.; Conference Room K, Executive Conference Center, Sheraton New York Moderator: Professor Stephen Saltzburg, George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC; Speakers: David Hammond, Crowell Moring, Washington, DC; Anthony Joseph, Maynard Cooper & Gale, PC, Birmingham, AL; Robert Litt, Arnold & Porter, Washington, DC; Karen L. [read post]

"The rules open the scary possibility that the states are going to wave their arms, and the Department of Justice is just going to let them speed appeals," said Robert Litt, a criminal defense lawyer who helped write the ABA comments.A Justice Department spokesman, Erik Ablin, would not comment on the ABA's criticism but said the department would consider it before completing its rules.States were given the opportunity to try to speed appeals under a 1996 law. [read post]