Sunday, September 1, 1985
Volume:
1
Issue:
1
Abstract:
A decision by U.S. District Judge Pierre N. Leval (S.D.N.Y.) on July 11 (84 Cr. 236) that it is unconstitutional for the government to seize legal fees that defendants paid their lawyers in narcotics or organized crime cases has encouraged the private bar and criminal defense attorneys whose livelihood is increasingly under attack by the Reagan Administration. Recently, the Subcommittee of the Criminal Justice Section's White-Collar Crime Committee has joined the opposition of the American Banker's Association to the administration bill (H.R. 2785) on money laundering. Another group of defense counsel hotly contesting the law is the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.