Court hears appeal by DC sniper mastermind

Court Alerts

A lawyer for John Allen Muhammad says the sniper mastermind never should have been allowed to act as his own lawyer for part of his 2003 capital murder trial.


Jonathan Sheldon told a federal appeals court Tuesday that the failure of Muhammad's trial attorneys to tell a judge about their client's mental health issues violated his constitutional right to effective counsel.

A lawyer for the state of Virginia argued that Muhammad's competency was never an issue in his trial for one of the 10 murders committed by Muhammad and teenage accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo. Muhammad was sentenced to death, and Malvo is serving a life term for the 2002 Washington, D.C.-area shooting spree.

The federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., is expected to rule in several weeks.

Related listings

  • Judge Blasts Law Firm Over Asbestos Suit

    Judge Blasts Law Firm Over Asbestos Suit

    Court Alerts 05/08/2009

    A Los Angeles judge has blasted one of the nation's leading plaintiffs firms in asbestos litigation for attempting to obtain an upper hand in the case through what he called a "type of judicially sanctioned extortion." The judge's statements came in ...

  • Feds want 3-year term for Mo. mom in MySpace hoax

    Feds want 3-year term for Mo. mom in MySpace hoax

    Court Alerts 05/07/2009

    A Missouri mother should serve three years in prison for her role in a MySpace hoax on a 13-year-old neighbor who committed suicide, federal prosecutors said in court documents filed Wednesday. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Krause outlined the governm...

  • Former officer admits robbing Orange County banks

    Former officer admits robbing Orange County banks

    Court Alerts 05/06/2009

    A former police officer dubbed the "Polite Bandit" has pleaded guilty to robbing banks in Orange County. Vincent Cantu, who served eight years with the Pasadena Police Department, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court. Cantu admitted robbing two La...

New Rochelle, New York Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP, in New Rochelle, New York, immediately. We can answer all your questions and work with you to determine if you have the grounds for a personal injury lawsuit. The attorneys at our firm are determined to resolve even the most difficult of cases. We will work closely with you to determine the best course of action to get your claim or case resolved in the most efficient way possible. We will fight for your right to compensation! No one should have to suffer a financial burden from the result of another person’s carelessness. The attorneys at Kommer, Bave & Ollman, LLP will aggressively fight to ensure that justice is served on your behalf.

Business News

New York & New Jersey Family Law Matters We represent our clients in all types of proceedings that include termination of parental rights. >> read