Criminal Procedure

Bernard Madoff’s Alleged $50B Investor Fraud ‘a Debacle for the SEC’

The Securities and Exchange Commission received several warnings about the conduct of Bernard Madoff, accused last week of cheating investors out of $50 billion in a “giant Ponzi scheme.” Madoff had a reputation for such spectacular investment returns that his conduct aroused some suspicion, but in many circles he had…

Dec 15, 2008 1:10 PM CST

Justice Souter’s Hypo: May Cops Pat Down Anyone Who ‘Looks Like Trouble’?

Justice David H. Souter questioned an Arizona lawyer Tuesday about when and where police officers may search dangerous-looking individuals. The issue in the case was whether officers may pat down passengers in a traffic stop if there is no evidence they are involved in criminal activity. Justices appeared ready to…

Dec 10, 2008 12:34 PM CST

Justice Souter Calls Lawyer’s Argument ‘Utterly Irrational’

A lawyer for the state of Tennessee defending prosecutors’ decision to withhold evidence in a death penalty trial encountered skeptical and indignant questioning from several justices on Tuesday. “There were flashes of incredulity and anger from justices” during the oral arguments, the New York Times reports. At issue is when…

Dec 10, 2008 12:07 PM CST

Exam Videotapes a Treasure Trove for Defense in Calif. Child Sex Cases

An unknown number of child sex-abuse convictions in Santa Clara County, Calif., could be overturned after the discovery of some 3,000 videotapes of medical exams dating back to 1991 that were never turned over to defense lawyers. The tapes, which came to light as medical experts reviewed the cases of…

Dec 8, 2008 6:56 PM CST

U.S. Considers Using Drug Law to Prosecute Blackwater Guards

Federal prosecutors are reportedly readying indictments for the Blackwater Worldwide guards who are alleged to have participated in the 2007 shooting deaths of Iraqi civilians. The shootings left 17 dead and strained U.S.-Iraq relations. Now prosecutors are considering using an anti-drug law to prosecute those involved, the Associated Press reports.…

Dec 4, 2008 11:34 PM CST

Carbonated Quarrel

Vexed Visitor Makes a Splash at Hospital Cafeteria After Diet Coke Dustup with Cashier

Dec 2, 2008 12:50 AM CST

Bush and Pardon Recipients Share Trait: They’re Supporters of Right to Bear Arms

Seven of the 14 people forgiven by President Bush last week are former hunting or shooting enthusiasts. Five even wrote Bush expressing their desire to win back the right to own a firearm as the chief reason for wanting the pardon, the Wall Street Journal reports. Leslie Collier, a 50-year-old…

Dec 1, 2008 9:49 PM CST

Critics Seek Uniform Standard for Police Cell Phone Tracking Requests

Some magistrate judges and lawyers are saying legislation is needed to set a uniform legal standard for cell phone tracking requests by police. Courts have been divided on the showing needed to obtain such information, the Washington Post reports. “Decisions depend on the court and even which judge in which…

Nov 14, 2008 5:55 PM CST

Blue, Yellow and Green Juries Hear Evidence in Rare Triple Murder Trial

An unusual triple murder trial of three men charged with the murder of a New York police officer during a 2007 traffic stop in Brooklyn is being handled in an unusual way. Three color-coded juries, referred to as blue, yellow and green, are being shuttled in and out of the…

Nov 11, 2008 5:36 PM CST

For Now, Convicted Sen. Ted Stevens is Still Eligible to Vote

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens will be able to vote next week because he hasn’t been sentenced yet for his conviction on seven counts in a federal corruption case. Alaska’s Department of Law decided yesterday that Stevens may vote because his conviction isn’t final, the Anchorage Daily News reports. A legal…

Oct 30, 2008 3:49 PM CDT

Man Guilty of Fatal 1980 Hit-and-Run Now Faces Murder Case in Same Death

In 1980, Ronald Rice stood before a judge in suburban Chicago and apologized for hiding the body of an 11-year-old boy that he accidentally hit with his car. He was sentenced to 6 months in the hit-and-run case. But today Cook County officials said that was far from the full…

Oct 29, 2008 6:20 PM CDT

Sen. Stevens Blasts Prosecutors after Conviction on All Counts

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is just as feisty after his corruption conviction as he was when he testified at trial. In a statement issued yesterday evening, Stevens blasted prosecutors and vowed to “fight this unjust verdict with every ounce of energy I have,” reports The BLT: The Blog of Legal…

Oct 28, 2008 11:57 AM CDT

Deliberating Jurors Spot Error in Sen. Stevens Indictment

Oops. Jurors deliberating in the high-profile corruption trial of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens spotted an error today in his indictment. “Among the seven charges in the indictment, prosecutors said that Stevens checked ‘no’ on financial documents when asked whether he received any gifts in 2001. Actually, he checked ‘yes,’ and…

Oct 27, 2008 7:21 PM CDT

Exonerated Man Helps Launch National Innocence Investigation Company

Corrected: Fortress Global Investigations, a New York City-based investigative firm, will officially launch a national investigation company focused on overturning wrongful conviction cases at a press conference today. The endeavor, Fortress Innocence Group, is the brainchild of retired New York City police detective Jay Salpeter, Martin Tankleff and Robert Seiden,…

Oct 24, 2008 10:14 PM CDT

200 Text Messages to be Released in Detroit Obstruction Case

A Michigan appeals court has declined to block the release of some 200 text messages at the heart of a criminal case against former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s ex-chief of staff. Judge Timothy Kenny intends to keep some of the messages under seal because they involve communications between the parties…

Oct 22, 2008 9:58 PM CDT