Scott Rothstein: Why Come Back From Morocco?
We don’t know for sure, but there are theories.
Criminal Defense
Police Dog: The Meat-Smuggler’s Nemesis
In August, police in Framingham, Massachusetts, responded to a report that a gas station had been robbed. They brought along a tracking dog and released it in the direction in which witnesses said the robber had gone. Just a few…
Note: Closing-Argument Demonstratives Should Not Include Hand Grenade
There are better ways to demonstrate the concept of an “imminent threat,” probably.
Jury Finds Florida Man Was Not “Too Fat to Kill”
Edward Ates "looked down and shook his head in court" as he listened to the jury's verdict against him on November 6. As he did, his ponderous jowls wobbled slowly from side to side. Or, at least, ponderous and wobbly jowls would…
Gang Member to Get Makeover for Trial, Says Attorney
"Clothes make the man, and a mustache couldn't hurt either," will apparently be the trial theme in Richard Rodriguez's case against the city of El Monte, California. Rodriguez sued the city in July, alleging that a police officer used excessive…
“Grand Theft Auto” Insanity Defense Fails Again
I know this has been tried before, and I'd be surprised if it has ever worked, but it didn't work this time. In an opinion issued on October 14, the California Court of Appeal held that an insanity plea to…
Joe Francis Pleads Guilty, Avoids Jail in Tax Case
"I'm happy to finally be able to redirect my attention to the business at hand, which is to provide quality entertainment," said Joe Francis after his guilty plea was accepted on September 23. "Quality" is not really the first adjective…
Iraqi Shoe-Thrower to Get Early Release
BAGHDAD — An Iraqi journalist imprisoned for hurling his shoes at former President George W. Bush will be released next month after his sentence was reduced for good behavior, his lawyer said Saturday. Muntadhar al-Zeidi, you may recall, threw both…
Possible Joe Francis Defense Arguments: Knows Celebrities, Is Just Like Hefner
There's been lots of interest in the post the other day about the deposition conduct of Joe Francis, the "Girls Gone Wild" mogul who, it now seems, may have replaced Roy "Lost Pants" Pearson as the gift that keeps on giving to the legal-humor…
Swine-Flu Defense Fails In DUI Case
Back in the day, as I recall, we blamed (or tried to blame) el Niño for pretty much everything, but now it seems to be swine flu – I mean, the H1N1 virus. At least, blaming H1N1 is apparently all the rage in…