Blog Posts

I have a confession to make: I've always been wary of the white collar criminal defense bar. Real criminal defense lawyers defend those accused of murder, rape and other crimes of violence, right? I mean, wassup with the pinstripe suits and the Grey Poupon sensibilities of those with money to burn?...

Yesterday's New York Times carried a story about morals and mortgages. The news value of the story was that plenty of folks are simply walking away from mortgages they can no longer pay. As real estate values have plummeted many home owners now found themselves "under water," paying down a debt to...

I’ve toyed with the idea of a form letter along the following lines to be sent every six months to clients:: “Herewith a periodic report on the status of your case. We are ready for trial and have been for some time. We are awaiting assignment of the case. As we...

Connecticut's constitution gives alleged victims of crimes certain rights. Among these are the right to be heard before the court accepts a plea bargain, the right to be heard at sentencing and the right to be treated with fairness and respect. Surprisingly, the constitution does not give to...

I almost envy those folks who practice in jurisdictions with short statutes of limitations and fast-moving dockets. In my state, Connecticut, docket creep is the norm. You can't get some judges to act even by pleading with them. Cases linger seemingly forever.
I have a couple of federal civil...

You did it. You set your sights on one of the nation's top jobs and spent a lifetime pursuing it. You spared no effort to accomplish your goal. You bent your will steadfastly and brilliantly to the task. Your resume glitters. You are a star of the bar, and now a justice on the United States Supreme...

It says something about me, I suppose, that my preferences go to the long-timers. But my list of fantasy cellmates consists mostly of folks doing life for their crimes of conviction. I was reminded of that yet again this week when I spent some time, very little time, mind you, with a man convicted...

In 1967, Detroit burst into flames. People got shot to death in what amounted to race riots. Paratroopers occupied the city to restore order. I was 11 years old and living on the city's lower East side. I took it all in stride. The violence seemed about right to me. Detroit was a racist shit-hole....

Expect an early Halloween. This year's favored outfit is that of the Old Testament prophet. Expect the street corners, the airwaves and the world of print to be swamped with cries of doom and gloom. A federal judge has decided that a California ban on gay marriage violates the federal constitution....

One of the cases of which I am most proud is a case involving a prominent man who was never arrested. Police had questions about his conduct. He contacted me. We answered the questions and provided details. Had we circled the wagons and told law enforcement to take a hike, the man would most...