District of Connecticut Law Clerks Society
a society for current and recent law clerks for the united states district court for the district of connecticut
About the DCLC
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One of the purposes of the DCLC is to keep our members informed and to network with each other. If you have an announcement, including job openings, please contact us at the email addresses below and we will put up a posting for you.
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Recent Posts
- Judge Underhill Asked to Determine if Cheerleading is a Sport
- Garber Seeking Attorney General Position
- Behind the Rise and Fall of Philadelphia’s Prison Population
- 4th Annual Investigating Computer Crimes in the 21st Century
- Judge Chatigny Nominated To Seat On U.S. 2nd Circuit Court Of Appeals
- Court Asked to Reverse Ruling on State’s Campaign Program
- Campaign Finance Legislation Under Scrutiny
- Practices of Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office Under Review
- Lawsuit Granted Class Action Status
- Extensive Reshaping Possible In Federal Judiciary In Connecticut
Categories
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September 29, 2009
Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud
Federal prosecutors said that a Hartford man pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud before U.S. District Judge Janet B. Arterton in New Haven on Monday. The defendant faces up to 30 years in prison for trying to launder more than $150,000 in stolen money. Judge Arterton is scheduled to deliver defendant’s sentence on December 8.
September 16, 2009
Blumenthal Opposes Google Deal on Books
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is requesting U.S. District Judge Denny Chin of the Southern District of New York to amend a proposed $125 million settlement that would allow Google Inc. to create a huge online library of millions of books, claiming the agreement clashes with state laws. According to the Association of American Publishers, the proposed settlement would resolve a class-action lawsuit brought by authors and publishers who had concerns, mostly related to copyright issues, about the Internet giant’s plan to launch Google Book Search.
Blumenthal is concerned that the settlement may skirt Connecticut laws and misdirect charitable funds and unclaimed property. Under the current proposed settlement, funds that Google Book Search generates from works where the copyright holder cannot be located, will go into a Book Rights Registry. Blumenthal believes the registry would have “unfettered, unlawful discretion” to disburse the money. He stated that those who fail to enroll with the registry, or who the registry fails to notify of funds generated by their works, will lose the opportunity to access money that belongs to them. Any unclaimed funds deemed to be within Connecticut’s jurisdiction should, per state law, become property of the state. “This settlement must be amended to protect creative rights as well as our state charities laws,” Blumenthal said. “When authors bequeath proceeds of their hard work to charity, this settlement fails to ensure that the registry respects their intent.”
September 15, 2009
U.S. Attorney Prosecutes Defendants for Trafficking In Navy Rifle Sights
Federal prosecutors from the District of Connecticut have charged three men with trafficking in 50 or more high-tech, optical rifle sights stolen from the U.S. Navy. Five of the sights were eventually purchased in Connecticut by an undercover agent of the federal Defense Criminal Investigative Service. Acting U.S. Attorney Nora Dannehy stated that "Illegal weapons trafficking endangers the lives of our military servicemen and servicewomen overseas, and this office and our federal law enforcement partners are committed to ensuring that sensitive military technology does not wind up in the wrong hands." One of the defendants pleaded guilty Monday at U.S. District Court in Hartford. The other two have yet to enter pleas.
September 14, 2009
Connecticut Lawyer Claims Colleagues' Web Advertising Raises Ethical Issues
Norwich lawyer Zenas Zelotes has filed hundreds of ethics complaints across the country, claiming that improper referrals being made through Internet sites, such as totaldivorce.com and totaldui.com., breach rules against for-profit lawyer referral services.
Connecticut's chief disciplinary counsel, Mark DuBois, has found probable cause against several Connecticut attorneys named in the complaint. He stated that the case raises "fascinating issues" about the use of technology in marketing legal services.
Wick Chambers, chairman of the Connecticut Bar Association's ethics committee, sees technology clashing with codes of a profession steeped in tradition and said "Internet advertising is a big issue for us."
Scott McGowan, a Connecticut attorney named in the case, who advertises on totaldivorce.com, describes the contract he signed as "Google-style, pay-per-click advertising." He stated, "It doesn't make recommendations." "And I'm not getting any kickbacks." A finding of probable cause has not been made against McGowan.
September 11, 2009
Obama Given Recommendations For U.S. Attorney Of Connecticut
The number of candidates for the position of U.S. attorney for Connecticut narrowed to four when the state's two U.S. senators gave the names of their preferred finalists to President Barack Obama.
The four finalists are:
Nora Dannehy, a career prosecutor who became acting U.S. attorney in 2008. Dannehy is currently dividing her time between New Haven and Washington, where she has been appointed to examine allegations that politically based personnel decisions were made in the Justice Department during the administration of President George W. Bush.
David Fein, partner in the law firm Wiggin and Dana and former associate counsel to President Bill Clinton. Fein is a former assistant U.S. attorney in the southern district of New York.
Edgardo Ramos, partner in the law firm Day Pitney. Ramos is a former supervisory assistant U.S. attorney in the eastern district of New York.
William Tong, an associate with the law firm Finn, Dixon and Herling. Tong is a state representative whose district covers Stamford and Darien and he is a member of the legislature's judiciary committee.
The Courant obtained a copy of the Senators' letter to the President. In it, Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman wrote, "All four of these individuals, we believe, are extremely well qualified to be the next U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut." "We strongly recommend them all to you for your consideration."
U.S. attorneys, are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The White House traditionally follows the recommendation of the senior elected official of his political party in the respective states. Connecticut's senior elected Democrat, Christopher Dodd, would have recommended a nominee to Obama under this practice. However, for this appointment, Dodd chose to share the selection and recommendation of nominees with Lieberman. The process of interviewing and screening the candidates who expressed an interest in becoming U.S. attorney was done by a seven-member committee appointed by the senators. This is the first time a committee of this sort has been impaneled in Connecticut. The senators intend to use committees in the future for screening of other federal appointees, such as federal judges and U.S. marshals.
September 10, 2009
Judge Dorsey Imposes Sentence In eBay Fraud Case
A New Haven man was sentenced to serve a year and a day in federal prison on charges that he used the Internet to solicit more than $200,000 from customers trying to buy cellular telephone equipment.
Senior U.S. District Judge Peter C. Dorsey imposed the prison sentence and also ordered the Defendant to repay eBay the $237,257 it spent to reimburse its users for their losses.
The Defendant claimed to be overwhelmed with the success of his Internet sales business and unable to fill orders from over 1,000 customers who paid for equipment through eBay.
Federal prosecutors said Defendant used some of the money he collected from unfilled orders to pay for several trips and that defendant never intended to fulfill the orders.
September 9, 2009
Five Men Sentenced For Tax Evasion
Senior U.S. District Judge Peter C. Dorsey imposed a sentence of two months in prison and a year of supervised release on five brothers for evading taxes on over $2 million that they skimmed from their chain of Dollar Dreams discount stores in Connecticut. The men were additionally ordered by Judge Dorsey to pay $10,000 fines each and, collectively, $1.2 million to the IRS in taxes, penalties and interest.
Advisory Committee: Alyssa Esposito, Law Clerk to Judge Fitzsimmons; Krishna Patel, Assistant United States Attorney
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