The stats certainly say yes -- there are more federal bench acquittals than jury acquittals on a percentage basis. But the conventional wisdom is to go jury...
In any event, yesterday, Judge Moore said not guilty as the finder of fact in a visa fraud case. AFPDs Vanessa Chen and Helaine Batoff decided to go bench before Judge Moore and after he denied the Rule 29, he said that as the finder of fact he found the defendant not guilty.
The SDFLA Blog is dedicated to providing news and notes regarding federal practice in the Southern District of Florida. The New Times calls the blog "the definitive source on South Florida's federal court system." All tips on court happenings are welcome and will remain anonymous. Please email David Markus at dmarkus@markuslaw.com
HA! I can hear your jaws dropping all over the city.
ReplyDeleteJudge Moore is notoriously pro-defense. Why would the government agree to go bench in front of a guy who is so soft-hearted?
ReplyDeleteWhat were the facts?
ReplyDeleteKevin Rusk fired the chefs of the Constitution Cafe without warning, one of them expecting a new baby in 3 months. Planner that he is, he never got the recipes, so if you enjoyed the mac n cheese, the meatloaf, the crawfish bisque, forget it they won't be there anymore, so don't bother going.
ReplyDeletebad call by cafe's owners. that place has some decent eats.
ReplyDeletealthough it seems like every month they nickel and dime you. initially they gave you free shit with sandwhiches--now no more. soup containers are smaller. also hate that they have no cold water so you have to buy water there.