White Collar Crime

Afternoon Briefs: Justice Ginsburg will lie in state; 2 lawyers are sentenced in extortion plot

Justice Ginsburg will be first woman to lie in state at Capitol The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose at the top of the Supreme Court’s steps Wednesday and Thursday, then will lie in state Friday at the U.S. Capitol Building. Ginsburg will be…

Sep 21, 2020 4:36 PM CDT

A top SCOTUS contender, Amy Coney Barrett is likely to draw scrutiny for decisions on abortion, campus sex assault

Considered one of the top contenders for a U.S. Supreme Court nomination, U.S. Circuit Judge Amy Coney Barrett is known as a conservative who shows a strong deference to religious values.

Sep 21, 2020 2:04 PM CDT

Police and prosecutor misconduct contributed to over half of false-conviction cases, new study finds

Police and prosecutor misconduct that distorted evidence or undercut innocence contributed to 54% of false convictions that later resulted in exonerations, according to a report released Tuesday.

Sep 16, 2020 1:32 PM CDT

What’s lost when jury trials vanish?

With only 2% of federal criminal cases ending up in a jury trial, how can would-be trial lawyers develop their skills? How can citizens participate in the justice system? And how can defendants receive experienced counsel?

Jun 10, 2020 2:31 PM CDT

Lawyer’s convictions upheld for role in schemes to con law firms and users of dating websites

A federal appeals court has upheld a Texas lawyer’s conspiracy convictions for his role in schemes to con law firms, job seekers and users of dating websites.

Jun 9, 2020 10:09 AM CDT

Journalist investigating wrongful convictions turns lens on white-collar criminal case in Chicago

In this new episode of the Modern Law Library podcast, Maurice Possley speaks with the ABA Journal’s Lee Rawles about his investigation of Michael Segal, his writing partnership with Segal, and how Chicago city politics impacted the case.

Apr 22, 2020 9:08 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Cohen will be released from prison; environmental lawyer gets celebs’ support

Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen will be released from prison because of COVID-19 concerns President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will be released from prison to home confinement. He is among several prisoners being released from a minimum security prison camp in New York because of concerns about COVID-19. He…

Apr 17, 2020 3:08 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: DC Circuit blocks McGahn testimony; lawyer utters word rarely used at SCOTUS

DC Circuit tosses suit for McGahn congressional testimony A federal appeals court has tossed a lawsuit seeking to compel congressional testimony from former White House counsel Don McGahn. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the House Judiciary Committee was asking the court to settle…

Feb 28, 2020 4:43 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Trump’s ‘clemency blitz’ helps Blago; federal judges to discuss Roger Stone case

President Trump goes on a ‘clemency blitz,’ and the list is long President Donald Trump has pardoned junk bond king Michael Milken, former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik and former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward J. DeBartolo Jr. in what the Associated Press calls a “clemency blitz.” Milken…

Feb 18, 2020 4:37 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Avenatti is convicted for trying to extort Nike; Alabama bill would mandate vasectomies

Stormy Daniels’ ex-lawyer Michael Avenatti is convicted Michael Avenatti, the former lawyer for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, was convicted Friday for trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike. Avenatti was accused of seeking money from Nike in exchange for keeping quiet about its payments to young athletes. He…

Feb 14, 2020 4:17 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Bill would allow law school to ax segregationist’s name; Cipollone said to be material witness

Florida legislation puts naming rights in universities’ hands Thanks to pending legislation, Florida State University College of Law may soon rename B.K. Roberts Hall, which recognizes a former state supreme court chief justice who supported school segregation. A state Senate panel approved the proposal Tuesday, which gives university boards of…

Jan 22, 2020 4:23 PM CST

11th Circuit upholds dismissal of juror who said Holy Spirit told him to acquit former congresswoman

A federal judge didn’t err when he dismissed a juror who declared that the Holy Spirit told him a former congresswoman was innocent in an alleged charity scam, a federal appeals court has ruled in a 2-1 decision.

Jan 16, 2020 10:39 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Avenatti is accused of bail violations; Virginia is 38th state to ratify ERA

Michael Avenatti is arrested for alleged bail violations The lawyer who once represented adult film actress Stormy Daniels has been arrested for alleged bail violations. The federal government contends that, while out on bail, Michael Avenatti tried to hide money from creditors, including a former law partner. Avenatti has been…

Jan 15, 2020 3:43 PM CST

To perp walk or not: When do white-collar defendants get to surrender peacefully?

When the federal government charges anyone with a crime, it’s rare that person will get to surrender peacefully at an arranged date and time without being subjected to a fright-inducing home raid by dozens of armed law enforcement officers and an embarrassing “perp walk” into the station or court. For the people who are afforded the privilege of self-surrender, popular perception is that they must be white-collar defendants who are rich and powerful.

Nov 26, 2019 6:30 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Judge bans trick-or-treat warning signs; Johnny Depp settles fee dispute

Federal judge sides with sex offenders in battle over trick-or-treat warning signs A federal judge in Macon, Georgia, has granted a request by three sex offenders to stop a county sheriff from placing signs in the front of their homes warning trick-or-treaters to stay away. U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell…

Oct 31, 2019 4:22 PM CDT