Court Appoints Lawyer for Bernard Kilpatrick

Headline Legal News

It's the ongoing public corruption investigation that's led to charges against numerous city officials, including former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. It now appears his father could soon be at federal court, as well.

"The case looks like it's at a point where decisions have to be made both by the prosecutors and by Mr. Kilpatrick," said Peter Henning, a former federal prosecutor.

This time that Mr. Kilpatrick is Bernard Kilpatrick, the father of the disgraced former mayor.

Kwame Kilpatrick is already facing charges related to raiding the Kilpatrick Civic Fund, but now his father has asked for a federal defender - a sure sign he's in trouble, too.

"A target letter is often viewed as an invitation to someone to make contact with the government and explore the possibility of resolving the case," Henning said.

He said it's not clear what the charges would be against the elder Kilpatrick, who is long suspected of orchestrating pay-to-play deals involving city contracts. However, whatever money he might have made appears to be gone. Bernard Kilpatrick had to sign an affidavit of indigency to qualify for a court appointed attorney.

Related listings

  • BP expected to pay Florida $20M for seafood inspections

    BP expected to pay Florida $20M for seafood inspections

    Headline Legal News 10/25/2010

    Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson says BP will pay his department $10 million to strengthen its inspection operations to ensure that seafood taken from Gulf of Mexico waters is safe to eat.Bronson said Monday another $10 million from B...

  • Court won't speed challenge to MN disclosure law

    Court won't speed challenge to MN disclosure law

    Headline Legal News 10/04/2010

    A federal appeals court has declined to fast-track a challenge against a Minnesota law requiring disclosure of corporate political spending.In an order Monday, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a motion to expedite the case, and it scheduled or...

  • Court affirms overturning Fla. gay adoption ban

    Court affirms overturning Fla. gay adoption ban

    Headline Legal News 09/22/2010

    Florida's strict ban on adoption by gay people is unconstitutional because no other group, even people with criminal backgrounds, are singled out for a flat prohibition by state law, an appeals court ruled Wednesday.The ruling by the 3rd District Cou...

Business News