Trial Delay Sought for Non-Lawyer Who Allegedly ‘Practiced’ for a Decade

Criminal Justice

Trial Delay Sought for Non-Lawyer Who Allegedly ‘Practiced’ for a Decade

Posted Oct 13, 2008, 12:39 pm CST
By Martha Neil

Saying that they expect their client may be charged in other jurisdictions, lawyers for non-attorney Howard Kieffer are seeking a trial delay in in a fraud case related to his admitted lack of a law license.

Kieffer, 53, was scheduled to go to trial next month U.S. District Court in Bismarck, N.D., on charges of mail fraud and making false statements, reports the Denver Post. However, it appears that he may also be charged elsewhere, his lawyers say in a motion. They say they are seeking a postponement so that they can adequately prepare his case.

As discussed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, Kieffer has reportedly "practiced" for a decade in federal courts in 10 jurisdictions, even though he was never licensed as a lawyer.

"Some clients have said they paid Kieffer thousands of dollars to represent them," the newspaper recounts. "Gwen Bergman, who was convicted of trying to hire a hit man to kill her son's father, says her family paid Kieffer more than $50,000."

Earlier coverage:

ABAJournal.com: "Unlicensed ‘Lawyer’ Allegedly Practiced for a Decade in 10 States"

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Posted by Bill - 1 month, 2 weeks, 4 days, 18 hours, 52 minutes ago

I like how his partner in the Denver case, EJ Hurst, posts all these great things about Howard on Howard’s web site - even after the whole world knows he’s only a high school graduate and 4 time felon. Yet the government argues that Bergman had a lawyer (EJ Hurst) so Kieffer wasn’t ineffective counsel. Apparently he likes money and Howard makes him some.
Posted by EJ Hurst II - 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, 23 hours, 49 minutes ago

Perhaps, Bill, you would also like to check out my many unpaid posts to another Yahoo group list for FedCURE (in both private capacity and as FedCURE’s unpaid Chief of Legislative Affairs), or my pro bono publico work under the Freedom of Information Act at http://www.victorvillefoia.org. Perhaps, Bill, you would like to get your facts straight before you libel my name before the American Bar Association. Moreover, if you had actually read my posts to the BOPWatch Yahoo group, you would see these unpaid posts have very little to do with Howard, but rather are communications with the many other attorneys who still participate in that Group.

Again, Bill, perhaps you should check your facts rather than just giving a smug, baseless opinion.

EJ Hurst II

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