Criminal Practice

  • July 14, 2025

    Judge Probes Bid To Block Wash. Clergy Abuse Reporter Law

    A Washington federal judge appeared receptive Monday to Catholic officials' argument that a new state law requiring priests to report suspected child abuse amounts to a free exercise violation, while also expressing uncertainty about how far the court can go in blocking the statute's enactment.

  • July 14, 2025

    Ill. Court Orders Resentencing Due To Trial Judge's Remarks

    A split Illinois state appeals court has ruled that a Chicago man convicted of murder should be resentenced, saying comments made by a trial judge from the bench indicated the lower court inappropriately doubled up on aggravating factors when handing down its sentence.

  • July 14, 2025

    Split 2nd Circ. Denies Rehearing In Fox Threats Case

    A split Second Circuit on Monday declined to grant an en banc rehearing to a man convicted of sending threatening messages to two Fox News hosts and two members of Congress, saying the 11-member jury that found him guilty did not violate his constitutional rights.

  • July 14, 2025

    Conservative Justice Reform Group Expands With Ga. Director

    A conservative-leaning organization that focuses on criminal justice reform has announced it will be expanding into Georgia with the hiring of a former lobbyist for a national prosecutor's association as its new state director.

  • July 14, 2025

    Mass. High Court Reverses Gun Conviction Over Birth Date

    A man sentenced to 18 months in prison for carrying a firearm and ammunition without a license had his convictions reversed by Massachusetts' highest court because the state failed to adequately prove its records search targeted the right person.

  • July 14, 2025

    Deportation Before Due Process? Mass. Justices To Decide

    A Haitian man charged with sexual assault in Massachusetts hopes to be deported home instead of facing a trial, an unusual case where the state's highest court is expected to decide whether judges can use bail to keep a person in state custody out of immigration proceedings.

  • July 14, 2025

    Tulsa Sheriff, DA Seek Pause In Tribal Jurisdiction Dispute

    Tulsa County, Oklahoma, Sheriff Vic Regalado and District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler on Friday asked a federal judge to pause the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's lawsuit seeking to prevent the state from asserting criminal jurisdiction on its reservation until the U.S. Supreme Court reviews a similar case.

  • July 14, 2025

    States Back Domestic Violence Groups In DOJ Grant Fight

    Nearly two dozen states are backing a group of domestic violence coalitions in their bid to block the Trump administration from imposing restrictions on grants by the Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, saying the funding is critical to their ability to fulfill their public safety obligations.

  • July 14, 2025

    Ex-ComEd Exec Gets 1½ Years For Hiding Madigan Bribes

    An Illinois federal judge on Monday sentenced a former Commonwealth Edison executive and lobbyist to one and a half years in prison for his role in a scheme to steer payments to allies of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan to win his support for energy legislation favorable to the utility, and for falsifying company records to hide no-show jobs for Madigan's associates.

  • July 14, 2025

    San Francisco DA: 'Tough On Crime' Can Also Be Thoughtful

    In 2022, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins took charge of an office in turmoil after leading a successful recall effort against her predecessor, whom she criticized as too soft on crime. Now, Jenkins is under harsh public scrutiny as she works to shift the office's priorities. In this audio interview with the new Criminal Practice Law360, she discusses some of the challenges — and opportunities — of one of the highest-profile and most politicized prosecutors' offices in the nation.

  • July 14, 2025

    11th Circ. Won't Reexamine Sentence Of Convicted Fla. Atty

    The Eleventh Circuit has rejected a Florida lawyer's request to reconsider her 75-month prison sentence for a COVID-19 loan fraud scheme.

  • July 11, 2025

    DC Circ. Allows Gov't To Undo 9/11 Plea Deals

    A D.C. Circuit panel ruled on Friday that former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acted within the bounds of his legal authority when he yanked back plea deals from a trio of 9/11 co-conspirators that had already been signed.

  • July 11, 2025

    Parents Of Gay Teen File Suit Alleging Death Was No Suicide

    Attorneys for the family of a New Jersey teenager whose 2015 death was deemed a suicide said Friday that they had filed a suit believed to be the first filed under a 34-year-old state constitutional amendment, demanding that New Jersey officials turn over evidence so the family can privately investigate her death as murder.

  • July 11, 2025

    Ohio Panel Orders Resentencing In Firearms Case

    An Ohio appeals panel has upheld the conviction of a Cleveland man convicted of murder and aggravated assault but ordered that he must be resentenced after a state trial court judge incorrectly applied a sentencing enhancement when calculating his prison time.

  • July 11, 2025

    Calif. County Asks Justices To Deny 7th Amendment Review

    A Northern California county is urging the U.S. Supreme Court not to hear a case arguing that the constitutional right to a jury trial should apply in instances of local law enforcement issuing civil penalties for alleged illicit marijuana growing.

  • July 11, 2025

    Bove Faults 'Heavy-Handed' Jan. 6 Cases

    Third Circuit nominee Emil Bove, who is currently serving in the U.S. Department of Justice, in his post-hearing questionnaire obtained by Law360 on Friday, drew what he says is a distinction between condemning violence against law enforcement officers and over-prosecution of Jan. 6 rioters.

  • July 11, 2025

    Widow Asks 4th Circ. For Innocent Spouse Tax Relief

    An 80-year-old widow whose husband went to jail for filing false tax returns asked the Fourth Circuit to overturn a U.S. Tax Court ruling finding her liable for interest payments related to the couple's millions of dollars in tax debt.

  • July 11, 2025

    Claims Stack Up Against Texas Judges Accused Of Tampering

    A Texas judge embroiled in a scandal involving allegations of witness tampering has been suspended without pay following a federal indictment alleging she pressured a subordinate to withhold testimony in a separate proceeding against a local justice of the peace.

  • July 11, 2025

    'Sketchy' Details Of Doc's Death Leave Fraud Case In Limbo

    A Manhattan federal judge said Friday that he would consider dismissing charges against a New York City doctor accused of facilitating a $70 million insurance fraud if his death is confirmed, but cited ongoing questions over his purported demise in a boating accident. 

  • July 10, 2025

    'Tiger King' Loses Retrial Bid Over Alleged Witness Lies

    The Tenth Circuit has rejected Joseph "Tiger King" Maldonado's latest bid for a new trial following the Netflix series star's murder-for-hire conviction and 21-year sentence, saying arguments regarding supposed witness recantations were waived or unclear.

  • July 10, 2025

    Pa. High Court Takes Up Appeal Over Criminal Gun Rights

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of a man who is accused of attempted murder and weapons charges and consider whether the weapons charges are at odds with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen.

  • July 10, 2025

    Ex-Bank CEO Depo Blocked On 5th Amendment Concerns

    A Florida federal judge Thursday blocked the deposition of a former Puerto Rican bank CEO in a suit alleging a $28 million fraud while a related criminal case is pending against him, but suggested the plaintiffs move forward requesting other documents and depositions that would not implicate the CEO's Fifth Amendment right.

  • July 10, 2025

    Okla. Gov.'s Brother Seeks High Court Review Of Tribal Ticket

    Keith Stitt, brother of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a decision that denied his appeal of a speeding ticket issued on tribal lands, arguing that the state never intended to accept a landmark ruling on the restoration of proper criminal jurisdiction in Indian Country.

  • July 10, 2025

    Pa. Court Says DA Can Refile Murder Charge In Fatal Stabbing

    A split appeals court in Pennsylvania has ruled that the commonwealth may refile charges against a woman for murdering her former girlfriend during an altercation, overturning a state trial court's finding that there was not enough evidence to bring the case.

  • July 09, 2025

    2nd Circ. Axes Conviction Over False Text-To-Vote Memes

    The Second Circuit on Wednesday overturned the conspiracy conviction of a onetime Twitter influencer who worked to convince Democrats in November 2016 they could cast votes for president by text message, saying there was scant proof he coordinated with others.

Expert Analysis

  • DOJ Actions Signal Rising Enforcement Risk For Health Cos.

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Department of Justice's announcement of a new False Claims Act working group, together with the largest healthcare fraud takedown in history, underscore the importance of sophisticated compliance programs that align with the DOJ's data-driven approach, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • How Attys Can Use AI To Surface Narratives In E-Discovery

    Author Photo

    E-discovery has reached a turning point where document review is no longer just about procedural tasks like identifying relevance and redacting privilege — rather, generative artificial intelligence tools now allow attorneys to draw connections, extract meaning and tell a coherent story, says Rose Jones at Hilgers Graben.

  • How To Strengthen A Case By Mastering Expert Witness Prep

    Author Photo

    A well-prepared expert witness can bolster a case's credibility with persuasive qualifications, compelling voir dire responses and concise testimony that can withstand cross-examination, says Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie.

  • ABA Opinion Makes It A Bit Easier To Drop A 'Hot Potato'

    Author Photo

    The American Bar Association's recent ethics opinion clarifies when attorneys may terminate clients without good cause, though courts may still disqualify a lawyer who drops a client like a hot potato, so sending a closeout letter is always a best practice, say attorneys at Thompson Hine.

  • Policy Shifts Bring New Anti-Money Laundering Challenges

    Author Photo

    In the second half of 2025, the U.S. anti-money laundering regulatory landscape is poised for decisive shifts in enforcement priorities, compliance expectations and legislative developments — so investment advisers and other financial institutions should take steps to prepare for potential new obligations and areas of risk, say attorneys at Linklaters.

  • 8 Ways Lawyers Can Protect The Rule Of Law In Their Work

    Author Photo

    Whether they are concerned with judicial independence, regulatory predictability or client confidence, lawyers can take specific meaningful actions on their own when traditional structures are too slow or too compromised to respond, says Angeli Patel at the Berkeley Center of Law and Business.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Communicating With Clients

    Author Photo

    Law school curricula often overlook client communication procedures, and those who actively teach this crucial facet of the practice can create exceptional client satisfaction and success, says Patrick Hanson at Wiggam Law.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From US Rep. To Boutique Firm

    Author Photo

    My transition from serving as a member of Congress to becoming a partner at a boutique firm has been remarkably smooth, in part because I never stopped exercising my legal muscles, maintained relationships with my former colleagues and set the right tone at the outset, says Mondaire Jones at Friedman Kaplan.

  • Opinion

    FCPA Shift Is A Good Start, But There's More DOJ Should Do

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Department of Justice’s new Foreign Corrupt Practices Act guidelines bring a needed course correction amid overexpansive enforcement, but there’s more the DOJ can do to provide additional clarity and predictability for global companies, say attorneys at Norton Rose.

  • CARES Act Fraud Enforcement Is Unlikely To Slow Down

    Author Photo

    In the five years since the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, the federal government has devoted massive resources to investigating CARES Act fraud — and all signs suggest the U.S. Department of Justice will continue vigorous enforcement in this area, say attorneys at Kostelanetz.

  • 2025's First Half Brings Regulatory Detours For Fintechs

    Author Photo

    The first half of the year has resulted in a bifurcated regulatory environment for fintechs, featuring narrowed enforcement in some areas, heightened scrutiny in others and a policy window that, with proper compliance, offers meaningful opportunities for innovation, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Opinion

    Senate's 41% Litigation Finance Tax Would Hurt Legal System

    Author Photo

    The Senate’s latest version of the Big Beautiful Bill Act would impose a 41% tax on the litigation finance industry, but the tax is totally disconnected from the concerns it purports to address, and it would set the country back to a time when small plaintiffs had little recourse against big defendants, says Anthony Sebok at Cardozo School of Law.

  • 3 Juror Psychology Principles For Expert Witness Testimony

    Author Photo

    Expert witnesses can sometimes fall into traps when trying to teach juries complex topics by failing to consider the psychology of juror comprehension, but attorneys can help witnesses avoid these pitfalls with a deeper understanding of cognitive lag, chunking and learning styles, says Steve Wood at Courtroom Sciences.

  • What Baseball Can Teach Criminal Attys About Rule Of Lenity

    Author Photo

    Judges tend to assess ambiguous criminal laws not unlike how baseball umpires approach checked swings, so defense attorneys should consider how to best frame their arguments to maximize courts' willingness to invoke the rule of lenity, wherein a tie goes to the defendant, says Jonathan Porter at Husch Blackwell.

  • Series

    Performing As A Clown Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    To say that being a clown in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has changed my legal career would truly be an understatement — by creating an opening to converse on a unique topic, it has allowed me to connect with clients, counsel and even judges on a deeper level, says Charles Tatelbaum at Tripp Scott.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here