Court
Federal Judge Unseals Select Sidebars from 2018 Harvard Admissions Trial
As Harvard’s admissions lawsuit unfolds at the Supreme Court, Massachusetts District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs unsealed parts of 2018 Harvard admissions courtroom transcripts of private conversations between the judge and the lawyers — known as sidebars — last month.
Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach and Harvard Parent Acquitted of Bribery Charges
Former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand and Harvard College parent Jie “Jack” Zhao are not guilty of a bribery scheme to recruit Zhao’s sons to Harvard, a jury decided Wednesday.
Zhao Sons Testify They Were Unaware of Alleged Bribes to Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach
Eric Y. Zhao ’18 and Edward Y. Zhao ’21, whose father is accused of bribing a former Harvard fencing coach, testified Monday that their father’s involvement in their fencing careers was driven by his love for the sport.
Wife of Harvard Parent on Trial for Alleged Admissions Bribery Scheme Says Couple Was Pressured Into Making $1 Million Payment
The wife of businessman and Harvard College parent Jie “Jack” Zhao told a federal jury on Friday that she and her husband were pressured into making a $1 million payment that prosecutors claim was a bribe to secure their sons’ admission to Harvard.
Wife of Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach Says Alleged Bribes Were Personal Loans, Paid Back in Full
The wife of former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand told a federal jury on Thursday that the payments made by businessman Jie “Jack” Zhao to their family were personal loans that they planned to pay back with anticipated inheritance money. Brand and Zhao are facing trial for federal bribery charges.
Parent on Trial for Alleged Admissions Bribery Scheme Was Key Donor to Harvard Fencing, Witness Says
A fundraiser for Harvard’s fencing program told a federal jury Wednesday that Maryland businessman Jie “Jack” Zhao — accused of bribing the team’s former head coach Peter Brand — provided key funding for the team.
Former Harvard Fencing Captain Says Zhao Brothers Were Qualified to Be On Team
The former captain of Harvard’s fencing team told a federal jury on Tuesday that the sons of Jie “Jack” Zhao, who is accused of paying bribes to get his children into the College as fencing recruits, were talented athletes who were qualified to be on the team.
Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach ‘Made the Difference’ in Admissions Outcomes of Zhao Brothers, Witness Says
A former Harvard admissions officer told a federal jury on Friday that the school’s ex-fencing coach, Peter Brand, “made the difference” in the admissions outcomes of a wealthy Maryland businessman’s two sons.
Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach Wanted $7.5 Million as Admissions Bribe, Witness Says
Shortly after the son of a wealthy Maryland businessman received a likely letter from Harvard College in 2013, Peter Brand, the school’s longtime fencing coach, had a question, a government witness told a federal jury Thursday: Where’s my $7.5 million?
‘Middleman’ in Harvard Fencing Coach Bribery Scandal Details Alleged Payment Schemes at Day 2 of Trial
A key government witness in the federal bribery trial of former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand laid out new details on Tuesday about how he helped a wealthy Maryland businessman funnel money via nonprofits to the coach in exchange for recruiting spots for his sons.
In Opening Day of Trial, Prosecutors Say Ex-Harvard Fencing Coach Traded Recruiting Spots for Payments as Part of a ‘Stream of Bribes’
Federal prosecutors on Monday told a jury that Harvard’s former longtime fencing coach, Peter Brand, leveraged his team’s recruiting spots for more than $1.5 million in bribes from a wealthy Maryland businessman who was desperate to get his sons admitted to the College.
Harvard Law Professor Asks Judge to Unseal Sidebars from Admissions Trial
A Harvard Law School professor is asking the federal judge who presided over the high-profile 2018 Harvard admissions trial to release currently-sealed transcripts of courtroom discussions from the proceedings.
Judge Allows Suit Against CAMHS Employee Over 2015 Student Suicide to Move Forward
A Massachusetts Superior Court judge denied a motion for a decision without trial on Tuesday for a Harvard Counseling and Mental Health Service case manager sued in a wrongful death lawsuit over a 2015 student suicide.
The Supreme Court Will Hear Arguments for the Harvard Admissions Lawsuit Monday. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Following eight years of litigation, the Supreme Court will hear on Monday a pair of lawsuits brought against Harvard and the University of North Carolina by an anti-affirmative action group.
SCOTUS Preview: Affirmative Action on the Brink
With oral arguments for the Harvard admissions case set to take place in Washington, D.C., next week, the fate of affirmative action in higher education lies in the Supreme Court's hands — again.
SFFA Attorney Withdraws From Supreme Court Oral Arguments to Receive Cancer Treatment
William S. Consovoy, the attorney who has led the crusade against Harvard’s race conscious admissions policies on behalf of Students for Fair Admissions, will not argue before the Supreme Court on Oct 31.
At Harvard Law School Forum, Former Justice Stephen Breyer Reflects on SCOTUS Career
Former Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer reflected on his 42-year career as a federal judge at a Harvard Law School forum on Monday afternoon alongside Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court of Pakistan
Constitutional Questions Arise as Cambridge Tries to Ban Crisis Pregnancy Centers
The Cambridge City Council resolved to ban the licensing of limited-services pregnancy centers, though legal and constitutional questions remain.
Judge Denies Harvard Professor Charles Lieber's Request for a New Trial
A federal judge on Thursday rejected Harvard professor Charles M. Lieber's request for a new trial, another legal blow to the embattled research chemist, who was convicted last year of lying to the government about his ties to a Chinese-government run recruitment program.
Federal Appeals Court Rejects Libel Lawsuit Against Harvard, The Crimson
A federal appeals court on Monday rejected a libel lawsuit filed against Harvard and The Crimson by a former University employee, upholding a lower court’s ruling.
Former Harvard Fencing Coach, College Parent to Go on Trial for Bribery in December
Former Harvard fencing coach Peter Brand and Harvard College parent Jie “Jack” Zhao will go on trial in December on charges they allegedly conspired to secure admission to Harvard for Zhao’s two sons with bribes totaling $1.5 million.
Borrowers Represented by HLS Organization Reach Settlement with Federal Government to Cancel $6 Billion in Student Loans
Student borrowers reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education last month that will cancel around $6 billion in student loans across a group of more than 200,000 people if approved by a federal judge.
Mass. Supreme Court Allows Emotional Distress Claim Against Harvard to Proceed in Suit Over Photos of Enslaved People
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court overturned a lower court’s dismissal of Tamara K. Lanier’s emotional distress claim against Harvard, according to a decision released Thursday morning, allowing Lanier to continue to seek damages from the University.
Appeals Court Revives Suit Alleging Harvard Wrongfully Denied Undergrad Degree After Sexual Assault Findings
A federal appeals court on Tuesday ruled that a lower court improperly dismissed one count of a 2019 lawsuit filed by a former Harvard undergraduate who alleges he was wrongfully denied his degree after being accused of sexual assault.
Harvard Asks Judge to Dismiss Comaroff Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Harvard filed a motion on Tuesday asking a federal judge to dismiss nine of 10 counts in a lawsuit filed by three Anthropology graduate students in Feburary alleging the University ignored years of sexual harassment and retaliation by professor John L. Comaroff.