Professor Gary Lowenthal of the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law was quoted in an Arizona Republic article on Wednesday, Dec. 6, about an unusual twist in an immigration smuggling case.

The article, written by Jahna Berry and headlined 'Human smuggling verdict tossed: Judge cites lack of evidence on migrant," described the action of Maricopa County Judge Thomas O'Toole, who overturned a guilty verdict for Aldolfo Guzman-Garcia.

O'Toole said there was not enough evidence to show that Guzman-Garcia was part of a human-smuggling ring, a position taken by County Attorney Andrew Thomas, who has used conspiracy charges to prosecute undocumented immigrants who pay to be smuggled.

Lowenthal provided context about the rarity of approval of acquittal motions following a conviction and whether the decision established precedence. Read the story here.