Parties in criminal trials should at least consider whether to exercise the right to trial by jury or have a trial to the judge instead. I am aware of no hard and fast rules on when that is a good choice -- it is a judgment call in the final analysis. Factors, obviously, include which judge (reading the tea leaves about a judge is not a precise art), costs (a judge trial is likely to be less costly than jury trials), no hung jury (although some may like the possibility), etc.) I did recently find an article addressing the issue of a key factor -- statistical outcomes -- that readers may find helpful. The article apparently appeared in the Wall Street Journal, but is republished here: Tamer El-Ghobashy, Judge's Acquit More Often Than Juries (Fordham University School of Law Newsroom 8/6/11), here.
The article is a good, quick read. The article also discusses factors other than statistical outcomes.
The article uses as its centerpiece a case where the defense lawyer was Susan Hoffinger, an exceptional New York lawyer, whose bio is here. I had the pleasure of working with Ms. Hoffinger and her father, Jack Hoffinger (bio here), in the KPMG-related criminal mega-case in NYC. Jack is exceptional also.
Jack Townsend offers this blog on Federal Tax Crimes principally for tax professionals and tax students. It is not directed to lay readers -- such as persons who are potentially subject to U.S. civil and criminal tax or related consequences. LAY READERS SHOULD READ THE PAGE IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN TITLE "INTENDED AUDIENCE FOR BLOG; CAUTIONARY NOTE TO LAY READERS." Thank you.
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Friday, July 20, 2012
1 comment:
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I hope that they have a really good criminal defense. I would be really nervous if I were in their position. Thank you so much for sharing these stats. THey are really interesting.
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