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Robotic Risk—but Is the Ultimate Answer Still a Human One?
FEATURED
May 26, 2026
Robotic Risk—but Is the Ultimate Answer Still a Human One?
By: Lauren Scribner
It now goes without saying that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a convenient solution for accomplishing certain tedious tasks, such as planning an upcoming trip, figuring out what to make for dinner with ingredients already on hand, or adding some professional flare to an email. But when it comes to some of the more high-stakes areas of life, such as obtaining financial, medical, or legal advice, the convenience of instantaneous feedback available at the push of the button may not be the be-all and end-all. OpenAI just implemented a new personal finance feature on ChatGPT where users can link their accounts to the application and “get more personalized advice.”[1] The company has advertised a demonstrated need for this feature, stating…
Murdaugh She Wrote
May 21, 2026
Murdaugh She Wrote
By: James Trusty
As the information regarding Alex Murdaugh’s conniving, murderous ways began to spread far beyond the Lowcountry of South Carolina and into the cable and social media airwaves, a curious and ominous thing took root. The temptation of star power and riches slumped stealthily behind the public face of the proceedings, causing a low-level bureaucrat to destroy the notion of an impartial jury in one of…
SPLC’s Informant Program – is Dangerously Unwise the Same as Unlawful?
May 11, 2026
SPLC’s Informant Program – is Dangerously Unwise the Same as Unlawful?
By: Lauren Scribner
THE INDICTMENT On April 21, 2026, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit civil rights organization that works to “create a multiracial democracy” by “fight[ing] white supremacy and various forms of injustice”[1] was charged in an 11-count indictment[2] in the Middle District of Alabama. The indictment alleges that the SPLC operated “a covert network of informants who were either associated with violent extremist groups…
Was FTX Collapse as Bad as Enron? In sentencing SBF, Judge Kaplan Says Yes
April 1, 2024
Was FTX Collapse as Bad as Enron? In sentencing SBF, Judge Kaplan Says Yes
By: Jeffrey Hamlin
On Thursday, March 28, 2024, 32-year old Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history—a fraud perpetrated through two cryptocurrency entities he founded—FTX and Alameda Research. In late-2023, a jury convicted him on various conspiracy and substantive counts for wire fraud on FTX’s customers, securities fraud on FTX’s customers and investors,…
A Tale of Two Courts
February 16, 2024
A Tale of Two Courts
By: James Trusty
Much has been made of the contemptuous and combustible combination of former President Trump and Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoran, the trial judge in the New York “fraud” case that imperils Trump’s ability to do business in New York. This week we got a glimpse into a different proceeding involving an extremely opinionated subject of an accusation—District Attorney Fanni Willis—presided over by Fulton County…
A Scandal’s Fine Print
January 19, 2024
A Scandal’s Fine Print
By: James Trusty
The recent filing of a motion for disqualification and for dismissal of the Georgia RICO case involving former President Trump is getting plenty of attention for its salacious details. And indeed, a District Attorney selecting an underqualified love-interest to serve as Special Prosecutor is newsworthy stuff, particularly with Mr. Wade filing for divorce just one day after his questionable appointment. But the real story—the precise…
ABA Updates Guidance on Witness Prep
December 29, 2023
ABA Updates Guidance on Witness Prep
By: George Calhoun
Witness preparation is often a key part of preparing for trial. Counsel often engages in mock examinations and practice sessions to help a witness prepare for trial. Such preparation, however, runs the risk of making the witness sound insincere and coached. Sometimes, it may veer all the way into improper coaching of a witness. This system of witness preparation is relatively unique to the United…
No Need for Speed
December 14, 2023
No Need for Speed
By: James Trusty
In most U.S. District Courts, the trial date for a defendant who is not incarcerated is typically many months—and often easily over a year—from the time of his or her initial appearance after indictment. Many trials are resolved by plea agreements without ever having set a “real” trial date. There is lip service to the constitutional notion of a Speedy Trial, and the easily avoidable…
