FindLaw's U.S. First Circuit Blog

Show Him the Money: Standing to Challenge Forfeiture of Drug Cash

2013-06-18T13:01:12Z

In a very strange claim, a pilot of a drug boat that sought to evade the U.S. Coast guard is appealing the forfeiture of over $8 million in cash that was thrown overboard as he and his companions were fleeing...

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Opening Statements Begin in 'Whitey' Bulger Trial

2013-06-13T16:22:52Z

The James “Whitey” Bulger trial proceeded on Wednesday with opening statements from the prosecution and Bulger’s attorney, J. W. Carney Jr., including two varied accounts of the reputed mobster’s life and criminal career. Bulger’s attorney made a case that the...

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Court Releases Only Some BC Interviews from 'Belfast Project'

2013-06-11T19:01:51Z

In a decision penned in late May, the First Circuit ordered the release of a limited amount of interviews from the "Belfast Project" to the British authorities. The "Belfast Project" is a Boston College compilation of personal interviews and testimonials...

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'Whitey' Bulger Move to Exclude Reporters: Names As Witnesses

2013-06-06T18:58:07Z

James "Whitey" Bulger may have ulterior motive in naming reporters who have covered his criminal career as defense witnesses, barring them from reporting on his case. The infamous Bostonian gangster moved to exclude Boston Globe reporter Shelley Murphy and columnist...

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'Whitey' Bulger Trial Begins Jury Selection

2013-06-04T18:59:38Z

The trial of the infamous James "Whitey" Bulger began with jury selection in Boston federal court on Tuesday, with both the prosecution and defense choosing jurors from a pool of 675 people. Bulger's legendary status as a Boston mobster and...

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Political Asylum May Protect Lawyer's Link to Political Client

2013-05-30T18:59:26Z

A former lawyer in Pakistan who overstayed his U.S. visa was denied his political asylum petition for withholding of removal and his Convention Against Torture petition by both an immigration judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals. The First Circuit...

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Can Police Search a Seized Cell Phone Without a Warrant?

2013-05-23T20:41:01Z

Seized cell phones are safe from a warrantless search by police, the First Circuit recently held. The court ruled that a police cell phone search for data is not constitutional when a person is arrested unless officers get a warrant...

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Prosecution in Ex-Mobster Case Wants Jury Background Checks

2013-05-21T19:01:36Z

Imagine being called into a jury and then being asked to submit your fingerprints or social security for your jury background check. Who…me? Is this an government overreach for people merely serving on a jury? The federal prosecutors against notorious...

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1st Circuit OK's Denial of Rent Increases for Section 8

2013-05-16T19:01:44Z

The years of automatic rent payment increases may be over for landlords. With the last housing market collapse, landlords may be denied their annual rental payment increases for their Section 8 housing units. Even though their contract with MHA may...

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First Circuit May Hear Gary Sampson Death Penalty Case

2013-05-09T18:56:04Z

In 2003, Gary Lee Sampson was convicted of killing three people in Massachusetts and sentenced to death under a federal carjacking law. Before the execution could take place, however, a Massachusetts federal district court ordered a new sentencing trial based...

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Fool Represents Self, Reported Guns Stolen with Fake ID

2013-05-03T17:39:08Z

What’s the dumbest thing you’ve done lately? Whatever it is, it probably doesn’t compare to the losing streak that is the life of Roldy Francois, a former (and present) felon. Francois appropriated the identification of Efrain Baez, whose social security...

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Right Decisions Made in Boston Bombing Venue, Miranda Delay

2013-04-22T20:15:00Z

It’s a fine line between domestic terrorism and enemy combatant, isn’t it? Dzhokhar Tsarnaev allegedly took up arms against the people of the United States. He committed despicable acts of terrorism and, some might argue, treason. For that, he will...

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SCOTUS Denies Cert. in Boston College IRA Subpoena Case

2013-04-18T19:07:57Z

Dolours Price was, to put it mildly, a controversial figure. According to the New York Times, in her time as a member of the Irish Republican Army, she participated in the 1973 London car-bombings, helped carry out kidnappings and executions...

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Purchaser of Stolen Firearm Entitled to 'Innocent Possession' Instruction

2013-04-08T18:59:24Z

Jeffrey Baird thought he got a friendly discount when his friend, who was a weapons collector, offered to sell him a 45 ACP Smith & Wesson revolver — an excellent choice for the money. A quick scan of Internet classifieds...

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Life Insurance Co. Not Liable for Lawyer's Probate Plunder

2013-04-02T16:02:08Z

Overloaded with complicated legal concepts and boring litigation fact patterns? This opinion, penned by Judge Thompson, reads like a Hardy Boys mystery novel, including the pun-ny heading, "Misplaced Trust." It looks like Selya isn't the only talented author in the...

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