OVER AT THE CRIMPROF BLOG, a look at the surprisingly common phenomenon of phony lawyers. Also, a bizarre death penalty deal: “Lopez got 10 years, Hutchinson was sentenced to death. Some people can afford to hire better lawyers than others, and the sentence can turn on that, but can it really be that death can turn on how much you have to pay the family?”

Weregild — it’s not just for Vikings anymore!