Judge acquits Chicago lawyer of coaching clients to lie

CHICAGO - A federal judge has acquitted a high-profile Chicago attorney who was charged with multiple counts of perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly coaching clients and witnesses to lie.

The judge in Beau Brindley's bench trial on Monday acquitted him on all 19 counts. A conviction on any one count could have sent the 37-year-old to prison for years.

Brindley quickly made a name in Chicago for aggressive legal tactics and impassioned defenses of purported mobsters and drug dealers.

But prosecutors accused him of subverting justice by writing Q-and-A scripts with false answers that he told clients and witnesses to memorize for trial. Brindley denied encouraging anyone to lie.

In explaining his not-guilty verdict Monday, Judge Harry Leinenweber said prosecutors didn't prove Brindley knew the answers in the Q-and-A scripts were false. Leinenweber said Q-and-As are "not the least bit improper" and that he used them himself as an attorney.

As the verdict was handed down, an emotional Brindley bit his lip and several relatives in court cried.

Outside court, Brindley told reporters the verdict was "a victory for all criminal defense attorneys."

Acquittals in federal court are rare. Court data indicates prosecutors win over 90 percent of the time.

Some Chicago lawyers had worried Brindley's prosecution could have a chilling effect, leading other lawyers to back off zealous defenses of clients.