#legal-guilty-plea

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Law
fromPadailypost
14 hours ago

DA sued for paying prosecutor not to work

A lawsuit claims Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen wastes taxpayer money by paying a prosecutor to stay home amid budget cuts.
fromwww.dw.com
8 hours ago

Germany: Man found guilty in Pelicot-style rape case

Zhongyi J*, a 27-year-old Chinese student, was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder and seven counts of aggravated rape, sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison.
Germany news
NYC politics
fromwww.foxnews.com
1 day ago

Gubernatorial candidate vows to pardon cop convicted of manslaughter in death of fleeing suspect

Bruce Blakeman plans to pardon Sgt. Erik Duran, convicted of manslaughter for the death of a fleeing suspect, calling the sentence unjust.
Social justice
fromTruthout
2 days ago

Pennsylvania's Abolitionist Organizers Win Victory Against Mandatory Life Without Parole

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ruling overturns mandatory life sentences for felony murder, impacting over a thousand individuals, primarily Black.
fromBoston.com
3 days ago

Retired Mass. State Police sergeant pleads guilty in PPP fraud scheme

Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, was charged with one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office said. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Boston
Poker
fromReadWrite
4 days ago

Ex Philadelphia probation officer sentenced in illegal gambling case

A former probation officer was sentenced for running an illegal sports betting operation, facing jail time, home confinement, and financial penalties.
US politics
fromAdvocate.com
4 days ago

A federal judge is forcing the Trump administration to answer for Renee Good's killing

Federal judge orders release of evidence related to Renee Good's killing by ICE officer, challenging the Trump administration's control over the narrative.
US news
fromFOX 5 New York
5 days ago

Former NYPD sergeant sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison in cooler death case

A former NYPD sergeant was sentenced to 3-9 years for manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a suspect, causing a fatal crash.
#arson
Brooklyn
fromBrooklyn, NY Patch
5 days ago

Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty To Arson After Setting 10 NYPD Vehicles On Fire

A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty to setting fire to 10 NYPD vehicles, causing $800,000 in damage, and faces a minimum five-year prison sentence.
Brooklyn
fromLAmag
4 days ago

Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in NYPD Vehicle Arson Case

A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty to arson, destroying 11 NYPD vehicles, facing up to 20 years in prison.
Brooklyn
fromBrooklyn, NY Patch
5 days ago

Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty To Arson After Setting 10 NYPD Vehicles On Fire

A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty to setting fire to 10 NYPD vehicles, causing $800,000 in damage, and faces a minimum five-year prison sentence.
Brooklyn
fromLAmag
4 days ago

Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in NYPD Vehicle Arson Case

A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty to arson, destroying 11 NYPD vehicles, facing up to 20 years in prison.
fromwww.bbc.com
5 days ago

Woman killed sister and snatched Rolex, court told

Nancy Pexton, 69, is accused of fatally stabbing her sister, Jennifer Abbott Dauward, in the neck and stealing her diamond-encrusted gold Rolex watch. The incident occurred on June 10 in Camden, London.
London politics
#legal-ethics
Law
fromAbove the Law
23 hours ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Billing 34.5 Hours In A Day, New ABA Recusal Opinion, Shortcomings In SCOTUS Ethics Rules, Pro Se AI Sanctions, Extra Time For Bar Exam, Purging Immigration Judges & More - Above the Law

Lawyers must disclose information that could lead to a judge's disqualification, balancing this with client confidentiality obligations.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago
Law

Lawyers Frequently Lie To Their Adversaries - Above the Law

Lawyers must verify adversaries' statements because misrepresentations can be used to advance positions and may lead to sanctions or other serious consequences.
Law
fromAbove the Law
23 hours ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Billing 34.5 Hours In A Day, New ABA Recusal Opinion, Shortcomings In SCOTUS Ethics Rules, Pro Se AI Sanctions, Extra Time For Bar Exam, Purging Immigration Judges & More - Above the Law

Lawyers must disclose information that could lead to a judge's disqualification, balancing this with client confidentiality obligations.
#rex-heuermann
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 day ago

In America, Even Judges Have To Take Matters In To Their Own Hands - Above the Law

Judges are increasingly carrying guns for self-protection due to rising threats and inadequate security measures.
SF parents
fromLos Angeles Times
2 weeks ago

Mom who brutally tortured, killed boy is denied resentencing. Under state law, she can try again

Pearl Fernandez has been denied resentencing for the murder of her son Gabriel for the second time, frustrating his relatives.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 day ago

Morning Docket: 04.13.26 - Above the Law

White House ballroom construction has resumed, while various legal and corporate developments unfold across the country.
#public-defender
SF politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
2 weeks ago

Judge fines San Francisco public defender for contempt after he refuses to take new cases

San Francisco's public defender was fined for rejecting cases due to overwhelming workload and insufficient staffing, impacting the justice system.
Law
fromsfist.com
2 weeks ago

Humpday Headlines: Judge Fines SF Public Defender For Turning Down Cases

SF Public Defender Mano Raju is hiring 36 new attorneys while facing contempt for turning down cases due to unmanageable caseloads.
SF politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
2 weeks ago

Judge fines San Francisco public defender for contempt after he refuses to take new cases

San Francisco's public defender was fined for rejecting cases due to overwhelming workload and insufficient staffing, impacting the justice system.
Law
fromsfist.com
2 weeks ago

Humpday Headlines: Judge Fines SF Public Defender For Turning Down Cases

SF Public Defender Mano Raju is hiring 36 new attorneys while facing contempt for turning down cases due to unmanageable caseloads.
Law
fromAbove the Law
23 hours ago

Biglaw Firm Sued For Firing Staffer A Month After Returning From Disability - Above the Law

Firing an employee shortly after disability leave, amid claims of a hostile work environment, can lead to legal repercussions.
fromSlate Magazine
2 weeks ago

DOJ Lawyers Just Had to Make One of Their Most Embarrassing Confessions Yet

The Department of Justice offered a startling confession to a court on Tuesday, acknowledging that it repeatedly made a 'material mistaken statement of fact' while defending Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of noncitizens at immigration court.
US politics
Law
fromTheregister
1 day ago

AI spread through law. Here's what happened next

AI's rapid advancements in coding are overshadowed by significant downsides, particularly in legal systems where hallucinations lead to unreliable outputs.
Philosophy
fromAbove the Law
4 weeks ago

You Can't Salvage A Bad Judge By Calling Them Postmodern - Above the Law

Postmodern analysis offers useful concepts for understanding contemporary disenchantment with traditional meaning systems, exemplified by judicial figures like Lawrence VanDyke who adopt unconventional approaches to legal writing.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Lawyers Should Stay Away From A Client's Office Politics - Above the Law

Attorneys should avoid office politics when representing clients to ensure effective communication and minimize internal conflicts.
#judicial-misconduct
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Judge Accused Of Driving 'Super Drunk' Takes No Contest Plea - Above the Law

Judge Thomas L. Ludington entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge and intends to remain on the bench.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Judge Accused Of Driving 'Super Drunk' Takes No Contest Plea - Above the Law

Judge Thomas L. Ludington entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor drunken-driving charge and intends to remain on the bench.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
#jury-trial-reform
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago
UK politics

Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan

Over 3,200 lawyers and judges oppose government plans to abolish jury trials in certain cases, arguing there is no evidence this will reduce record court backlogs of nearly 80,000 cases.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago
UK politics

Labour lawyers blocked' from briefing MPs on jury trials overhaul before vote

Labour MPs opposing jury trial cuts faced blocked access to legal briefings from affiliated lawyers, with 65 MPs potentially voting against the courts and tribunals bill.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
1 month ago

Thousands of lawyers oppose jury restriction plan

Over 3,200 lawyers and judges oppose government plans to abolish jury trials in certain cases, arguing there is no evidence this will reduce record court backlogs of nearly 80,000 cases.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Labour lawyers blocked' from briefing MPs on jury trials overhaul before vote

Labour MPs opposing jury trial cuts faced blocked access to legal briefings from affiliated lawyers, with 65 MPs potentially voting against the courts and tribunals bill.
Law
fromSlate Magazine
4 days ago

The Terrible, Hidden Stakes of One of the Thorniest Supreme Court Cases of This Term

Pitchford v. Cain highlights the complexities of racial discrimination claims in jury selection within the constraints of modern habeas corpus law.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.18.26 - Above the Law

Chief Justice Roberts calls for ending personal attacks on judges, while questions arise about presidential official acts; meanwhile, legal developments span judicial conduct, cryptocurrency regulation, Section 230 reform, and national security concerns.
fromPadailypost
1 month ago

DA decides not to retry Galatolo case

Wagstaffe said he decided not to retry the remaining charges due to the high cost to San Mateo County taxpayers. He did not have an estimate as to how much a second trial would cost. Galatolo is facing 10 years in prison for the eight counts he was convicted of, which Wagstaffe says is a reasonable sentence, with or without the additional convictions.
California
#murder-charge
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.10.26 - Above the Law

A Texas judge ordered a lawyer to court for criticizing the judge's behavior, prompting a response from fellow lawyers.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

What Does Competence Mean When Litigation Happens In Real Time? - Above the Law

Competence in law is evolving as technology changes the speed and precision of decision-making in litigation.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
4 days ago

Texas court overturns sentence for man on death row for nearly 50 years

The Texas court overturned Clarence Curtis Jordan's death sentence due to his intellectual disabilities and lack of legal representation for decades.
California
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Former Whittier officer pleads guilty in shooting that left unarmed man paralyzed

Former Whittier police officer Salvador Murillo pleaded guilty to assault charges for shooting an unarmed man in 2020, resulting in paralysis, and lost his police certification.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
5 days ago

Crime victims and bereaved families given more time to challenge lenient sentences

Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman expressed her delight at the government's decision, stating that the change is long overdue and acknowledges the years of campaigning led by bereaved families like Tracey Hanson, who sought justice following the tragic death of her son Josh.
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

The Quiet Signals We Miss - Above the Law

Mental health struggles can be subtle and may not always present as distress, making it crucial to recognize changes in behavior.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.09.26 - Above the Law

Anthropic's request for a stay regarding autonomous weapons was denied, indicating challenges in the legal arguments presented.
US news
fromESPN.com
1 month ago

Prosecutors to extend formal plea agreements in poker case

Prosecutors expect plea agreements with 21 of 31 defendants in a federal rigged poker case involving NBA figures Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones, with trial proceedings advancing.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Look Who's Back! Former Lawyer Of The Year Out Of Prison And Back In Hollywood. - Above the Law

Michael Avenatti, once a prominent lawyer, is now in a halfway house after serving time for multiple crimes including extortion and embezzlement.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

Judge Who Handcuffed Crying 13-Year-Old Girl Retiring - Above the Law

Judge Roger Benitez's actions in court raised serious ethical concerns, leading to a formal complaint and a light reprimand before his retirement.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
6 days ago

'Gladiator fight' cases against L.A. juvenile hall staffers are falling apart

Many criminal cases against probation officers in California are collapsing after initial indictments for allowing youth fights in juvenile halls.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Discovery As Truth-Seeking: Win Hard Without Playing Hide-The-Ball - Above the Law

Effective discovery requires more than compliance - it requires strategy. Litigators can balance expansive discovery rights and privacy concerns without slowing cases down through practical, results-focused approaches that consider proportionality, electronically stored information management, and the specific discovery rules applicable to their jurisdiction.
Intellectual property law
Law
fromBoston.com
6 days ago

Lindsay Clancy will admit to killing her children if trial is split into 2 parts, defense says

Lindsay Clancy's defense seeks to split her murder trial into two phases, focusing on culpability and sanity, after a previous request was denied.
fromIPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
1 month ago

When Lawyers Need Help: Supporting Colleagues While Protecting Clients

The legal profession rewards endurance, precision and control. It also quietly normalizes stress, isolation and overextension. For patent practitioners and other IP lawyers, the pressures are uniquely acute: compressed prosecution deadlines, high-stakes litigation exposure, often unrealistic client-driven budget constraints, regulatory whiplash at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and increasingly complex technologies layered with global filing and prosecution strategy.
Intellectual property law
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.02.26 - Above the Law

DOJ has prioritized deporting law-abiding individuals over prosecuting serious criminal cases.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

The Price Of Justice And The Promise Of AI - Above the Law

Rising legal service costs and declining access-to-justice funding widen the gap for those needing legal protections, with AI presenting potential solutions.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
2 months ago

Queens Defenders founder pleads guilty to stealing hundreds of thousands from the legal services provider amNewYork

Lori Zeno pleaded guilty to conspiring with her husband and an employee to embezzle nonprofit funds, diverting public defense money for personal luxury expenses.
Books
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Who Better To Write A Legal Thriller Than A Trial Attorney? - Above the Law

A Tampa attorney published a legal thriller about a charter captain on Anna Maria Island accused of murder amid 1970s drug smuggling and death‑penalty conflict.
US news
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Redwood City man pleads no contest to fraud for maximum sentence of 6 months

A moving company owner pleaded no contest to workers compensation fraud and tax evasion, causing over $200,000 in losses to his insurer through unreported payroll.
Law
fromPoynter
1 week ago

Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too. - Poynter

Prosecutors and journalists both contribute to misleading public perceptions of crime, but prosecutors possess crucial data to tell a more accurate story.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
2 months ago

Gang sign testimony deemed fair play for attempted murder conviction amNewYork

Gang-related evidence and expert testimony about slang and signs supported motive and accessorial liability, sustaining the attempted murder conviction.
fromwww.amny.com
1 month ago

Feds won't fight dismissal of death penalty-eligible Mangione charges | amNewYork

The government writes, in accordance with the court's instructions at the pretrial conference on Jan. 30, 2026, to inform the court that the Department of Justice will not seek interlocutory review of the court's order entered that same day dismissing counts three and four of the indictment.
US news
Law
fromABA Journal
3 weeks ago

Drug convictions bar lawyer from bench but not from practicing law

Felony drug convictions prevent lawyer from becoming a judge but allow him to continue practicing law in Montana.
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

Singer assaulted sleeping woman, court hears

A former singer with Spandau Ballet told a woman 'thanks for being cool about it' when she calmly talked him down from raping her, a court has heard. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she woke up to find Ross Davidson trying to have sex with her in a hotel in Thailand without her permission and without a condom.
UK news
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

With murder trial looming, 3 take deals in killing of ex-San Jose cop who worked as KRON4 security guard

Three alleged gang members agreed to decades-long prison terms for a robbery that resulted in the 2021 killing of San Jose police Officer Kevin Nishita.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

The Perp Walk Is The Point - Above the Law

The Justice Department sought to publicize an image of Don Lemon in handcuffs while prosecuting protesters and attempted to suppress public docket records.
Law
fromBoston.com
2 weeks ago

Why did Kelsey Fitzsimmons choose to have a judge decide her fate?

Kelsey Fitzsimmons is on trial for assault, with her fate decided by Judge Jeffrey T. Karp instead of a jury.
Law
fromABA Journal
3 weeks ago

Fake lawyer who used real bar number to practice law pleads guilty

A man in Las Vegas pleaded guilty to impersonating a lawyer using another attorney's bar number.
Law
from48 hills
2 weeks ago

Judge sanctions public defender in case that raises critical issues about criminal justice - 48 hills

Public Defender Mano Raju was fined $26,000 for refusing cases due to overwhelming workloads, highlighting systemic issues in public defense funding.
US politics
fromAdvocate.com
2 months ago

'Nothing about what is going on here is normal': A fight over evidence in Good, Pretti cases

State and county lawyers sought court orders to prevent federal agencies from destroying evidence and to compel evidence sharing after alleged mishandling in fatal shootings.
US news
fromwww.ocregister.com
2 months ago

Misconduct by prosecution leads to reprieve for California killer once sentenced to life in prison

A state prisoner will be released in about five years after a 1988 murder case was compromised by prosecutorial misconduct, resulting in a reduced sentence.
US politics
fromABA Journal
2 months ago

Law students demand loophole shielding federal officers from civil suits should be closed

Congress should pass the Federal Officer Accountability Act to allow civil suits against federal officers and prevent qualified immunity for excessive force.
US news
fromPadailypost
2 months ago

Jury hung on 18 Galatolo charges

Former San Mateo County Community College Chancellor Ron Galatolo was found guilty on eight charges while a mistrial was declared on 18 remaining felony counts.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
3 weeks ago

In rare move, ICE drags criminal defendant out of a federal courtroom

ICE agents unexpectedly detained a defendant in a courtroom, raising concerns about the impact on judicial participation.
Law
fromwww.amny.com
3 weeks ago

Op-Ed | The right' to remain silent | amNewYork

Remaining silent when approached by law enforcement can protect individuals from self-incrimination, despite potential short-term consequences.
US politics
fromJezebel
2 months ago

Federal Judge Flames AG Bondi for Ignoring Presumption of Innocence

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted arrested protesters' mug shots during active trials, prompting a federal judge to condemn public labeling of presumed-innocent defendants.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

People Often Confuse One Attorney For Another - Above the Law

Lawyers can minimize mistaken identity issues by clarifying their location and practicing due diligence in communication.
Law
fromFortune
3 weeks ago

Luigi Mangione's lawyers say back-to-back state and federal trials violate his constitutional rights | Fortune

Luigi Mangione's defense team requested postponing his federal trial to January 2027 and moving his state trial to September to avoid simultaneous preparation for two serious trials.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
4 weeks ago

California trial attorneys push bills to rein in 'bad actors' in legal industry

California trial lawyers support bills increasing penalties for attorneys who illegally solicit clients or allow hedge funds to control case strategy.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 weeks ago

The Rule Of Law Joins America's Dead Pets On The Rainbow Bridge - Above the Law

Trump attorney John Lauro claimed the DOJ improved under Attorney General Pam Bondi, contradicting legal observers who view current conditions as a constitutional crisis threatening prosecutorial independence.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Lawyer Convicted Of Systematic Sexual Abuse Of Children - Above the Law

Bishop was found guilty on 24 counts of committing lewd acts on three minor victims, all described in court documents as victims under the age of 14. The span of these offenses covers multiple years. Evidence admitted at trial showed that Bishop possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material depicting two of the minor victims.
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Fright Makes Right - See Also - Above the Law

The DOJ's actions against law firms, weakening of the Hatch Act, law school pipeline expansion efforts, and major scholarship funding represent significant shifts in legal institutions and governance structures.
Law
fromwww.amny.com
1 month ago

Op-Ed | The disappearance of the criminal jury trial | amNewYork

Federal criminal trials have nearly disappeared, with fewer than 3% of cases going to trial compared to 20% in the mid-20th century, undermining the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Threading The Needle: How To Win The Case That Can't Be Won (At Least Not The Obvious Way) - Above the Law

Win messy cases by accepting client imperfection, avoiding absolutism, and focusing ruthlessly on the single pivotal issue that defines where responsibility ends.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Running Your Cases - Above the Law

They don't drive it. They don't manage it. They don't control it. They let it control them. And then one day, they look up and realize discovery closed last week, the client is asking why nobody has taken the key depo, the adjuster wants a status report "by the end of the day," and the partner is asking the question that makes your stomach drop: "Where are we on this file?"
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Tomorrow: Tales From The Witness Stand - What 'Winning' Expert Testimony Looks Like - Above the Law

Effective expert testimony requires credibility, clear translation of jargon, strategic cross-examination, and preparation incorporating technology to persuade judges and juries.
fromSocial Media Explorer
2 months ago

The Role of Witnesses in Strengthening Your Injury Case - Social Media Explorer

Witnesses play a crucial role in personal injury cases, often serving as the backbone of the evidence presented in court. Their testimonies can provide essential context and details that may not be captured through physical evidence alone. In many instances, the accounts of witnesses can corroborate the claims made by the injured party, lending credibility to their narrative. This is particularly important in personal injury cases, where the burden of proof lies with the plaintiff. A strong witness can help
Law
Law
fromPadailypost
2 months ago

Jurors hear closing arguments in Stanford protester trial

Five students are on trial accused of conspiring to occupy the Stanford president's office, causing over $300,000 in property damage during a June protest.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

On-Demand Webinar: What Winning Expert Testimony Looks Like - Above the Law

Effective expert testimony balances credibility with openness to opposing perspectives, clear translation of technical concepts for factfinders, and resilience under rigorous cross-examination.
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