SEC Press Release – SEC Action Returns Former Gemstar CEO’s Pending Severance Payment to Company and Shareholders –  The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced a court ruling that successfully concludes its effort to stop a $29.5 million severance package from being paid to the former CEO of Gemstar-TV Guide International ….  (see also LATimes here)

Wall Street Jrl (AP) – Hung Jury in Boeing Leak Trial

Heritage Foundation – The Foundry – –NYT’s Latest Catty Swipe at the Justice Department

Liz Coffy  – Medill Reports – Savvy and Sorry: Web Fraud on the Rise

DOJ – US Attorney’s Office New Jersey  – Press Release – "The former chief financial officer of defunct cheese manufacturer Suprema Specialties, Inc. was sentenced … to eight years in prison for his conviction on charges of conspiracy, bank fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements to the Securities and Exchange Commission…."

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Chronicle of Higher Education – Key Senator Hires Former IRS Official to Oversee Investigation of College Endowments

Press Release, NYState AG Andrew Cuomo –Cuomo Secures Record $9.5 Million From Nation’s Largest Power Company to Reduce Pollution in New York State

Press Release, DOJ – ConocoPhillips Pays $1.2 Million to Settle Clean Water Act Violations

Press Release, DOJ – Northern District of Illinois – Seven Defendants Indicted for Alleged Roles in $5 Million International Fraud Schemes Selling Counterfeit Fine Art Prints

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Mike Carter, Seattle Times – Mistrial Declared in Former Boeing Worker’s Computer-Trespass Case

Molly McDonough – ABANews – Scruggs Says He’ll Accept Suspension Over Disbarment

Adam Kolber, Prawfsblawg – Spitzer and Retributive Suffering

Chronicle of Higher Education – 3 Operators of Major Diploma-Mill Chain Plead Guilty to Fraud Charges

Howard Mintz, Mercury News – Cyclist Found Guilty of Lying – Balco Figure’s Case Similar to Bonds’

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With sadness it is reported that Robert J. Hooker, a public defender and member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), was killed as a result of an automobile accident. Bob’s career included service as a Superior Court judge and as a criminal defense lawyer in private practice.  But most recently, Bob had chosen to devote this career to being a public defender. And those who knew him agree that when it came to professionalism, Bob was a leader. 

See articles and blogposts here, here, here, here. For details on the memorial service, see here.

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Still No Verdict in the Wecht Case – See Pittsburgh Tribune-Review – ‘Hung Jury’ Question Suggests Holdouts in Wecht Trial;  Tom Withers, Wecht Trial Jury Deliberations at the Federal Criminal Defense Blog (discussing the deliberation process in this case)

Detroit Mayor – Who Will Judge -Detroit News – Prosecutor to Oppose Judge Picked for Detroit Mayor’s Hearing

The Judge & Scruggs – ABA Law Jrl.com – Ethics Committee Recommends Suspension for Miss. Judge Tied to Scruggs

Former Alabama Governor Released on Bond – Washington Post – Ex-Governor Leaves Prison on Bond

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It doesn’t look like the Wecht jury is to the point of being declared hung. See Jason Cato, Wecht Jurors Won’t Be Rushed, Pittsburgh Tribune Review.  A hung jury is not always a plus for either side.  For both the prosecution and defense it can mean a retrial. Each side often believes that they can do better if given a second chance.  But with evidence on the table, there can be fewer surprises in a retrial. Perhaps the most significant drawback for the defense is the cost of retrial.  Having to pay attorneys fees for a new trial can deplete a good bit of assets of the accused. But maybe this will not be an issue in the Wecht trial – maybe this week will bring a verdict.

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Carol Elder Bruce joins Bracewell & Giuliani’s White Collar Criminal Defense and Special Investigations practice group in DC.

Tampa Bay Biz Journal – Title Agent Sentenced in Fraud Case

Wall Street Journal – Lehman May Be Victim of Fraud

Wall Street Journal Blog – DOJ Meets Setbacks in Case Against Former Bistol Exec

Christopher J. Gunther & Robert M. Pollack, National L. J. – Scrutiny of Corporate Monitors is on the Rise

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