Prosecutors

After Sean Bell Verdict, Critics Call for N.Y. Special Prosecutor in Police Cases

The acquittal last week of three New York detectives criminally charged in the death of an unarmed African-American man who died in a hail of gunfire as he was leaving his bachelor party has fueled considerable criticism—and a call for the creation of a new special prosecutor’s post to oversee…

Apr 28, 2008 10:27 PM CDT

New Louisiana AG Wants to Prosecute Like a Private Practitioner

In his first 12 weeks on the job, the new Louisiana attorney general says he has been busy dealing with (and, in some cases, dismissing) a number of civil actions his predecessor filed at the end of his term and trying to depoliticize the office. James “Buddy” Caldwell, 61 and…

Apr 24, 2008 6:34 PM CDT

N.Y. Schools Lawyer-Pay Probe Expands to All Professionals in Gov’t Work

An ever-expanding state probe by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo of possible pension irregularities now extends far beyond lawyers in private practice who worked for the state’s 700-plus school districts. It now potentially encompasses, seemingly, virtually every professional who has worked for a state agency, and may also involve…

Apr 15, 2008 6:37 PM CDT

Trial Delayed for Idaho Prosecutor in Fun Run ‘Donation’ Case

A trial has been delayed until June for an eastern Idaho prosecutor accused of misusing public funds by taking money from defendants in exchange for dismissing their cases. A judge granted of a change-of-venue request. The jury will now be selected from Pocatello residents in the case of a Caribou…

Apr 15, 2008 3:53 PM CDT

Supreme Court to Weigh Immunity for Supervising Prosecutors

Today the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to decide whether supervising prosecutors can be sued for management errors that result in wrongful convictions, SCOTUSblog reports. The suit before the court claims the Los Angeles district attorney failed to set up a system to make prosecutors aware of the reliability of jailhouse…

Apr 14, 2008 2:35 PM CDT

Judge Removes DA’s Office From Murder Case, Cites Ethics Breach

In an unprecedented move, a Colorado district attorney’s office was yanked from a death penalty case after a judge learned that one of the prosecutors had previously represented the defendant. The judge also ruled that the district attorney’s office violated professional conduct rules in handling the case. In a ruling…

Apr 9, 2008 4:24 PM CDT

Does Deferring Prosecution Foster Risky Corporate Behavior?

The Justice Department has put off prosecuting more than 50 companies suspected of wrongdoing over the last three years, sparing those companies the cost and stigma of going to trial. This is a major policy shift and spotlights a favorite tool of the Bush administration, deferred prosecutions, the New York…

Apr 9, 2008 10:36 AM CDT

DOJ Probe Considers Whether Lawyer Was Ousted Due to Sexual Orientation Rumor

A Justice Department probe is considering whether a career lawyer there was ousted from her job because of rumors that she is a lesbian. Investigators with the Justice Department’s inspector general have raised questions about a decision to dismiss Leslie Hagen, a liaison between DOJ and the U.S. attorneys’ committee…

Apr 3, 2008 11:26 AM CDT

Brooklyn DA Gets Moms to Protest Gang Paraphernalia Peddlers

The office of District Attorney Charles Hynes is fed up with gang violence. So it’s decided to start its own gang of sorts. Of moms. Hynes’ office is working with Mothers Against Gangs to protest retail stores that sell sports memorabilia in gang colors and styles, the New York Daily…

Apr 1, 2008 6:50 PM CDT

$1M Bond for $25 Theft Lowered After Prosecutor Calls Amount ‘Silly’

The jail in Hamilton County, Ohio, is already overcrowded. But that didn’t stop a local municipal court judge from setting a $1 million bond for Gary Weaver. So what is Weaver accused of doing? The charge is that he stole about $25 by paying for items with what looked like…

Apr 1, 2008 6:13 PM CDT

Former DA on Mission to Eliminate Closed-Door Sentencing Review Panels

Bolstered by support from the legislature, prosecutors in Georgia are mounting a full assault against the state’s system of judicial review panels that, in some cases, reduced prison terms. The challenge, which is being reviewed by the state supreme court today, could impact dozens of inmates whose sentences have already…

Mar 31, 2008 5:34 PM CDT

Ex-Houston DA Fined $19K for ‘Venomous’ Deletion of E-Mails

A federal judge has ordered Houston’s former district attorney Charles Rosenthal to pay almost $19,000 for his “venomous” deletion of thousands of e-mails. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt imposed the sanction after finding Rosenthal in contempt of court for violating a subpoena for the e-mail in a civil rights lawsuit,…

Mar 31, 2008 1:04 PM CDT

Former Ala. Gov. Wins Release Pending Appeal

A federal appeals court has ordered that former Alabama Gov. Donald Siegelman be released on bond. He has already served nine months in prison since he was convicted of bribery. The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Siegelman had raised “substantial questions” in his appeal and could be…

Mar 28, 2008 2:10 PM CDT

DOJ Considers Dropping Charges Against Defense Lawyer

The Justice Department is considering whether to drop charges against a prominent Miami defense lawyer accused of laundering money by accepting fees from drug dealers. A government motion (PDF) filed Monday says a new lead prosecutor is now handling the controversial case against Ben Kuehne and is undertaking a review…

Mar 28, 2008 11:51 AM CDT

20-Year Texas Prosecutor Convicted of Stealing Office Funds

At the beginning of the week, Ray Sumrow was the district attorney in Rockwall County, Texas. But by the end of the day on Monday, the 20-year prosecutor was a convicted felon, and, by Tuesday, he had, at least temporarily, been removed from office by the judge presiding over the…

Mar 26, 2008 5:25 PM CDT