Question 1

The special prosecutor in the Iran-Contra arms case issued a final report absolving
high-level officials including President Reagan and Vice President Bush from
responsibility in covering up the crime.

Accepted Answer

The special prosecutor's final report did not fully absolve high-level officials, and included criticism of their actions in covering up the Iran-Contra affair. However, no criminal charges were brought against President Reagan or Vice President Bush.

Question 2

White collar crime defendants are far more likely than conventional crime
defendants to retain private counsel.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true, as white collar crimes are often complex and require specialized legal expertise that private defense attorneys are better equipped to provide. Additionally, defendants in white collar cases often have greater financial resources to hire private counsel.

Question 3

According to a major study of white collar crime defense work, compared with
conventional crime defense, much earlier involvement in the case is the norm.

Accepted Answer

The statement implies that white collar crime defense work involves earlier involvement in the case compared to conventional crime defense, and the statement is true.

Question 4

Traditionally, it has been federal government agencies that initiate court
proceedings against corporate polluters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Traditionally, it has been federal government agencies...

Question 5

It is widely regarded as unethical for corporations to employ defense lawyers to
represent accused corporate executives.

Accepted Answer

It is not unethical for corporations to employ defense lawyers to represent accused corporate executives. It is a common practice and protected by the right to legal representation. However, there may be ethical concerns raised if the defense lawyers engage in unethical behavior or use unethical tactics.

Question 6

Antitrust cases can only be initiated by the Federal Trade Commission.

Accepted Answer

Antitrust cases can also be initiated by the Department of Justice.

Question 7

At the sentencing stage, white collar crime defense lawyers typically play a
smaller and more limited role than they do in conventional crime cases.

Accepted Answer

White collar crime defense lawyers play a crucial role at the sentencing stage, often employing sophisticated arguments to mitigate sentences, negotiate plea deals, and present evidence of mitigating factors, similar to their role in conventional crime cases.

Question 8

The formal secrecy of grand jury proceedings can help protect the reputation of
businesses being investigated for alleged white collar crime offenses.

Accepted Answer

The formal secrecy of grand jury proceedings means that investigations are conducted behind closed doors and jurors and witnesses are bound by confidentiality. This can help protect the reputation of businesses being investigated as information about the investigation is not made public until formal charges are filed.

Question 9

The grand jury is more likely to be involved in white collar crime cases than
conventional crime cases.

Accepted Answer

The grand jury is often involved in white collar crime cases, which typically involve financial or corporate crimes. Conventional crime cases, such as violent crimes, are usually handled by a trial jury.

Question 10

In many white collar crime cases, defense attorneys hire private investigators to
gather information helpful to them.

Accepted Answer

It is common for defense attorneys to hire private investigators to gather information that may be helpful for their case in white collar crime cases.

Question 11

The broad subpoena powers of a grand jury are one advantage it has in pursuing
white collar crime.

Accepted Answer

Grand juries have the power to issue subpoenas for documents and witnesses, which can be helpful in investigating white collar crimes.

Question 12

In Morrison v.Olson (1988), the U.S.Supreme Court ruled that the special
prosecutor office was not an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers
doctrine.

Accepted Answer

Morrison v. Olson upheld the constitutionality of the independent counsel statute, which created a special prosecutor office to investigate executive branch officials. The Supreme Court ruled that the unique structure of the office, which included a limited term and removal for cause only by the attorney general or a three-judge panel, did not violate the separation of powers doctrine.

Question 13

Prison sentences in antitrust cases have been quite common.

Accepted Answer

Prison sentences in antitrust cases are relatively rare, as these cases often result in fines or settlements rather than incarceration.

Question 14

During the 1980s, the level of criminal investigative and prosecutorial resources
directed at environmental crime expanded considerably.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. During the 1980s, there was a significant increase in resources directed towards investigating and prosecuting environmental crimes. This was in response to growing public concern about environmental damage and pollution.

Question 15

White collar defense lawyers tend to be divided between those who adopt a
conciliatory, cooperative strategy with prosecutors and those who attempt to
intimidate them by threatening all-out combat.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Some white collar defense lawyers prefer to take a conciliatory approach and work cooperatively with prosecutors, while others take a more aggressive approach and attempt to intimidate prosecutors.

Question 16

During the Watergate Affair, President Nixon attempted but was ultimately
unable to arrange for the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the Watergate Affair, President Nixon attempted...

Question 17

It is usually difficult to obtain cooperation from accused parties in antitrust cases
that are being aggressively pursued by federal prosecutors.

Accepted Answer

The answer of It is usually difficult to obtain cooperation...

Question 18

A basic rationale for the special prosecutor position was to allow high-profile,
politically sensitive cases to be pursued without fear of political interference from
the Justice Department.

Accepted Answer

The special prosecutor position was created to ensure that politically sensitive cases could be pursued without political interference from the Justice Department. This was seen as a necessary step in maintaining the independence and accountability of the judicial system.

Question 19

Efforts in 1999 to introduce a reformed independent counsel law, imposing some
limitations on jurisdiction, time frame, and budgets, were unsuccessful.

Accepted Answer

The sentence states that efforts to introduce a reformed independent counsel law in 1999 were unsuccessful, specifically in imposing limitations on jurisdiction, time frame, and budgets.

Question 20

The complexity of many white collar crime cases often generates a wider range of
options for appealing a conviction than is true for conventional crime cases.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true, as there may be more legal avenues to contest and appeal a white collar crime conviction due to the complexity of the case and the potential for errors or abuses during the investigation and trial process.

Quiz 11: Prosecuting, Defending, and Adjudicating White Collar Crime

The special prosecutor in the Iran-Contra arms case issued a final report absolving high-level officials including President Reagan and Vice President Bush from responsibility in covering up the crime.

White collar crime defendants are far more likely than conventional crime defendants to retain private counsel.

According to a major study of white collar crime defense work, compared with conventional crime defense, much earlier involvement in the case is the norm.

Traditionally, it has been federal government agencies that initiate court proceedings against corporate polluters.

It is widely regarded as unethical for corporations to employ defense lawyers to represent accused corporate executives.

Antitrust cases can only be initiated by the Federal Trade Commission.

At the sentencing stage, white collar crime defense lawyers typically play a smaller and more limited role than they do in conventional crime cases.

The formal secrecy of grand jury proceedings can help protect the reputation of businesses being investigated for alleged white collar crime offenses.

The grand jury is more likely to be involved in white collar crime cases than conventional crime cases.

In many white collar crime cases, defense attorneys hire private investigators to gather information helpful to them.

The broad subpoena powers of a grand jury are one advantage it has in pursuing white collar crime.

In Morrison v.Olson (1988), the U.S.Supreme Court ruled that the special prosecutor office was not an unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers doctrine.

Prison sentences in antitrust cases have been quite common.

During the 1980s, the level of criminal investigative and prosecutorial resources directed at environmental crime expanded considerably.

White collar defense lawyers tend to be divided between those who adopt a conciliatory, cooperative strategy with prosecutors and those who attempt to intimidate them by threatening all-out combat.

During the Watergate Affair, President Nixon attempted but was ultimately unable to arrange for the firing of special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

It is usually difficult to obtain cooperation from accused parties in antitrust cases that are being aggressively pursued by federal prosecutors.

A basic rationale for the special prosecutor position was to allow high-profile, politically sensitive cases to be pursued without fear of political interference from the Justice Department.

Efforts in 1999 to introduce a reformed independent counsel law, imposing some limitations on jurisdiction, time frame, and budgets, were unsuccessful.

The complexity of many white collar crime cases often generates a wider range of options for appealing a conviction than is true for conventional crime cases.