NC terrorism convict faces new beheading plot case (AP)

AP - A North Carolina man recently convicted in a homegrown terrorism plot faces new charges that he attempted to hire a hit man to behead three witnesses who testified against him.

Remains confirmed as 'Speed Freak' victims (AP)

AP - Human remains uncovered in Northern California with the help of a convicted serial killer have been confirmed as two of his victims.

Virginia lacrosse murder trial goes to jury (Reuters)

Reuters - Jurors began deliberating on Wednesday to decide whether a former University of Virginia lacrosse player killed his ex-girlfriend in a drunken rage or if her 2010 death was accidental.

Ga. cops: 2 kids missing after helper drives off (AP)

AP - Authorities are searching for two children who were reported kidnapped after a stranger offered to help the family when their car broke down on the side of an Atlanta-area interstate.

Ark. man pleads not guilty in death of teen (AP)

AP - A man accused of killing a 16-year-old girl he met online has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder after the girl's body was found in a barrel in western Arkansas.

Law Office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC Announces Investigation of ATS Corporation

BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Law office of Brodsky & Smith, LLC announces that it is investigating potential claims against the Board of Directors of ATS Corporation ("ATS" ...

Baez No Longer Casey Anthony's Lawyer

Lawyer Jose Baez says he no longer represents Casey Anthony, whose murder case made him famous

Law professor who fell to death remembered for gay rights battles

Friends of a Chapman University law professor who died after falling from a parking structure last week remembered her as a legal ally to supporters of same-sex marriage. Mary "Katherine" Baird Darmer was one of the founding members and served...

Ex-mine official charged in fatal W. Virginia blast (Reuters)

Reuters - Federal authorities on Wednesday charged the former superintendent of a West Virginia coal mine where 29 workers died in a 2010 explosion with felony conspiracy for impeding mine safety enforcement efforts before the blast.

Jose Baez no longer attorney for Casey Anthony

Attorney Jose Baez says he no longer represents Casey Anthony, the Florida mother whose 2011 murder trial made him one of the best known criminal defense lawyers in the country.

Jose Baez no longer attorney for Casey Anthony (AP)

AP - Attorney Jose Baez says he no longer represents Casey Anthony, the Florida mother whose 2011 murder trial made him one of the best known criminal defense lawyers in the country.

Republican state’s attorney hopefuls stress experience, case review panels

All three Republican candidates for Lake County state’s attorney in the upcoming primary election propose creating some type of post-conviction or case review panel to ensure the right person is behind bars.

Feds: Leader of NY-based Folk Nation gang arrested (AP)

AP - Federal authorities say they've arrested a fugitive leader of a violent New York City gang linked to a series of armed robberies and shootings.

NH jury being picked in Rwanda genocide case (AP)

AP - Jury selection is under way in federal court in the case of a New Hampshire woman charged with lying about her role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

W.Va. mine boss charged with fraud in deadly blast (AP)

AP - The superintendent of the West Virginia coal mine where an explosion killed 29 men was charged Wednesday with conspiracy to defraud the federal government, becoming the highest-ranking Massey Energy employee to face criminal prosecution so far over the deadly blast.

Legal Talk Network Releases Sensei Enterprises' Digital Detectives Podcast: "The Best Resources for Staying Current in ...

FAIRFAX, Va., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal Talk Network has released the latest edition of Sensei Enterprises' Digital Detectives podcast, entitled "Best Resources for Staying Current in E-Discovery." ...

Cops: Conn. lawyer embezzled from dead aunt

A Connecticut lawyer whose website says he once worked at the White House and for former New York Congressman Jack Kemp has been charged with embezzling more than $200,000 from the accounts of his now-dead aunt.

Delaware attorney named executive director of DRBA

Scott A. Green, a Rehoboth Beach, Del., lawyer, was appointed Tuesday to be the executive director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.

Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife Company, Finds Members’ Usage for Debt and Financial Matters More Than Doubled in Tough ...

Employees coping with a difficult economic environment often find that their financial problems require legal solutions. In fact, from 2007 to 2011, Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife company, has found that the number of legal services requested by plan participants for debt and financial matters more than doubled and requests for bankruptcy counsel increased nearly threefold.

Attorney Parks, 61, dies

Attorney Parks, 61, dies Express-News Copyright 2012 Express-News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated 12:46 a.m., Monday, February 20, 2012 Jimmy Parks Jr., 61, died Sunday afternoon after collapsing at home.

Lawyer settles claim in Vaughan case

Lawyer settles claim in Vaughan case ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The lawyer credited with giving Albuquerque real estate executive and admitted Ponzi schemer Doug Vaughan the idea for raising cash through promissory notes has reached a settlement in the case. While many of the lawsuits are against big money investors and accused insiders who made huge profits over the years with interest rates of ...

Attorney: Fixed-minimums for drug crimes ineffective

An attorney who helped U.S. politicians write mandatory-minimum sentencing laws during the 1980s is telling Canadian parliamentarians that imposing long jail terms for minor drug offences doesn't work.

Fannie, Freddie legal fees: $110 million and counting

A watchdog agency said Wednesday that the legal tab for former leaders of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is at least $110 million.

Suspect in Capitol bomb sting expected in court (AP)

AP - A Virginia man charged following a yearlong FBI investigation with plotting a suicide bombing inside the U.S. Capitol was expected to make a second court appearance Wednesday.

Fannie, Freddie legal tab: $110 million and counting

A watchdog agency said Wednesday that the legal tab for former leaders of mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is at least $110 million.

Family Law Matters Do Not Belong in the Courtroom Says Family Law Attorney Mark Baer

LOS ANGELES, CA-- - Family Law matters, such as divorce and child custody , should not be decided in a courtroom, according to Family Law Attorney and Mediator Mark Baer . Instead, he says mediation and ...

Kagan recused herself from Arizona immigration law case

The Supreme Court has agreed to arbitrate the battle between the Obama administration and Arizona on the state's tough immigration law. The law, known as SB 1070, passed in 2010 but lower courts had blocked its full implementation. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan will recuse herself from the court's review of Arizona's immigration law because of [...]

Criminal Defense Attorney Joins University of South Carolina as an Adjunct Professor

COLUMBIA, S.C., Feb. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Having spent seven years of undergraduate and law school education at the University of South Carolina, Bea Hightower has decided it's time to return. ...

Prop. 8 backers seek review of gay marriage case (AP)

AP - Same-sex couples in California will have to wait a while to find out if they have regained the right to get married, after the backers of the state's gay marriage ban petitioned a federal appeals court to review a split decision by three of its judges that struck down Proposition 8.

Saudi accused in U.S. bomb plot competent to stand trial: judge (Reuters)

Reuters - A Saudi student accused of plotting to build and detonate bombs against targets including the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush was declared competent to stand trial on Tuesday by a federal judge.

Fannie, Freddie need to tighten legal expenses: regulator

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A government watchdog on Wednesday said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regulator needs to curtail the rising cost of their legal expenses since there is no end in sight to the widening taxpayer tab keeping the two firms afloat. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are spending tens of millions of dollars to cover the legal costs of former executives who face various private, class ...

Legal Fees for Fannie and Freddie Near $50 Million

As expenses rise, there are new calls to limit the costs at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and outlays for defending its former executives.

Watchdog: Limit Fannie, Freddie legal fees more

The U.S. government regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac must do a better job limiting legal expenses paid by the two mortgage giants to their former executives facing lawsuits, a new watchdog report says.

Lawyer: Bobby broke promises on Whitney funeral

Bobby Brown knew his seating arrangement going into Whitney Houston’s Saturday service and broke an agreement not to contact his daughter unless she reached out first, Houston’s lawyer said Tuesday.

Gay Marriage: why Prop. 8 appeal is not going to Supreme Court ... yet (The Christian Science Monitor)

The Christian Science Monitor - Supporters of a ban on same-sex marriage in California on Tuesday asked the full federal court of appeals court in San Francisco to reconsider a ruling by a divided three-judge panel that struck down the controversial law.

Texas man guilty in sexual assault of ex-neighbor (AP)

AP - A Texas man who abducted his former neighbor and tortured the woman while holding her captive for nearly two weeks was convicted Tuesday.

Calif. man convicted of threatening federal judge (AP)

AP - A federal jury in San Diego has found an inmate serving time for murder guilty of making threats against a federal judge in California.

Ex-Fiesta Bowl chief pleads guilty to donation scheme (Reuters)

Reuters - The former chief of college football's Fiesta Bowl pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges stemming from a scheme to funnel nearly $50,000 from bowl employees to political campaigns, prosecutors said.

Police: Calif mom was getaway driver in stabbing (AP)

AP - A California woman was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after police say she drove the getaway car for her teenage son who allegedly stabbed a boy.

Ex-LA teacher pleads not guilty to lewd acts (AP)

AP - A former teacher whose arrest sparked a scandal at an elementary school that led to the replacement of all of its teachers pleaded not guilty Tuesday to committing lewd acts with 23 children in his classroom.