Judge James P. Jones of Federal District Court is expected to decide whether to accept criminal plea agreements reached in May between federal prosecutors and the drug maker, Purdue Pharma of Stamford, Conn., and three of its current and former executives.
But at a hearing this morning that preceded the second day of jury selection in Mrs. Yates's trial, Assistant District Attorney Joseph Owmby said prosecutors would "very likely call the state to recommend a life sentence" if Mrs. Yates "could choose to accept criminal responsibility".
In 2012, BP agreed to accept criminal responsibility for the disaster and agreed to pay $4.5bn to the US government, thus settling its criminal liability in the spill.
By taking action in this case, the Justice Department is sending a clear message: that we will not accept criminal justice procedures that have discriminatory effects.
"The legion doesn't accept criminals, but I thought it would respect my honesty," Rickert told me.
"It needs to be accepted as criminal activity and prosecuted as such," Mr. Mesic said.
For the most part, they are rejected, on a theory that is as casually accepted in criminal justice as it is offensive to principles of moral philosophy.
It makes me sad every time I speak to a practitioner who has lost their "fight" and accepted the criminal justice system with all its flaws.
Ten young men died on a hunger strike rather than accept the criminal tag.
He told the court: "I sincerely regret to giving in to others' ideas and concepts and to accepting the criminal tasks I was asked to do.
