Sentencing/Post Conviction

Scammer who tortured cats hit with state’s harshest animal abuse penalty

After a yearslong practice of torturing cats to create social media donation campaigns generating over $400,000 for nearly 20 abused animals, a 27-year-old Virginia man has received 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to animal abuse and computer fraud.

Sep 24, 2026 10:36 AM CDT

Federal judge convicted of drunk driving takes year of leave for counseling

A Michigan judge who has been on leave for seven months will spend another year on paid leave while he undergoes counseling related to a drunk driving arrest.

Sep 23, 2026 9:34 AM CDT

Former lawyer sentenced to 24½ years in prison for attempted murder of ex-wife

A former Ohio attorney convicted of trying to kill his ex-wife in a Toledo, Ohio, restaurant last year was sentenced to up to 24½ years in prison.

Sep 22, 2026 9:32 AM CDT

In split opinion, court permanently disbars judge convicted of indecent behavior with teens

Following a 2020 conviction for indecent behavior with teenagers and misdemeanor sexual battery, a former Louisiana judge has been permanently disbarred by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Sep 17, 2026 12:04 PM CDT

Lawyers in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ defamation case claim they haven’t been paid in over 6 months

Lawyers representing imprisoned hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs in an ongoing defamation case have asked to be removed, citing nonpayment of legal fees.

Sep 17, 2026 11:25 AM CDT

Judge in rehab after DUI conviction, says he has no plans to resign

An Indiana judge said he has no intention of resigning as he attends full-time treatment following a conviction for drunk driving.

Sep 16, 2026 9:47 AM CDT

Nowhere to Go: Sick inmates on compassionate release are often barred from nursing homes

Most states now provide for compassionate release, which allows people in prison to qualify for early release when advanced age, terminal illness or incapacitation lessens the need for their continued incarceration. But how to move these people out of prison—and where to move them—remains a national problem.

Sep 15, 2026 1:49 PM CDT

Ex-‘Crypto King’ Samuel Bankman-Fried asks Supreme Court to overturn conviction

FTX cryptocurrency exchange founder Samuel Bankman-Fried, the ex-“Crypto King” who was convicted on multiple counts of fraud and money laundering in connection to the former cryptocurrency exchange, has filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sep 14, 2026 11:43 AM CDT

Lawyers for SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein ask appeals court to vacate conviction

Lawyers for attorney Tom Goldstein, a SCOTUSblog co-founder who was found guilty in February of tax evasion and making false statements on loan applications, have filed an appeal asking that his conviction be vacated.

Sep 14, 2026 11:21 AM CDT

Lindsay Clancy trial shows how hard it is to prove intent retroactively

In many situations, it’s impossible to prove what someone was thinking beyond a reasonable doubt. All my prosecutor buddies will scream from the top of their collective lungs that they can always prove intent through circumstantial evidence. I disagree.

Sep 10, 2026 12:15 PM CDT