Puerto Rico Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

PRACDL 4th Workshop and Annual Dinner Meeting - December 7th, 2006

PRACDL invites all criminal defense lawyers to it's Fourth 2006 Workshop on Thursday, December 7, 2006. This will be followed by our Annual Dinner Meeting. See the announcement here. The workshop topic is Grand Jury Practice.

    Time: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
    Place: U.S. District Court in Hato Rey
    Cost: Free to PRACDL members, and $25.00 for all other criminal defense lawyers.

In agreement with the Court's CJA Committee, CJA panel members who attend all four of the workshops will receive 1 of the 2 CLE credits required per year by the CJA Committee. No partial credits for attendance at less that all four workshops.

Following the workshop, we will hold our Annual Dinner Meeting (free, members only) at Café Al Fresco on O'Neill Street from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. (dinner and all drinks included for those two hours). We will also hold our elections to the new Board.  Note: We don't have to leave after 8:15 p.m., but do have to pay our own drinks. A jazz group will start to play about that time.  I look forward to seeing you all there.

PRACDL invites all criminal defense lawyers to it's Fourth 2006 Workshop on Thursday, December 7, 2006. This will be followed by our Annual Dinner Meeting. See the announcement here. The workshop topic is Grand Jury Practice.

    Time: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
    Place: U.S. District Court in Hato Rey
    Cost: Free to PRACDL members, and $25.00 for all other criminal defense lawyers.

In agreement with the Court's CJA Committee, CJA panel members who attend all four of the workshops will receive 1 of the 2 CLE credits required per year by the CJA Committee. No partial credits for attendance at less that all four workshops.

Following the workshop, we will hold our Annual Dinner Meeting (free, members only) at Café Al Fresco on O'Neill Street from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. (dinner and all drinks included for those two hours). We will also hold our elections to the new Board.  Note: We don't have to leave after 8:15 p.m., but do have to pay our own drinks. A jazz group will start to play about that time.  I look forward to seeing you all there.

First Circuit Orders Recusal of District Judge at Government's Request

In a rather unique set of circumstances, the First Circuit has today granted a petition for mandamus by the United States in a public corruption case, reversing a district court's denial of a motion by the United States for the trial judge to recuse himself on grounds of actual prejudice, albeit not on grounds of actual prejudice but of a "reasonable basis for questioning the impartiality of the district court judge."  The appellate court also orders the investigation into government misconduct in violation of Fed.R.Crim.P. 6 cease, unless new claims arise, and that trial (which had been stayed pending the district court's investigation into government misconduct in relation to the grand jury) be promptly scheduled. See In Re: United States, No. 06-1136 (1st Cir. March 24, 2006) (per curiam).  The appellate court describes the claim that the District Judge exhibited actual bias against the government as "overreaching" by the government.

The lead prosecutor in the case at the district court level is Mary K. Butler, of DOJ's Public Integrity Division, although she did not argue the appeal. Ms. Butler also has been in the news for the Jack Abramoff cases. See The Hill.  On appeal the government's case was argued by Kathleen Felton, of the Criminal Division's Appellate Section.  Appearing for defendants were PRACDL members Edgar Vega-Pabón and Francisco Rebollo-Casalduc, together with Florida defense lawyers Howard Srebnick and Richard Straffer. Howard Srebnick argued for defendants.

S. COTUS at Appellate Law & Policy has more on this opinion here.