Appeals court: judge must guard against bias, not promote it

In Violent Crimesby RSF

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Violent Crimes on Thursday, November 29, 2018. Imagine yourself as a defendant in this hypothetical. You are seated before a judge who suddenly informs you that he wouldn’t want to share a fox hole with you because you would “fold like a cheap suit.” The court then follows up that utterance with synonyms characterizing you as “lazy,” “arrogant” and “self-seeking.” He tops off that collective description by stating that you “symbolize everything that’s wrong with the world.” After hearing that assessment of your attributes and character, might you have just a …

Focus on IRS CI Division, its role in investigating financial crime

In White Collar Crimesby RSF

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in White Collar Crimes on Monday, November 19, 2018. The IRS might look a bit skeletal these day when compared to prior years. The agency formerly commanded a bigger budget and could routinely assign high numbers of special agents to cases involving financial crimes. The nation’s paramount tax crimes investigatory and enforcement arm readily concedes that it is not as deep-pocketed and well-staffed as it used to be. Nonetheless, it sends out warning signals cautioning would-be wrongdoers to think twice about trying to advantage of a perceived weakness. Here’s why. Reportedly, the …

Anyone convicted of a Missouri drug crime could lose their assets

In Featuredby RSF

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. Facing any kind of drug crime in Missouri is a frightening prospect. After all, Missouri has relatively conservative laws and citizens, meaning that your jury will likely have strong opinions about drug offenses. It is terrifying consider the potential impact of a drug conviction on your future. The consequences of a conviction will likely include jail time, fines, a criminal record and even the loss of your assets. Missouri has a civil asset forfeiture law that allows law enforcement to seize any property that they allege was either …

Bipartisan sentencing overhaul moving toward enactment

In Drug Crimesby RSF

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Wednesday, November 14, 2018. There is a discernible clamor of excitement on Capitol Hill this week, which is manifestly surprising owing to its sense of bipartisan hopefulness. What is bringing a customarily divided American Congress together in a notable way is the ongoing momentum of an authored Senate bill termed The First Step Act. That legislation has a strong spotlight on it presently and a clear tailwind behind it as it moves seemingly ever closer to President Trump’s desk for his endorsement and passage into law. We have …

Missouri Voters Legalize Medical Marijuana In Limited Fashion

In Drug Crimesby RSF

On behalf of Rosenblum Schwartz & Fry posted in Drug Crimes on Wednesday, November 7, 2018. Missouri opponents of marijuana cultivation, possession or use to any degree needn’t fear that a seminal legal change occurring yesterday will transform the state into a virtual Woodstock. Here’s what happened: State voters passed so-called Amendment 2, ushering in a new legitimacy for pot growing and personal use. Pot’s seal of approval in Missouri comes with a caveat, though, which ensures without question that the state will not follow the pro-pot lead of liberal marijuana states like Colorado, Washington or California. Indeed, Missouri’s new grant is notably – …