Criminal Practice

  • September 02, 2026

    Alanis Morissette Accuses 'Terrible' Tour Manager Of Extortion

    Rock star Alanis Morissette sued her former tour manager in California federal court Tuesday over claims she was the victim of a "calculated blackmail campaign" in which the manager threatened to falsely report her for drug trafficking unless she paid "massive compensation" and agreed to employ the worker as a tour director for 15 years.

  • September 02, 2026

    Ex-Manager Charged With $88K Tribal Embezzlement In Alaska

    A former coordinator for an Alaskan tribal organization has been charged with embezzling more than $88,000 by accessing its bank accounts online, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.

  • September 02, 2026

    Fla. Appeals Court Cuts Murder Conviction To Manslaughter

    A Florida appeals court Wednesday reversed a man's conviction for second-degree murder, holding that his fatal shooting of his sister's boyfriend following a domestic incident was an "impulsive overreaction" and he should therefore be convicted of manslaughter instead.

  • September 02, 2026

    Public Access Gets Win In Ex-Fla. GOP Chair's Records Case

    A Florida appellate court ruled Wednesday in favor of public access to investigative records involving the former chairman of the Sunshine State's Republican Party, finding that only legislators can create exemptions under the state's Public Records Act. 

  • September 02, 2026

    Danish Researcher Pleads Guilty To CDC Grant Money Theft

    A Danish researcher who spent more than 14 years as a fugitive from U.S. authorities pled guilty Tuesday to operating a wire fraud scheme that diverted more than $1 million in grant money intended to fund overseas research into autism and other developmental disorders.

  • September 02, 2026

    Fla. Driver's Conviction Upheld Over 'Intentional' Gate Damage

    A rideshare driver who damaged a malfunctioning community gate could have stopped trying to force it open or called the police for help, a Florida state appeals court said Wednesday in upholding the driver's felony conviction for criminal mischief.

  • September 02, 2026

    3rd Circ. Says 2nd Circ. Case Is No Cause To Review Deportation

    The Third Circuit has upheld an immigration appeals board's denial of a noncitizen's latest challenge to his 2011 removal order following a drug conviction, finding a change in law from the Second Circuit doesn't warrant reopening or reconsidering his case.

  • September 02, 2026

    Mass. Woman Admits Assault On Agents Detaining Immigrants

    A Massachusetts woman pled guilty in federal court on Wednesday to assaulting and threatening to kill federal agents outside a courthouse where they were attempting to detain immigrants, prosecutors said.

  • September 02, 2026

    8th Circ. OKs 15-Year Sentence For Facebook Body Part Seller

    The Eighth Circuit has ruled that an apprentice mortician sentenced to 15 years in prison for selling human remains on Facebook must stay in prison, because even though the punishment is an upward departure from sentencing guidelines, it is fair based on the nature of the crime.

  • September 02, 2026

    Dems Call Subpoenas' Secrecy Request 'Abuse Of Authority'

    Democratic lawmakers Sen. Ron Wyden, Ore., and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Wash., have called for an investigation into subpoenas issued from federal law enforcement to private companies that contain nondisclosure provisions and carry threats of legal consequences for noncompliance.

  • September 02, 2026

    Hall Booth Can't Pause NC Malpractice Claims, Court Told

    A court-appointed receiver has blasted Hall Booth Smith PC's bid in the North Carolina state appeals court to pause legal malpractice claims against the firm related to a wrongful conviction judgment, calling the move "nothing but a collateral attack" in state court on a federal order appointing the receiver.

  • September 02, 2026

    Mass. Sheriff Acquitted Of Extorting Cannabis Co.

    A Boston federal jury on Wednesday cleared a sheriff of charges that he shook down a cannabis company for a pre-initial public offering investment opportunity.

  • September 02, 2026

    Manslaughter Verdict Vacated Over DNA Analysts' Testimony

    Massachusetts' intermediate appellate court on Wednesday vacated a 2023 manslaughter conviction due to the prosecution's reliance on substitute DNA analysts whose testimony was based on the work of another crime lab staffer.

  • September 01, 2026

    Rollins Comeback Bid Foiled As Bay State Voters Choose DAs

    Rachael Rollins' bid to return to her old post as district attorney in Boston after a scandal-plagued tenure as Massachusetts U.S. Attorney came up short on Tuesday after incumbent Kevin Hayden claimed victory in the race for the Democratic nomination for Suffolk County District Attorney.

  • September 01, 2026

    Calif. Private Fund Execs Charged In $80M Ponzi-Like Scheme

    Executives of a California-based loan origination business and its affiliates were hit with securities violations and criminal charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Attorney's Office in federal court over an alleged Ponzi-like scheme that raised over $80 million from unwitting investors. 

  • September 01, 2026

    Mass. Justices Uphold Plea Despite Police Corruption Claims

    The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has affirmed the denial of a man's request to withdraw his guilty pleas to the murders of two women, saying he failed to show on appeal that serious Boston Police Department corruption in a related murder investigation tainted his own case.

  • September 01, 2026

    4th Circ. Told Geofence Warrant Doesn't Meet New Standards

    The Fourth Circuit has been asked to rule that the geofence warrant at the heart of a major U.S. Supreme Court decision clarifying standards for location-data searches did in fact authorize an unconstitutional search in light of the high court's ruling.

  • September 01, 2026

    Ex-CEO Of Bankrupt Diamond Co. Hit With SEC Allegations

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has sued Mordechai Haim Ferder, the ex-CEO of bankrupt Lugano Diamonds & Jewelry Inc., and his wife to recover more than $17.7 million they allegedly reaped through a fraudulent diamond investment scheme via trusts they controlled.

  • September 01, 2026

    7th Circ. Backs Removal Order Over Neglect Conviction

    The Seventh Circuit on Tuesday refused to halt a Mexican women's removal order, ruling that her 2012 Wisconsin state misdemeanor conviction for neglecting a child is a deportable offense that makes her ineligible for cancellation of removal.

  • September 01, 2026

    NY Firm, Clinics Reject FedEx's 'Staged' Crashes Claims

    A New York personal injury firm and various healthcare providers have told a Manhattan federal judge that FedEx has asserted implausible claims alleging they orchestrated an insurance fraud scheme to fabricate medical records and inflate accident claims, saying there is no such racketeering enterprise.

  • September 01, 2026

    Machine Guns, Silencers Aren't Protected By 2nd Amendment

    A self-described "alt-right" conservative podcaster cannot have his firearms convictions overturned because a federal law banning machine guns does not violate his Second Amendment rights, the Third Circuit ruled Tuesday.

  • September 01, 2026

    Philly-Area Atty Pleads Guilty To $400,000 In Sham Checks

    An attorney in the Philadelphia suburbs will be sentenced in December after pleading guilty Tuesday to submitting more than $400,000 in fake checks to evade taxes and buy an electric utility truck.

  • September 01, 2026

    Sheriff's Extortion Trial Nears End As Acquittal Motion Fails

    A Massachusetts federal judge refused Tuesday to clear a sheriff of extortion charges, as prosecutors wrapped their case that he demanded a stake in a cannabis company that he was also partnering with for a job training program.

  • August 31, 2026

    6th Circ. Says Binoculars Justified Search Of Suspect's Truck

    A Sixth Circuit panel has ruled a man accused of stalking his estranged wife in Tennessee cannot suppress guns and other evidence found in his truck, saying binoculars left in plain view on his center console gave officers reason to search the vehicle without a warrant.

  • August 31, 2026

    Ill. Panel Says E-Monitoring Law Doesn't Bar Pretrial Release

    An Illinois state appeals court has vacated a trial court's decision to keep a teenage murder defendant incarcerated before trial, saying a state law forbidding electronic home monitoring for people convicted of serious crimes does not apply to those released on bond pending trial.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Judges On AI: Examining Administrative, Organizational Uses

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    U.S. District Judge Alan Albright of the Western District of Texas examines how artificial intelligence could transform a court's ability to deal with administrative work and organize materials when preparing for hearings or drafting opinions, thereby affording judges more time to resolve contested issues.

  • Series

    Being A Singer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Before law school, I spent seven years trying to make it as a professional singer in Los Angeles, and nearly everything I learned about preparation, humility, confidence and more has followed me into my legal practice, says Jessica Caterina at Moses & Singer.

  • Opinion

    Justices' Parole Ruling Degrades Green Card Holders' Rights

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Blanche v. Lau, holding that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers can parole a returning lawful permanent resident without clear and convincing evidence of a crime, weakens the statutory and practical protections Congress intended, say attorneys at Cyrus D. Mehta & Partners.

  • RETRACTED: Updated Fraud Sentencing Guidelines Add New Defense Tools

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    Editor's note: This guest article has been removed to address author updates.

  • How Justices Stayed Off The Geofence In Location Data Case

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent Chatrie v. United States decision reaffirms Fourth Amendment protections for location data but avoids more complicated questions about geofence warrants, say attorneys at Adams Duerk.

  • Decoding Arbitral Disputes: Post-Award Noncompliance

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    Grainful Holdings v. Mineev, a recent Commercial Court decision that resulted in a sentence for contempt following post-award enforcement proceedings, illustrates the point at which proceedings, having moved beyond recognition of an arbitral obligation, engage the court's own coercive jurisdiction, says Josep Galvez at 4-5 Gray's Inn.

  • Series

    Being A Magician Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I've developed as a lifelong magician have translated directly into tangible benefits in the courtroom because performing magic and trying cases both live at the intersection of psychology, storytelling, timing and disciplined rehearsal, says Mark Dombroff at Fox Rothschild.

  • Reel Justice: 'Obsession' And The Importance Of Precision

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    In “Obsession,” the main character’s failure to define the limits of his wish results in an unexpectedly horrifying outcome, highlighting for attorneys why careful word choice is essential not only in briefs, but also in charging decisions, statutory interpretation and all stages of criminal litigation, says Veronica Finkelstein at Widener-Delaware Law.

  • A 3-Part Blueprint For Sentencing Variance Arguments

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    Tom Goldstein’s upcoming sentencing provides a useful lens for defense practitioners seeking a variance from the guidelines range, serving as a reminder to distinguish those requests from guidelines challenges and build an evidence-based case well before the hearing, says Joseph De Gregorio of Sentencing Advocacy Group.

  • Laptop Farms Highlight Identity Fraud Risks Of Remote Work

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    Two U.S. nationals' recent sentencing in Massachusetts federal court for a scheme that enabled foreign operatives to obtain remote jobs at U.S. companies using stolen identities is a reminder that employers must recalibrate their remote hiring, onboarding and monitoring practices to mitigate evolving cybersecurity and geopolitical risks, say attorneys at Foley & Lardner.

  • Series

    Bass Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Landing a trophy striped bass and closing a big deal both require cultivating the patience to finesse — not force — your way to desired outcomes, changing course when your old approach isn’t working and learning from the ones that got away, says Jon Ruiss at Alston & Bird.

  • Roundup

    The Most Talked-About Supreme Court Decisions Of 2026

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    This term, 11 U.S. Supreme Court decisions quickly became hot topics among Law360's guest writers.

  • Fighting The Evidentiary Risks Of Deepfakes In Court

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    Though courts and federal rules are only slowly developing frameworks for assessing digital evidence that could have been created or generated by artificial intelligence, litigators should understand what steps they'll likely need to take to successfully challenge potentially deepfaked exhibits — and fight questions about the authenticity of their own, say attorneys at MoFo.

  • Justices Stand On Statutory Specifics In Cisco And Landor

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    With its June 23 decisions in Cisco Systems Inc. v. Doe and Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections and Public Safety, the U.S. Supreme Court doubled down on the critical point that the statute invoked in a federal claim must authorize a private lawsuit and the remedy sought, says Patrick Judd at Phelps Dunbar.

  • Justices' Concurrences Foretell Fault Line On Appeal Waivers

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    The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled 8-1 in Hunter v. U.S. that appeal waivers that produce a miscarriage of justice are unenforceable, but the decision's concurrences indicate future divisions over whether this exception will be used as a rare safety valve or to police ordinary but troubling plea errors, say attorneys at RJO.

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