The Limits of Federal Criminal Law

Criminal Law & Procedure Practice Group

Event Video

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In the last year, the Department of Justice lost three major cases against Fed Ex, Vascular Solutions and Warner Chilcott. Critics argue that each case was an example of over-enforcement by DOJ and overcriminalization by Congress. Proponents assert that it is a critical role of government to police and dissuade bad acts by private citizens and corporations. Are there too many federal agencies, giving prosecutors too much power over individuals and corporations? Is it good policy to prosecute individual employees of a corporation, as suggested in the Yates memorandum? Panelists, including lawyers in each of these three cases, will discuss the limits of federal criminal law and prosecutions.

This panel was held on December 8, 2016, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Speakers: 

  • Cristina C. Arguedas, Partner, Arguedas, Cassman & Headley LLP 
  • Leslie R. Caldwell, Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, The United States Department of Justice
  • Ben Hatch, Partner, McGuireWoods
  • John Richter, Partner, King & Spalding 
  • Joseph Savage, Partner, Goodwin Proctor 
  • Moderator: Stuart S. Taylor, Contributing Editor, National Journal