Texas AG Ken Paxton makes deal to avoid felony securities trial

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R), a conservative firebrand acquitted last year in a historic impeachment trial, has reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid trial on long-standing state felony securities fraud charges.

Mar 26, 2024 3:00 PM CDT

Judge orders Trump to pay more than $350 million in N.Y. civil fraud trial

New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron on Friday ordered former President Donald Trump to pay more than $350 million in penalties, handing down a hefty penalty following a monthslong civil trial in which Trump and others were accused of financial fraud by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Feb 16, 2024 3:26 PM CST

Unprecedented Assignment: Defending Donald Trump in criminal court

In the past six weeks alone, Donald Trump’s lawyers argued in the Supreme Court over whether the Constitution bars him from running for president, lost an appeals court battle on presidential immunity and defended their client in a civil defamation trial in which Trump took the stand—all while reviewing evidence and submitting highly technical court motions involving classified documents.

Feb 14, 2024 11:16 AM CST

Ex-Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby convicted of mortgage fraud

A federal jury on Tuesday convicted the former top prosecutor in Baltimore, Marilyn Mosby, of lying to a mortgage lender in 2021 as she purchased a vacation property in Florida that she called her “private oasis.”

Feb 7, 2024 10:55 AM CST

Ex-lawyer Alex Murdaugh, already convicted of murder, pleads guilty to state charges for stealing from clients

Nov 20, 2023 12:25 PM CST

Former crypto billionaire Samuel Bankman-Fried found guilty of fraud, conspiracy

Nov 3, 2023 9:35 AM CDT

Judge in Bankman-Fried trial prods defense lawyers on repetitive questions, appears irritated

Oct 13, 2023 9:05 AM CDT

Lawyer pleads guilty in ‘Ponzi-type scheme’ that cost his clients up to $65M

Oct 10, 2023 3:20 PM CDT

How far should lawyers go to make sure their clients aren’t using them to launder money?

Some lawyers interviewed by the ABA Journal, many of whom are former federal prosecutors, say people know they can launder dirty money under the cloak of attorney-client privilege and confidentiality rules, and real estate is an effective vehicle to do so.

Oct 1, 2023 3:20 AM CDT

How the crime-fraud exception can threaten attorney-client privilege

A sacrosanct concept in law is the attorney-client privilege—that a client can speak to his or her attorney knowing full well that what the client says will be kept secret. The evidentiary privilege ensures free and frank communications between attorney and client, a reality that generally serves the public interest.

Oct 1, 2023 2:50 AM CDT

House of Delegates amends rule to address anti-money-laundering efforts

Oct 1, 2023 1:20 AM CDT

Leading criminal defense lawyer who represented Clinton in sex scandals dies at 84

Sep 14, 2023 9:33 AM CDT

Weekly Briefs: SCOTUS asked to hear high school admissions case over race; utility company faces suit after Hawaii wildfires

Supreme Court could hear high school admissions case involving race

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday was asked to hear a Virginia high school admissions case over race. The Coalition…

Aug 25, 2023 2:09 PM CDT

‘Presidents are not kings’ judge will oversee Trump election-subversion case

Aug 2, 2023 3:20 PM CDT

ABA advocates for combating money laundering while honoring client confidentiality

The ABA supports reasonable efforts by the U.S. government to detect, deter and combat money laundering, including reasonable and appropriate beneficial ownership reporting measures that comply with certain fundamental principles. However, the ABA opposes legislative measures that would require lawyers to disclose information protected by the attorney-client privilege or to violate their ethical duty to preserve client confidentiality.

Aug 1, 2023 12:30 AM CDT