A New Orleans businessman being investigated by the local U.S. Attorney noticed that comments on the local newspaper's website seemed to show an insider's knowledge of the case. He hired a forensic linguist to analyze the comments, which were found to match the writing style of court filings from the prosecution. And now one of the prosecutors has admitted that he wrote the comments about the case (and others) using a pseudonym. 'Mencken1951' unmasked: It is federal prosecutor Sal Perricone, Times Picayune, March 15, 2012 (Nola.com). He has been recused from cases on which he commented, and the U.S. Attorney has asked the Department of Justice Office of Professional Responsibility to review his actions.
Hat tip: Ars Technica via Volokh Conspiracy.
From 2005 to 2015 this blog presented news items and resources relating to trial advocacy and the legal system, with a focus on Washington State. It was developed to support the Trial Advocacy Program at the University of Washington School of Law, but broadened to include appellate practice, the courts, access to justice, and related topics. It is no longer active.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
What Research Skills Do Lawyers Need?
The American Association of Law Libraries is currently conducting a survey of legal practitioners to identify the current and future research skills that law school graduates need to succeed in legal practice. This information will help law schools determine how to develop their curriculum to meet the research needs of their graduates. Please consider taking a minute to share your thoughts here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/skillsforlegalpractice. Responses are anonymous.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Nevelow Mart (Susan.Nevelow.Mart [at] colorado.edu) or Shawn Nevers (neverss [at] lawgate.byu.edu), the chair and vice chair of the Task Force on Identifying Skills & Knowledge for Legal Practice.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Nevelow Mart (Susan.Nevelow.Mart [at] colorado.edu) or Shawn Nevers (neverss [at] lawgate.byu.edu), the chair and vice chair of the Task Force on Identifying Skills & Knowledge for Legal Practice.