News Coverage

O.J. Simpson, famously acquitted in the 1994 murders of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, has won parole after serving nine years of a 33-year sentence, for the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas hotel.
Prominent Connecticut defense attorney Norm Pattis analyzes that case, and the challenges that Simpson will face, following his scheduled release in October.

“I didn’t do anything, and the video proves it.”
So declared activist Barbara Fair, standing on the steps of the New Haven Courthouse surrounded by a crowd of supporters, Wednesday morning. Fair came to court for an initial appearance on a charge against her of interfering with police for actions that took place at a protest on the Green on July 8; she said that rather than accept a plea deal, she plans to fight the charge in court. She said she is confident that video...

A federal judge has ruled that a local anti-police-brutality activist has a legitimate free-speech argument to present to a jury about why a former top cop barred her from a weekly “CompStat” data-sharing meeting.
U.S. District Court Judge Stefan R. Underhill, a Clinton appointee, agreed in a decision released last week that activist Barbara Fair’s First Amendment rights might have been infringed and the case should proceed. The city had sought to have the case...

A Michigan doctor was arrested in April for allegedly performing female genital mutilation on two seven-year-old girls who traveled from Minnesota with their families. The arrest—the first time a U.S. doctor has been arrested for the practice—came after the FBI got a tip that Jumana Nagarwala, M.D., was performing the procedure. In addition to Dr. Nagarwala, Fakhruddin Attar, M.D., and his wife, Farida Attar, were also arrested. According to authorities, the Attars were present...

It only took a few moments for Razia Shalia to become overwhelmed with emotion Wednesday morning as closing arguments began in her dead husband’s murder trial.
Shalia cried uncontrollably when the prosecution showed pictures of Mahomed Kamal, 47, who was stabbed 127 times in August 2014.
“That was the first time I saw those pictures,” said Shalia, who left the courtroom after the photos were shown and did not return for the more than two hours of closing...

Attorney Norm Pattis was in with Chaz and AJ, explaining why the boat kid case is so complicated.

Attorney Norm Pattis could not divulge their conversation, but he was able to share with Chaz and AJ what he remembers about Hernandez's emotional state, and why he believes he was not hired to defend him.

Aaron Hernandez's death means his murder conviction is likely to disappear. Under Massachusetts law, defense attorneys can seek to have convictions vacated when a defendant dies before an appeal is heard.
Hernandez was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2013 death of Odin Lloyd.
"I admired his grit and determination and thought he was capable of warmth, a complete human being," said New Haven criminal defense attorney Norm Pattis, who met with Hernandez after his murder...

Choate Rosemary Hall released Thursday a 48 page investigation that details decades of sexual misconduct involving former faculty and staff member.
Some of the abuse was never reported and some reported cases were kept secret within its walls.
"A prestigious school. It's probably the best school for children to participate and go to," said Wallingford resident, Natalie Corris.
Choate hired a law firm out of New York to investigate after alumni came forward about their abuse...

Jury selection began Tuesday in what could be the longest murder trial at the city’s courthouse in several years.
Judge John Blawie told prospective jurors that the case against Stamford resident Shota Mekoshvili, who is accused of stabbing to death and robbing taxicab driver Mahomed Kamal, could last up to a month. Testimony in the case is scheduled to begin April 26.
Due to the expected length of the trial, it could take until the end of next week to choose the 12 jurors and...