Former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan has agreed to plead guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy in the $2.8 million “kids for cash” scandal. Conahan faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced, according to the Legal Intelligencer and the Associated Press. The agreement does not include a minimum sentence; instead it specifies the penalty will be “determined by the court.” According to the Intelligencer, “The sentiment from several sources upon reviewing the plea deal was: ‘He must be singing like a bird.’ ” The sources said Conahan…

Former Luzerne County Judge Michael Conahan has agreed to plead guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy in the $2.8 million “kids for cash” scandal. Conahan faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 when he is sentenced, according to the Legal Intelligencer and the Associated Press. The agreement does not include a minimum sentence; instead it specifies the penalty will be “determined by the court.” According to the Intelligencer, “The sentiment from several sources upon reviewing the plea deal was: ‘He must be singing like a bird.’ ” The sources said Conahan…

The Senate Judiciary Committee has sent three bills on courtroom cameras to the full Senate, including legislation promoting televised coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court. One of the bills would require the Supreme Court to broadcast oral arguments unless a majority of justices decide the coverage would violate the rights of a party, according to the Associated Press and The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. Another nonbinding bill says it is the “sense of the Senate” that the Supreme Court should allow coverage. A third bill would authorize federal trial and appellate judges to allow courtroom cameras. Under the…

The Senate Judiciary Committee has sent three bills on courtroom cameras to the full Senate, including legislation promoting televised coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court. One of the bills would require the Supreme Court to broadcast oral arguments unless a majority of justices decide the coverage would violate the rights of a party, according to the Associated Press and The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. Another nonbinding bill says it is the “sense of the Senate” that the Supreme Court should allow coverage. A third bill would authorize federal trial and appellate judges to allow courtroom cameras. Under the…

President Obama says it’s time to apply the concept of judicial restraint to conservative judicial activists who are ignoring the will of Congress. “The concept of judicial restraint cuts both ways,” Obama said Wednesday evening, recalling that liberal judges had faced criticism for overturning laws in the 1960s and 1970s. The New York Times and the Associated Press had stories. Obama make his remarks to reporters who were flying with him on Air Force One, the stories say. He commented in response to a question about whether “conservative judicial activism” would play a role in his next Supreme Court nomination.…

President Obama says it’s time to apply the concept of judicial restraint to conservative judicial activists who are ignoring the will of Congress. “The concept of judicial restraint cuts both ways,” Obama said Wednesday evening, recalling that liberal judges had faced criticism for overturning laws in the 1960s and 1970s. The New York Times and the Associated Press had stories. Obama made his remarks to reporters who were flying with him on Air Force One, the stories say. He commented in response to a question about whether “conservative judicial activism” would play a role in his next Supreme Court nomination.…

The Securities and Exchange Commission has referred its civil case against Goldman Sachs to the U.S. Justice Department for a criminal review, several newspapers are reporting. The investigation involves different evidence than in the SEC’s case alleging the investment bank sold a mortgage investment that was designed to fail, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan is handling the criminal probe. If prosecutors bring criminal charges, they will have to overcome a tough hurdle, showing Goldman or its employees knowingly committed fraud, the newspaper says. Other obstacles include a higher burden of proof and…

The Securities and Exchange Commission has referred its civil case against Goldman Sachs to the U.S. Justice Department for a criminal review, several newspapers are reporting. The investigation involves different evidence than in the SEC’s case alleging the investment bank sold a mortgage investment that was designed to fail, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan is handling the criminal probe. If prosecutors bring criminal charges, they will have to overcome a tough hurdle, showing Goldman or its employees knowingly committed fraud, the newspaper says. Other obstacles include a higher burden of proof and…

Fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias is back in the news, this time for his role in the prosecution of a Canadian teen captured on an Afghanistan battlefield. Iglesias, a captain in the Navy reserves, was mobilized to Guantanamo’s military commissions last year, the Miami Herald reports. Now he is part of a Pentagon prosecution team arguing that confessions made by Omar Khadr, captured at the age of 15, should be allowed at his trial that begins in July. Iglesias was one of nine U.S. attorneys fired by the U.S. Justice Department in controversial moves that were derided as politically motivated.…

Apparently adding a new name to his short list of potential candidates for a U.S. Supreme Court seat, President Barack Obama today reportedly spent a significant amount of time interviewing 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sidney Thomas, the Associated Press reports. It is the president's first known interview of a candidate for the seat soon to be vacated by Justice John Paul Stevens, states the article, which relies on an unidentified source. Vice president Joe Biden also interviewed Thomas today. Meanwhile, officials in Washington, D.C. are gearing up for an expected "epic battle" over the confirmation of Obama's…