Prosecutors

Inmate Charged in Alleged Murder-for-Hire Plot Against Minn. Prosecutor and Sentencing Judge

Apparently blaming a local Minnesota prosecutor who happened to be his neighbor for his latest criminal conviction, John Stephen Woodward at first made legal ethics complaints against Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom, reports the Star Tribune. But when they didn’t accomplish what he wanted, Woodward allegedly moved on to Plan…

Sep 29, 2010 9:20 PM CDT

Assistant AG Defends Blog Tirades Against ‘Radical Homosexual’ Student Leader

An assistant attorney general in Michigan is asserting his First Amendment right to criticize an openly gay student leader in blog tirades, despite misgivings by his boss. Appearing on CNN’s AC 360, assistant attorney general Andrew Shirvell said he has a constitutional right to criticize the University of Michigan student…

Sep 29, 2010 3:48 PM CDT

Former NJ Prosecutor and Judge Charged with Aiding Bribed False Confession

A former Essex County prosecutor and presiding Newark municipal judge who is now a well-known New Jersey defense attorney has been indicted for allegedly accepting $3,500 from a convicted felon in exchange for his help in bribing another man to make a false confession to authorities. The bribery and obstruction-of-justice…

Sep 28, 2010 11:17 PM CDT

Few Defendants Wronged by Federal Prosecutors Get US Compensation

A 1997 law that requires the Justice Department to pay the legal bills of defendants wronged by federal prosecutors is resulting in few payouts, despite judicial findings of improper government conduct. A USA Today investigation found 201 cases since passage of the Hyde Amendment in which federal judges found U.S.…

Sep 28, 2010 4:26 PM CDT

Under Pressure in Criminal Probe of Stevens Case Handling, DOJ Prosecutor Commits Suicide

A young Department of Justice prosecutor committed suicide over the weekend, after a year under criminal investigation, along with senior members of the DOJ, concerning the department’s mishandling of the Sen. Ted Stevens case. Partner Robert Luskin of Patton Boggs represented Nicholas Marsh and said he expected his client not…

Sep 27, 2010 7:32 PM CDT

A Dip in the Pool Results in Charges Against Boxer-Clad Federal Prosecutor

A federal prosecutor in Miami was arrested Sunday afternoon after taking a dip in a pool in his boxer shorts and making an alleged getaway that involved some chase-scene-worthy fence jumping. The prosecutor, Sean Cronin, was accused of mistakenly exposing more than his skivvies as he exited the pool at…

Sep 27, 2010 6:17 PM CDT

Embattled DA Accused of Sending Sexually Harassing Texts Will Resign, His Lawyer Says

An embattled veteran prosecutor in Wisconsin will resign, his lawyer says, following accusations that he sexually harassed at least three women he apparently met on the job, according to the CNN Justice blog. The news came at a scheduling hearing today for what was to be an expedited removal proceeding…

Sep 27, 2010 6:05 PM CDT

Wis. Disciplinary Group Reopens Probe of Embattled DA Now Accused by Multiple Women

Citing “substantial new information” related to a possible “pattern of conduct” by a prosecutor accused of sexually harassing women in case-related text messages, Wisconsin’s Office of Lawyer Regulation announced today they are reopening an ethics case against embattled Calumet County District Attorney Kenneth Kratz. Although it had previously dismissed a…

Sep 24, 2010 5:25 PM CDT

‘I Am the Prize’ DA’s Self-Report to Bar Authorities Says Crime Victim Flirted with Him

Updated: After a domestic abuse victim complained to authorities that she felt sexually harassed by text messages from a married Wisconsin district attorney then overseeing the prosecution of her ex-boyfriend, observers including the state attorney general criticized the state Office of Lawyer Regulation for failing to discipline him. Calumet County…

Sep 23, 2010 4:18 PM CDT

Longtime Prosecutor Faces Ethics Complaint for Sarcastic Closings, Blog Comments

An ethics complaint accuses a longtime Chicago prosecutor of lying to a blogger about a past disciplinary probe and making sarcastic closing arguments. Laura Morask, a Cook County prosecutor since 1987, faced an earlier ethics complaint over her courtroom arguments, but an inquiry board panel closed the probe in 2006…

Sep 23, 2010 11:44 AM CDT

Tenn. Prosecutor Resigns, NY Judge Loses License over Relationship with Defendant

An explosion of embarrassing news lately about claimed sexual and relationship misconduct by lawyers in positions of authority has cost two their careers. A longtime Tennessee prosecutor has resigned, after a female defendant in a felony drug case provided text and voice mail messages to support her claims that he…

Sep 22, 2010 6:42 PM CDT

As Gov Leans on Wis. DA in Sext Case, AG Says Lawyer Discipline Group Didn’t Do Its Job

Updated: The governor of Wisconsin promised in a press conference earlier this week to seek the removal of a controversial district attorney accused of harassing two women and asking a third to attend an autopsy on a date, as soon as a citizen made the prerequisite complaint. Now multiple citizens…

Sep 22, 2010 4:59 PM CDT

Law Student Says Embattled DA Texted Her, Too; He Denies Seeking Autopsy Date with Another Accuser

An embattled Wisconsin prosecutor is now being accused by a law student of sending her harassing text messages over a year ago, after he agreed to help her seek a pardon in a decade-old drug case. The woman, Maria Ruskiewicz, alleges that Calument County District Attorney Ken Kratz sent her…

Sep 21, 2010 6:11 PM CDT

Prosecutor Fights Effort to Boot Him from Triple-Murder Case, Due to Book Deal

A county prosecutor in Indiana is fighting an effort to force him off a triple-murder case, due to his involvement in a potential true-crime book deal prior to the defendant’s sentencing. Floyd County Prosecutor Keith Henderson, who reportedly inked a contract with a literary agent a week after defendant David…

Sep 21, 2010 5:04 PM CDT

2nd Prosecutor Dies Unexpectedly in Less Than 2 Months in Central Calif. DA’s Office

For the second time in less than two months, a dedicated career prosecutor in a central California district attorney’s office has died unexpectedly, leaving his remaining colleagues and the local legal community stunned and saddened. Shawn Barlow, 40, had no known medical problems but died early Sunday at home of…

Sep 21, 2010 3:24 PM CDT