This Week: Women Defenders in Trial
Evan Jenness and Vicki Podberesky Obtain Partial Acquittal for Clients in L.A.
Last week, Evan Jenness and Vicki Podberesky finished a two week trial in federal court in Los Angeles. Each represented one of two Los Angeles Sheriff’s Deputies who were charged with conspiring to violate civil rights, use of excessive and unreasonable force for purposes of punishing an inmate, and writing a false report to cover up the substantive allegations.
After much deliberation, the jury acquitted the deputies of the most serious offense: conspiring to violate civil rights. They were hung on the charge of use of excessive and unreasonable force, but convicted the deputies on the charge of writing a false report to cover up the substantive offense. The United States Attorney's Office is currently exploring whether to retry the defendants on the hung count.
This was a hard fought trial by two experienced defenders. Both bring years of criminal defense and trial experience to the defense team.
Marie Henein Defending Celebrity Radio Host in Trial in Toronto
Marie Henein is currently defending Jian Ghomeshi, a former CBC radio celebrity, who is being tried in Toronto, Canada on multiple charges of sexual assault. The trial is being closely followed by the media, which reports every detail on a daily basis. For more details about the allegations as well as a summary of the events of the trial to date, see here, here and here.
By all accounts, Marie Henein is doing a terrific job at discrediting three accusers who took the stand for the prosecution. Henein has been able to expose conduct by these women after the alleged attacks that clearly calls into questions the veracity of their claims; information left out in initial reports to the police; and communication between the accusers. She is doing a magnificent job defending her client and forcing the jury to examine the details and motives surrounding the allegations. As a woman defender, Henein is well positioned to confront the female accusers, whose claims seem to falling apart under the scrutiny of a skilled attorney. If you don’t know who Marie Henein is, read more about her own celebrity lawyer status here. Without question, she is a shining star among women criminal defense attorneys.