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10 hours agoWhat Does Competence Mean When Litigation Happens In Real Time? - Above the Law
Competence in law is evolving as technology changes the speed and precision of decision-making in litigation.
Effective discovery requires more than compliance - it requires strategy. Litigators can balance expansive discovery rights and privacy concerns without slowing cases down through practical, results-focused approaches that consider proportionality, electronically stored information management, and the specific discovery rules applicable to their jurisdiction.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives could not conclusively connect a bullet fragment recovered during an autopsy to the rifle found near the scene. The FBI is running additional tests.
Spiralling backlogs mean a shocking 29 cases including violent crimes and drug offences have been scheduled to start as far away as 2030, with victims left waiting at least four years to have their day in court. In total, more than 2,600 Crown Court trials are not due to be heard until 2028, including 206 rape trials.
"What's most problematic is that the extraordinary has become ordinary. It's just a matter of course now that when you issue an opinion that some people don't like, you're going to get threats, you're going to get death threats, and that is obviously problematic on many levels."
Gogic, 46, who remains held without bail at MDC Brooklyn, was set to stand trial on charges in November that he played a key role in an operation that trafficked more than 20 tons of cocaine through U.S. ports. A day before opening statements, though, the trial was thrown into chaos, when prosecutors said they'd learned of a plot to offer a $100,000 bribe to a juror.
The hearing concerned Farwell's request to move his trial to Rhode Island. He and his lawyers contend that there has been "one-sided, biased media coverage" of the case in the Boston area, leading to the "widespread public misbelief" that Farwell groomed Birchmore, had sex with her when she was a minor, and ultimately killed her, according to court documents filed in November.
As a practical matter, this would not be possible. The defense lawyer said Mangione will be in court all day and return to jail beyond the hours when he would be able to have a visit with his lawyers. Friedman Agnifilo also said Mangione won't be allowed to look at the questionnaires by himself while in jail, because they'll include potential jurors' identifying information.
The situation in Minnesota continues to prove an abject nightmare. The Trump administration continues to ignore and flagrantly undermine judges. If the administration put half as much effort into honoring its legal obligations as it places into attacking judges on social media, perhaps they wouldn't be staring down a massive staffing crisis - a crisis they're trying to resolve by asking people on Elon Musk's pornification site to sign up as AUSAs.
Some people really struggle with distinguishing between individual and systemic responsibility when both are at play. For example, as important as it is to make sure that individual drivers obey speed limits and pay attention to the road and that pedestrians look both ways before they cross the street, intersections are a structural factor that can amplify harms depending on how they're planned and built.
They don't drive it. They don't manage it. They don't control it. They let it control them. And then one day, they look up and realize discovery closed last week, the client is asking why nobody has taken the key depo, the adjuster wants a status report "by the end of the day," and the partner is asking the question that makes your stomach drop: "Where are we on this file?"
Witnesses play a crucial role in personal injury cases, often serving as the backbone of the evidence presented in court. Their testimonies can provide essential context and details that may not be captured through physical evidence alone. In many instances, the accounts of witnesses can corroborate the claims made by the injured party, lending credibility to their narrative. This is particularly important in personal injury cases, where the burden of proof lies with the plaintiff. A strong witness can help
Michael Ufferman, representing Adelson, along with Laurel Cornell Niles, told the appellate court that 40% of potential jurors screened already had preconceived notions about his client's guilt. He argued this level of bias made it impossible to select an impartial jury....Ufferman pointed to specific instances where potential jurors allegedly lied about their knowledge of the case. He cited two examples where jurors denied forming opinions about guilt or posting on social media, despite evidence showing they had made posts about the case.