Andrew Birrell Argued Case Before United States Supreme Court
Andrew Birrell argued the case of Sabri against the United States before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 2004.
Birrell and Newmark, Ltd. represented Mr. Sabri, a well known Minneapolis real estate developer, since August 2001. Mr. Sabri was indicted in United States District Court in Minnesota in August 2001 and accused of bribing Minnesota City Council Member, Brian Herron. Mr. Sabri had yet to stand trial because United States District Judge, Richard Kyle, granted our motion to dismiss the indictment, agreeing with our argument that the federal bribery statute was an unconstitutional exercise of Congress' Spending Clause power. The government appealed the dismissal and a divided panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit reversed. We asked the United States Supreme Court to hear Mr. Sabri's case, and the Court agreed.
Additional briefs were submitted by us for Mr. Sabri. Both the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C. and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed briefs with the Supreme Court supporting our position.
Return to Events
2270 Accenture Tower
333 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Office: 612.871.7000
800.368.4529
Fax: 612.871.3215