I appreciate John’s perspective that it is a shame that the criminal case against Allen H. Weisselberg plead out and did not go to trial due to the serious public interest in the case.  My concerns are focused not so much on the fact that the case settled, which I view as inevitable given the reality of plea bargaining in our criminal legal system.  My concern is, instead, about how it settled compared to other criminal cases.

First, what was typical about this plea negotiation process?  The fact that the judge got involved is typical in state courts (but prohibited…

Continue Reading Inside a High-Profile Plea Bargain Negotiation: Part II