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Conviction of Balch & Bingham Partner Makes National Headlines
Convicted Balch & Bingham partner Joel I. Gilbert has made national headlines this afternoon. As we continue to reach out to Wall Street institutional investors and businesses that have utilized Balch in the past with our call for them to immediately suspend Balch & Bingham, the national coverage is beneficial to and compliments our efforts. The New York Times reports: A coal company executive and a lawyer have been convicted in federal court of bribing an Alabama lawmaker to oppose Environmental Protection Agency plans that could have made the company help pay to clean up a polluted Superfund site. David…
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Will Gilbert Share Balch’s Dark Secrets?
Convicted Balch & Bingham partner and ghost-writer extraordinaire Joel I. Gilbert faces at least 20 years in federal prison. The data about federal sentencing guidelines on bribery are not favorable. The vast majority (94%) are first time offenders, yet a super-majority (75%) were sentenced to prison. With 6 guilty counts against him and a $360,000 bribe that was over five times the national median amount, Gilbert may not see his two young children until they are teenagers or in college. He may come out of federal prison as a senior citizen. What can Gilbert do to secure a shorter concurrent prison sentence for…
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Balch, Bingham & Bribery
After this evening’s verdict, Balch & Bingham immediately fired convicted Balch partner Joel I. Gilbert. Stan Blanton, managing partner, had the audacity to try to pivot the bribery scheme away from the firm, saying “our firm was not a party to the case.” But one of Balch’s most loyal, dedicated equity partners was. Gilbert was a Balch & Bingham-made millionaire. The bribery scheme, the invoicing, the bribery checks, the ghost-written letters were born at the offices of Balch & Bingham. Although the firm was “not a party” to the case, Balch & Bingham appears to have been the genesis and backdrop…
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GUILTY ON ALL 6 COUNTS: Balch & Bingham Partner and Drummond Executive
Balch & Bingham partner Joel I. Gilbert was found GUILTY ON ALL 6 counts and so was Drummond’s executive David Roberson. Justice, Justice! As Pulitzer prize-winning journalist John Archibald tweeted: Now that the bribers and the bribee has been brought to justice, it is time to look at so many others involved in this case who looked the other way or were complicit in the travesty. It should not end here.
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Tick-Tock
The CDLU was in the courtroom this afternoon. It was empty except for a handful of reporters and other observers. Soon the defendants, family members, legal teams, and representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office arrived. Even U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town was there. The jury entered. Members of the jury were happy and it appears there is congeniality among the group. The judge dismissed the jury for the day, speaking to them at eye-level just below and near the witness stand, without a robe. A veteran ex-prosecutor has told us it may take until Monday before verdicts are reached in…
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More Day 16: Defendants Own Words and Actions Prove their Guilt
Assistant U.S. Attorney George Martin gave the final rebuttal this morning and it was powerful. Even U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town was in the courtroom for the final discourse. Kyle Whitimire of AL.com tweeted: AUSA George Martin now up to give the second half of the government’s closing. He says he has 47 minutes and he’ll take half of that. (Jurors smile.) Martin showing again Government’s Exhibit 1: A draft letter Gilbert had written and edited for Oliver Robinson to send to the AEMC, in which Gilbert added the words “as a state legislator.” Martin: “This was bribery whether that…
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Day 16: Roberson’s Good Character vs. Balch’s Legal Advice
With the Alabama Media Group posting this morning a thorough and in depth profile of North Birmingham residents titled “We are a Forgotten Community,” the criminal bribery continued with closing arguments from Henry Asbill, defense attorney for David Roberson, the indicted Drummond executive. Keeping to a united defense strategy, Asbill shredded bought-and-paid-for politician Oliver Robinson and dismissed the criminal charges asserting that Roberson was acting in “good faith” and just doing his job. Asbill also pointed out that Roberson relied on Balch’s legal advice. Lauren Walsh of ABC 33/40 tweeted: Asbill now stressing; “Evidence of good character (ALONE) may create…
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Vindication or Conviction?
Good morning! Today we will hear from indicted Drummond executive David Roberson’s defense team who will make closing arguments. Yesterday, Joel I. Gilbert’s defense attorney made a strong case against Oliver Robinson observers say, but will it be enough? The question in some people’s mind is: Will Roberson’s team continue to shred Oliver Robinson or will they also separate themselves from Gilbert’s alleged unsavory and dishonest conduct? Will they argue that Balch provided bad legal advice that was not properly vetted by the firm? The government will provide a closing rebuttal which could heavily focus on the details that cannot…
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More Day 15: Concealing Bribery Contract is a First Amendment Right
Is there an emoji for this? Joel I. Gilbert’s defense attorney, Brandon Essig, argued that the defendants could conceal the contract with bought-and-paid-for defendant Oliver Robinson as a First Amendment right. Essig for the most part attempted to put Oliver Robinson and the Oliver Robinson Foundation on trial today, trying to shred Robinson’s credibility as a witness. Covering the closing arguments by Gilbert’s defense attorney, Kyle Whitmire of AL.com tweets: Essig now arguing that lack of disclosure is a First Amendment issue — that it was their right to hide Robinson’s contract with Balch and Drummond. Essig calls Robinson the…
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Day 15: Prosecutor’s Closing Argument Shows Gilbert Lied
The Assistant U.S. Attorney laid out a strong closing argument against co-defendants, Joel I. Gilbert and David Roberson. AL.com reports: Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark made the government’s closing statement. She began her statement talking about growing up as a daughter of a costume seamstress, watching the theater come to life on opening night and the actor shine. That’s what Robinson was in this scheme, she said. “He was exactly the right person with exactly the right connections to deliver a message to the community,” Mark said. “His words and his presence would not go unnoticed.” Mark asked the…
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Breaking News: Steven McKinney Acquitted
Balch & Bingham partner Steven McKinney has been acquitted. From Kyle Whitmire of AL.com: There’s been a lot of activity. The judge has yet to rule on a Rule 29 motion for dismissal for defendant Steve McKinney. We shall see. Jury’s back. Judge says, “Steven McKinney is no longer a part of this trial.” Judge tells the jury that his absence should not affect how they look at the other defendants. And now Roberson’s defense will begin. What is a Rule 29 motion? Rule 29. Motion for a Judgment of Acquittal. (a) Before Submission to the Jury. After the government closes its…
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Day 14: Jury Smirks at Not-Believable Gilbert Testimony; Defense Rests
[Post Updated Below] Could it get any worse for indicted Balch & Bingham partner Joel I. Gilbert? Kyle Whitmire of AL.com opines this morning about the not-believable testimony from Gilbert: Like I said yesterday, Gilbert has staked his freedom to the argument that, when they paid the Oliver Robinson Foundation, they had no idea that Robinson was benefiting personally from that. This is a hell of the thing to ask the jury to believe, and yesterday a couple of jurors were smirking when they heard this argument. Emails and other docs don’t help the defense on this point. Confirming the…
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Balch’s Great Rift: Today’s Courtroom Drama
Good morning! Joel Gilbert, the indicted Balch & Bingham partner will be questioned this morning by the attorney for his former boss, Steven McKinney, the other indicted Balch partner whose legal team has claimed he was not involved in the bribery conspiracy. Although McKinney’s attorney has repeatedly demonstrated in court that his client had no meetings or communications with Oliver Robinson and others, McKinney was carbon-copied on all communications. Gilbert will most likely also be interrogated by indicted Drummond executive David Roberson’s legal counsel therafter. The great rift between two Balch & Bingham partners and their former client may appear…
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Day 13: Medium-Well or Well Done? Gilbert Grilled on Witness Stand
The 13th day of the trial was bad luck for defendant Joel I. Gilbert, a Balch & Bingham-made millionaire, according to court testimony. Having had weeks of horrible testimony against him, Gilbert had to testify on the stand. After Gilbert laid out his autobiography, his defense lawyer threw him softballs questions in which Gilbert denied the bribery charges or even knowing that Oliver Robinson was being paid by his own foundation. Assistant U.S. Attorney George Martin grilled, skewered, and then demolished Gilbert on the witness stand The jury was at full attention. Kyle Whitmire of AL.com tweeted the devastating exchange:…
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Week 3: Winners and Losers
Winners: GASP: Three weeks in a row! The small, tiny public charity has shaken the pillars of industry. Testimony again showed GASP was targeted by a web of Balch agents. The FBI: The agent who testified solidly connected with the jury, many who are women. Not bad in this “me too” era. Junior Attorneys at Balch & Bingham: The testimony by three former and current Balch attorneys was damning, and also confirms there are still good, honest, and professional attorneys at Balch that have a conscience. Losers: Joel Gilbert: Another problematic week showing him as the alleged head honcho of…