Breaking: Seventh Circuit Affirms Conviction of Gov. George Ryan
Since the tireless Howard Bashman is in transit, we’ll temporarily assume his role as super-timely provider of appellate litigation news.
This just in: A divided Seventh Circuit panel has affirmed the criminal convictions of former Illinois Governor George H. Ryan and his associate, Lawrence Warner. The majority opinion is by Judge Diane Wood (who is a judicial hottie); the dissent is by Judge Michael Kanne (who is reportedly not fat).
This is especially bad news for Winston & Strawn. As some of you may recall, the firm reportedly blew $20 million on defending Governor Ryan, on a pro bono basis.
United States v. Ryan [U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit]
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syntax error: warning, warning, duplication.
did Winston take the appeal pro bono too?
Winston took a lot of flack for calling it "pro bono" as I recall. American Lawyer forced them to adjust their statistics, since Gov. Ryan was not exactly unable to afford an attorney.
Are you kidding? Winston is thrilled. Do you think they wanted to spend another $20 million on a new trial?
Umm, Winston should not be thrilled in the least. The dissenting Judge notes at the outset that W&S failed to argue what he regarded as the most persuasive issue (one that rose to the level of structural error--that is, the golden child of errors where no prejudice is necessary). The dissent proceeded to reach and argue for reversal on that issue DESPITE counsel's decision not to advance the argument, and the majority's primary response to the dissent is that they can't reverse on an issue that the appellant failed to raise. If they had pursued the argument--and its an issue they were aware of having raised it in post-trial briefing--the Gov might be going free right now.
That is, by any definition, bad news for a firm that took the case pro bono solely to bolster its reputation.
Jack Webb hardly needs to bolster reputation as one of the best trial attorneys in the country. This is ridiculous... Ryan was dead-to-rights and will rot in prison.
Ummm....Dan Webb?
*:57--"took the case pro bono solely to bolster its reputation"? Who you kidding? Do you know nothing of Illinois politics? No firm gives a shit about what a dissent says--its about the money. It is always about the money.
I am amazed that other inmates are awating there sentence to go infront of the seventh circuit. why does ryan who is covicted be out he should in at oxford waiting his appeal like all the other inmates