Ex-Israeli PM Olmert makes first court appearance
Legal World
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert on Friday made his first court appearance on charges of graft, vowing he would prove his innocence.
As the first Israeli premier to face criminal charges in court, Olmert acknowledged at the arraignment hearing in Jerusalem that he understood the charges against him. He is not scheduled to enter a plea until later this year.
Olmert resigned under pressure last September but has insisted on his innocence and told journalists on Friday he was confident the trial would vindicate him.
"I am innocent, and I am certain the court will clear me of any suspicions," he said. "It is not an easy day for me; for the past three years I have been the target of an almost inhuman defamation campaign."
The court decided it will start hearing testimony on February 22 and will hold three sessions a week.
Olmert, who turns 64 on Wednesday, was charged in August with three counts of graft.
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Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.