Prosecutors

Federal judge says mom sued too late accusing Chicago officials of cover-up in son’s death

It wasn’t until a report was issued earlier this year by a top Chicago law firm at the conclusion of an unusual court-driven investigation that Nanci Koschman decided to sue city police and Cook County prosecutors over the way her son’s death investigation was handled. But that litigation was filed…

Aug 28, 2014 8:50 PM CDT

Deputy distracted by patrol car’s computer won’t be charged in fatal collision with bicycling lawyer

A Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy was distracted by his patrol car’s mobile computer when the vehicle fatally struck a well-known entertainment attorney bicycling in a designated lane last year, an investigation has determined. But Deputy Andrew Wood won’t be criminally charged in the Dec. 8 accident that killed attorney…

Aug 28, 2014 7:14 PM CDT

After prosecutor’s live courtroom feed is disclosed, judges consider expanding viewing areas

After disclosure of a live courtroom video feed to the prosecutor’s office in Warren County, Ohio, judges are considering expanding the program to include more remote-viewing locations. Judges are considering adding viewing areas in the attorney waiting area and the law library, the Dayton Daily News reports. Administrative Judge Donald…

Aug 28, 2014 2:01 PM CDT

DA promises ‘appropriate action’ after defense lawyer allegedly scuffles with prosecutor

A spokesman for the Orleans Parish District Attorney is vowing “appropriate action” after a defense lawyer allegedly scuffled with a prosecutor before a New Orleans judge last Friday. The New Orleans Times-Picayune spoke with lawyers and courthouse staff familiar with the incident. According to their accounts, the incident began after…

Aug 27, 2014 2:19 PM CDT

Two prosecutors disciplined for criticizing jurors on Facebook

Two Minnesota prosecutors are in hot water after posting derogatory messages about jurors on Facebook. According to the Brainerd Dispatch and KFGO-790 in Fargo, North Dakota, the two prosecuting attorneys for the Clay County Attorney’s Office have been disciplined. KFGO-790 reports that the remarks were made in reference to a…

Aug 22, 2014 5:00 PM CDT

Man beat murder charge in detective’s death, but feds seek life term in drug case, citing slaying

State prosecutors dropped a murder case against Justin “J-Rock” Austin in the 2008 slaying of a Chicago police officer, alleging the defendant and others intimidated witnesses from testifying. However, federal prosecutors are now seeking a life sentence for Austin in an unrelated Chicago drug case in which he has been…

Aug 21, 2014 7:50 PM CDT

Man exonerated by own research gets $13M for wrongful conviction in rabbi slaying

Wrongfully convicted of murdering a rabbi in 1994, a high-school dropout who served 16 years before being exonerated due largely to his own pro se legal work from prison has won one of the largest settlements in New York City history. Now represented by a lawyer, Jabbar Collins, 42, is…

Aug 19, 2014 9:25 PM CDT

Neighbor of chief federal prosecutor faces graffiti charge for tagging boundary fence

An 82-year-old neighbor of a federal prosecutor in New York City is facing a graffiti charge for tagging a boundary fence between their properties. However, a lawyer for Sylvia Kordower-Zetlin said his client was simply protecting herself against a potential adverse-possession claim when she marked the fence, reports the New…

Aug 18, 2014 3:40 PM CDT

Judge says he had no obligation to disclose prosecutor’s live feed of court hearings

A judge in Warren County, Ohio, is defending his decision to allow a live camera and audio feed of hearings and trials to be piped into the prosecutor’s office. Judge James Flannery said judges had no obligation to tell lawyers about prosecutor David Fornshell’s cameras; instead it was up to…

Aug 15, 2014 1:07 PM CDT

Juvenile judge facing felony case goes off on special prosecutor, says she cannot get a fair trial

A lawyer representing suspended Ohio juvenile court Judge Tracie Hunter tried to stop her, as did the presiding judge in the felony case in which Hunter is being prosecuted. But, apparently angered by an in-court claim by a special prosecutor that she has “a history of trying to game and…

Aug 14, 2014 10:25 PM CDT

Confidential informant sues; says prosecutors blew his cover, then blamed him for getting shot

A confidential informant helping New York authorities in a gun probe has filed a civil rights suit against the Brooklyn district attorney’s office, contending that his cover was blown by prosecutors. A prosecutor allegedly called a man who was a subject of the probe and left a phone message intended…

Aug 14, 2014 4:54 PM CDT

Gadfly buys website in DA’s name after he lets registration expire

A Louisiana district attorney set up a website in his name when he was campaigning for election, then let the registration expire after he won a second term in office. Now an unidentified gadfly has purchased the domain name formerly used by District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla and is using it…

Aug 12, 2014 4:55 PM CDT

Prosecutor is accused of adding admission of guilt to transcript; he said it was a joke

A California prosecutor is facing an ethics complaint that alleges he added an admission of guilt to a transcript provided to the suspect’s public defender. Deputy District Attorney Robert Murray of Kern County has said he was joking when he sent the altered transcript to a deputy public defender, and…

Aug 12, 2014 12:18 PM CDT

James Brady’s death ruled a homicide from 1981 attack, but whether case will be pursued is unclear

Severely wounded in a 1981 attack on then-President Ronald Reagan, press secretary James Brady survived with disabling injuries. His death last week has now been ruled a homicide caused by the Washington, D.C., shooting, according to the Associated Press and the New York Times (reg. req.). However, it is unclear…

Aug 11, 2014 11:02 PM CDT

Release looms for nurse, a suspected serial child killer, unless DA can prove more crimes

Genene Jones was denied parole last week. But it could be only a question of time until the former Texas pediatric nurse, convicted of killing one 15-month-old child in her care and suspected in as many as 46 other child deaths, is free, according to KPRC and the San Antonio…

Aug 11, 2014 4:55 PM CDT