1:30 PM CST

Prosecutor gunned down while walking from parking lot to work at courthouse

A veteran prosecutor was fatally shot multiple times while walking to work at a Texas courthouse on Thursday morning from a nearby parking lot. The motive for the attack on assistant Kaufman County district attorney Mark Hasse, 57, isn’t known. Hasse was transported to a nearby hospital after being shot…

Jan 31, 2013 9:39 PM CST