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Tag Archives: ABA

ABA issues guidance on lawyers who represent themselves

The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has released a formal opinion that seeks to clarify the interpretation of the ABA model rule related to a lawyer’s communication with represented persons when the lawyer is self-representing or pursuing the case pro se.

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Lighter sentences sought for some business crimes

The federal panel that sets sentencing policy eased penalties this year for potentially tens of thousands of nonviolent drug offenders. Now, defense lawyers and prisoner advocates are pushing for similar treatment for a different category of defendants: swindlers, embezzlers, insider traders and other white-collar criminals.

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Chief Justice: Lawyers should mend partisan divide

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking at the American Bar Association's annual meeting Monday, said lawyers should play a key role in mitigating the "sharp partisan divides" that have shaken public faith in government.

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Domestic violence groups support proposed pro se rule change

Domestic violence groups are showing an interest in a potential state Supreme Court rule that would give judges leeway on how to deal with those representing themselves in court. The rule, if the court adopts it, would permit judges to “make reasonable efforts to facilitate the ability of all litigants, including self-represented litigants, to be fairly heard.” It also would ...

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Holder proposes changes in criminal justice system

With the U.S. facing massive overcrowding in its prisons, Attorney General Eric Holder called Monday for major changes to the nation's criminal justice system that would scale back the use of harsh sentences for certain drug-related crimes.

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