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Maryland Moving at a Misguided PACE
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March 14, 2025
Maryland Moving at a Misguided PACE
By: James Trusty
Maryland legislature is considering passing a law ineptly called the Protecting the Admissibility of Creative Expression (“PACE Act”) which would limit the use of rap lyrics, among other forms of expression, in criminal and juvenile proceedings. While prosecution use of rap lyrics in criminal trials is a bit uncommon, the state house move here is in reaction to a 2020 murder case in which a defendant’s post-arrest rap about killing “snitches” with a “.40” may have weighed heavily in the jury’s conviction. In Montague v. State, 471 Md. 657 Md. 2020) the Maryland Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s ruling that Montague’s ruminations about murder and using a .40 caliber weapon—made from a jail phone after his arrest—was not an…
My Brother’s Keeper
February 20, 2025
My Brother’s Keeper
By: Abbey Block
Am I my brother’s keeper? Or more specifically, can lawyers be sued for their clients’ bad behavior? A newly proposed bill out of Washington state says yes. The bill, HB 1891, provides the following legal framework, under which an attorney can be sued for injuries caused by his or her client who is released from detention pending trial: Any person injured by an individual who…
DOJ Memo Sneaks In Seismic Changes
January 31, 2025
DOJ Memo Sneaks In Seismic Changes
By: James Trusty
Amidst the tidal wave of Executive Orders, presidential appointments, and policy announcements, it is easy to treat last week’s Interim Policy Memo from the Acting Deputy Attorney General[1] as just another ripple of nominal change that occurs when democrats replace republicans or republicans replace democrats. And, indeed, although there are portions of it that reflect the recurring philosophical tug-of-war over the tough on crime approach…
Perjury, Obstruction, and Barry Bonds’ Conviction
June 6, 2011
Perjury, Obstruction, and Barry Bonds’ Conviction
By: Ifrah Law
Last month, an article in the National Law Journal asked a question that has been on the minds of many: “Did Barry Bonds really obstruct justice?” In April a jury convicted baseball legend Barry Bonds on one count of obstruction of justice based on the testimony he provided before a federal grand jury investigating the use of illegal steroids in professional sports. The jury, however,…
Black Friday Chills Legislative Momentum in Nevada and Elsewhere
May 25, 2011
Black Friday Chills Legislative Momentum in Nevada and Elsewhere
By: Ifrah Law
Just a couple of months ago, there was considerable optimism after the introduction of an interactive-gaming bill in the Nevada legislature that that state could be the first to legalize online poker. However, in the wake of last month’s “Black Friday” indictments, it now appears that the optimism was premature. The state legislature is clearly waiting for the issue of online gaming to be resolved…
Federal Indictment in Maryland Reflects Continuing Crackdown on Gaming
May 24, 2011
Federal Indictment in Maryland Reflects Continuing Crackdown on Gaming
By: Ifrah Law
The U.S. Department of Justice is continuing its crackdown on the online gaming industry. On May 23, 2011, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland unsealed an indictment that charged several poker and gambling sites with illegal gambling and money laundering. Those indicted were ThrillX Systems, Ltd., d/b/a BetEd; Darren Wright; and David Parchomchuk, both of British Columbia, Canada, as well as K23 Group Financial…
Barney Frank’s Advice to Poker Players After ‘Black Friday’
May 9, 2011
Barney Frank’s Advice to Poker Players After ‘Black Friday’
By: Ifrah Law
In the wake of the catastrophic consequences of last month’s “Black Friday” for online poker players in the United States, many players are wondering about their next step. Pocketfives.com recently interviewed Congressman Barney Frank and although he agreed that is “difficult to figure out what to do,” he still had some concrete advice for the online poker player universe. Frank felt that the events of…
Bank Hit With FCA Complaint Over Mortgage Lending
May 3, 2011
Bank Hit With FCA Complaint Over Mortgage Lending
By: Ifrah Law
On May 3, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil case against Deutsche Bank, Germany’s largest bank, asserting that Deutsche Bank was liable for more than $1 billion to the U.S. government for its statements and actions during the mortgage meltdown of the last few years. This case is one of the few that has emerged from the mortgage crisis, and like many…
