Lawyers

As former Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona prepares for trial on criminal charges that he sold access to his office for cash, favors and gifts, he has retained the best lawyers money can buy.

And he's getting them nearly free of charge. Jones Day, the fourth-largest law firm in the United States, with 2,300 lawyers worldwide and estimated annual revenue of $1.3 billion, has agreed to represent Carona on a pro bono basis. Based in Cleveland, the elite firm represents more than half the companies that constitute the Fortune 500.

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Jefferson Testifies FBI Agents Were Hostile

Testifying under oath for the first time in his bribery case, Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., contradicted the testimony of multiple FBI agents who said the Aug. 2005 interview was cordial and friendly.

Jefferson is seeking to suppress statements to FBI agents during the interview as well as other evidence seized from the home.

Jefferson's lawyers argued that the circumstances of the interview were so hostile that Jefferson reasonably assumed he was under arrest, and that he therefore should have been advised of his right to remain silent and right to speak with an attorney.

Prosecutors contend that the interview was friendly and professional, and that Jefferson's statements were voluntary and should be allowed at trial.

In testimony lasting more than an hour at Thursday's pretrial hearing, Jefferson remained calm and mannerly, even in the face of an aggressive cross-examination.

Porton Down veterans awarded £3m compensation

Joe Kearns, a former radio aircraft engineer from Glasgow who spent time at Porton Down in the 1970s, said he only signed the deal reluctantly.

He said: "I haven't been able to work for 37 years. I couldn't even get a job as a hospital porter. I have short term memory problems. I'm really blind. I'm back and forth to hospital. I've had two hips replaced and spinal operations.

"It's the pure injustice. I have no option but to sign and accept the form. Otherwise they will wash their hands of us. I just don't want the MoD to walk away from this smelling of roses."

Lawyers for the veterans said their acceptance of the compensation and the apology brought to an end the group legal action against the MoD. Mediation on the settlement began in December last year.

Solicitor Alan Care, who has acted for the veterans since 1994, said: "Today is the culmination of well over a decade's work to obtain some justice and recognition for the veterans who have undoubtedly been treated poorly until now by the Ministry of Defence for so many years.

Dan Gross: Is Alycia Lane playing a waiting game?

AFTER ALYCIA LANE was fired a week ago, all signs indicated a wrongful termination lawsuit against CBS3 was forthcoming from her attorney Paul Rosen.

Rosen, of Spector, Gadon, and Rosen, issued a statement calling Lane's termination an "unusual and unwarranted step" as she had not been convicted of any wrongdoing nor had she yet been able to speak publicly about the allegations. Of course, she could speak publicly, but her lawyers don't want her to.

Is Rosen's delay in filing at the request of New York criminal attorney David Smith? Smith, who has repped Nicole Richie and Lizzie Grubman, offered no comment the other day when we asked whether he had advised Lane to hold off on a civil suit against CBS3 pending the outcome of her New York criminal matter which is listed for an April 3 hearing date.

TRIBUNE ENDORSEMENTS

The Tribune offers endorsements today in contested primary elections for the Cook County Circuit Court. In making these endorsements, the Tribune relies on evaluations from state and county bar associations, information provided by the candidates and the advice of lawyers, judges and others who are familiar with the candidates and their work.

These are Democratic primary races, unless otherwise noted.

Countywide