Shon Hopwood is a name that is often celebrated within the legal profession as a case of true criminal reform. In case you’re not familiar with him, Hopwood served more than a decade in federal prison for bank robbery but he went on to go to law school, and later became a professor at Georgetown Law, one of the most prestigious law schools in the country.
Hopwood mentored Tiffany Trump during her time at Georgetown, and even assisted in the development of the First Step Act, a federal prison and sentencing reform bill that Trump signed into law during his first term, but things took a turn for him in 2023, when he was arrested and accused of some rather disturbing allegations of domestic violence. Hopwood — who is currently on leave from the law school — was recently convicted, and now stands to return to prison. The Washington Post has additional details:
[Hopwood] was convicted Friday of assaulting his wife, ignoring a judge’s order to stay away from her and trying to get her to drop the charges against him.
A D.C. Superior Court jury of eight men and four women found Hopwood guilty of 11 out of 12 charges. Hopwood, who was released from custody shortly after his arrest in 2023, showed no emotion as the verdicts were read, chewing gum as he sat next to his attorney.
Although Hopwood promised that he would not flee, Judge Errol Arthur ordered him jailed pending sentencing, which is currently scheduled for September 18.
“Shon Hopwood made his wife believe she was worthless and crazy and placed her in an invisible cage and wanted to protect his image as the comeback kid,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ballou told the jury during trial. “You, ladies and gentlemen, can help her break out of that cage for good.”
Hopwood and his wife, who is also an attorney, are now separated. He could face several years behind bars, and his sentence could be further enhanced due to his prior offenses.
If you’re involved in a verbally or physically abusive relationship, there are friends, family, and colleagues you can call. If you’re a victim of domestic violence, please reach out if you need help, before it’s too late. If you feel that you are in immediate danger, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Former robber turned law professor in D.C. found guilty of assaulting wife [Washington Post]
Earlier: Prominent Georgetown Law Professor Arrested, Charged In Domestic Violence Case
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post Prominent Georgetown Law Professor Convicted In Domestic Violence Case appeared first on Above the Law.
Shon Hopwood is a name that is often celebrated within the legal profession as a case of true criminal reform. In case you’re not familiar with him, Hopwood served more than a decade in federal prison for bank robbery but he went on to go to law school, and later became a professor at Georgetown Law, one of the most prestigious law schools in the country.
Hopwood mentored Tiffany Trump during her time at Georgetown, and even assisted in the development of the First Step Act, a federal prison and sentencing reform bill that Trump signed into law during his first term, but things took a turn for him in 2023, when he was arrested and accused of some rather disturbing allegations of domestic violence. Hopwood — who is currently on leave from the law school — was recently convicted, and now stands to return to prison. The Washington Post has additional details:
[Hopwood] was convicted Friday of assaulting his wife, ignoring a judge’s order to stay away from her and trying to get her to drop the charges against him.
A D.C. Superior Court jury of eight men and four women found Hopwood guilty of 11 out of 12 charges. Hopwood, who was released from custody shortly after his arrest in 2023, showed no emotion as the verdicts were read, chewing gum as he sat next to his attorney.
Although Hopwood promised that he would not flee, Judge Errol Arthur ordered him jailed pending sentencing, which is currently scheduled for September 18.
“Shon Hopwood made his wife believe she was worthless and crazy and placed her in an invisible cage and wanted to protect his image as the comeback kid,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Ballou told the jury during trial. “You, ladies and gentlemen, can help her break out of that cage for good.”
Hopwood and his wife, who is also an attorney, are now separated. He could face several years behind bars, and his sentence could be further enhanced due to his prior offenses.
If you’re involved in a verbally or physically abusive relationship, there are friends, family, and colleagues you can call. If you’re a victim of domestic violence, please reach out if you need help, before it’s too late. If you feel that you are in immediate danger, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Former robber turned law professor in D.C. found guilty of assaulting wife [Washington Post]
Earlier: Prominent Georgetown Law Professor Arrested, Charged In Domestic Violence Case
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
The post Prominent Georgetown Law Professor Convicted In Domestic Violence Case appeared first on Above the Law.
