Jack Sharman and Mary Parrish McCracken Published in Law360 Regarding DOJ’s Mar-A-Lago Probe

September 9, 2022

This week, Law360 published an expert opinion piece by Lightfoot, Franklin and White LLC partner Jack Sharman and associate Mary Parrish McCracken regarding the impact of filter teams and special masters on search warrant practice in light of the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation of former president Donald Trump. 

The article, “Mar-A-Lago And The Inherent Problems With DOJ Filter Teams,” (subscription required), outlines the inherent problems with filter teams for defendants, and touches on recent leading cases. It also includes commentary on the role of special masters in DOJ investigations. 

They write: “Too often, courts defer to the government and simply take its word that it will do an evenhanded, thorough job, much as courts overly defer to the government's representations that it will discharge its Brady obligations.”

Sharman’s feature in Law360 caps off a string of recent prominent media appearances he received for his insights on the ongoing investigation of the former president, including ones in The Washington Post and The Hill.

Sharman, who is the head of Lightfoot’s White-Collar Criminal Defense and Corporate Investigations practice group, is no stranger to high-profile investigations. Often sourced for his experience and legal acumen by publications nationwide, Sharman notably served as Special Counsel to Congress during the Whitewater investigation and in the highly publicized investigation of a phone call between President Donald Trump and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger during the 2020 Presidential Election. 

McCracken is also a member of the firm’s white-collar defense group.