NJ Prosecutor Seeks Court Permission to Conduct State’s First Juror Background Checks

Citing a growing concern about potential jurors who conceal criminal convictions in order to qualify to serve on a panel, a New Jersey prosecutor is seeking court permission to perform criminal background checks on those in Essex County. Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray is scheduled to argue a motion…

Jan 13, 2012 9:15 PM CST

Judge OKs Jury’s $1.3M Retaliation Award to DA’s Office Investigator

A Santa Barbara judge brought in to oversee a California retaliation case against the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office after local judges recused themselves has OK’d a $1.3 million jury award to a former investigator. However, an attorney for the county and the DA’s office said they intend to appeal…

Jan 13, 2012 8:34 PM CST

Lawyer Loses License for Lying to FBI About Gift of Small Dog to Girlfriend of Zoning Board Member

Rejecting a review board’s call for a three-year law license suspension, the New Jersey Supreme Court has disbarred a lawyer for lying to federal authorities about the small dog he gave to the girlfriend of a Union City Zoning Board member. Attorney Jose Izquierdo II, who is now in his…

Jan 13, 2012 7:18 PM CST

Supreme Court Grants Cert in Cases of Drug-Sniffing Dog, Indian Tribes’ Repayment

Do police need probable cause before they use a drug-sniffing dog outside the home of a suspected marijuana operation? The issue arises in one of two cases that got the Supreme Court’s attention on Friday, SCOTUSblog reports. The state of Florida argues there is no need for probable cause the…

Jan 9, 2012 2:34 PM CST

Cleveland Sues Ohio to Keep Its Trans Fat Ban

Cleveland Mayor Frank Johnson filed a complaint Tuesday against Ohio in response to a recent state law that bans municipalities from regulating the ingredients restaurants use to prepare foods. The battle over trans fat began last April when, as part of its Healthy Cleveland initiative, the Cleveland City Council passed…

Jan 4, 2012 10:55 PM CST

Co-Equal Opportunity: Legislators Are Out to Take Over Their State Judiciary Systems

Jan 1, 2012 11:00 AM CST

Daunting Dubai: Security Officials Nearly Force Cancellation of IBA Annual Meeting

Jan 1, 2012 10:20 AM CST

Isn’t It Ironic? FCC’s New Website Comes Short on Communication

Jan 1, 2012 10:10 AM CST

DA Mulls Call for Case Review, Because Top Court Justice Got Free Legal Services from Party’s Firm

A Wisconsin district attorney is pondering whether to ask the state supreme court to reconsider a controversial ruling over a state collective bargaining law for public employees, following news that one of the justices who voted on the case received free legal representation from a party’s law firm, the Milwaukee…

Dec 22, 2011 8:55 PM CST

NY Official Points Finger at Lawyer for Heiress, Calls $90M in Unpaid Gift Tax ‘Tip of the Iceberg’

An accountant has stepped down from administering the $400 million estate of heiress Huguette Clark and a lawyer is expected to face questions in a Manhattan Surrogate’s Court hearing tomorrow, after the New York public administrator accused the two of failing to pay $90 million she owed in federal gift…

Dec 22, 2011 6:42 PM CST

Bank of America to Pay Record $335M to Settle Claims of Countrywide Mortgage Lending Bias

Updated: Bank of America Corp. has agreed to pay a $335 million to settle claims that the Countrywide Financial unit it purchased discriminated against minorities by giving them mortgages with less favorable terms than the ones granted to whites. An independent monitor will be appointed to determine how the settlement…

Dec 21, 2011 9:31 PM CST

Political Spat Puts Divorcing Couples in NJ County in ‘Uncomfortable Purgatory’

A political spat over judicial appointments in New Jersey has put contested divorce trials on hold in the state’s busiest county court system. Gov. Chris Christie has refused to approve candidates to fill six judicial vacancies in Essex County because Democrats have held up his appointments to boards and commissions,…

Dec 21, 2011 12:41 PM CST

Retired Cops and Firefighters in RI Town Accept Pension Cuts in Bankruptcy Deal

A lawyer representing retired police and firefighters in Central Falls, R.I., says his clients have agreed to steep pension cuts in a groundbreaking bankruptcy deal. The agreement is subject to approval of the bankruptcy court, report the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.). Lawyer Matthew McGowan,…

Dec 20, 2011 5:46 PM CST

NY Animal Lovers Can Once Again Be Buried with Pets, Thanks to Lawyer’s Effort

Pet cemeteries in New York may once again accept human ashes because of a New York lawyer’s effort to honor the wishes of her deceased uncle. The state’s Division of Cemeteries has issued new regulations allowing the practice after a campaign by lawyer Taylor York, a criminal justice professor at…

Dec 20, 2011 12:32 PM CST

Death Is a Growth Industry for Hospices; Lawsuits Detail Incentives for Referrals

Hospice care has become a $14 billion industry that is profiting in part because of financial arrangements and gifts that encourage referrals. Bloomberg Business examined court records and interviewed more than 45 hospice employees, patients and family members to detail the financial incentives that are helping make hospice care a…

Dec 19, 2011 4:22 PM CST