Earlier this year, Tom Goldstein, co-founder of the influential legal blog SCOTUSblog and a noted Supreme Court litigator, was arrested and charged with 22 counts of tax-related crimes and making false statements to lenders. The allegations stem from Goldstein's involvement in high-stakes poker games, where he reportedly failed to report winnings on tax filings and misrepresented financial losses on loan applications.

According to the indictment, over several years, Goldstein accumulated significant gambling winnings and even larger losses both in the U.S. and internationally. At the time he allegedly committed loan fraud, he was reportedly millions of dollars in debt. The indictment also accuses Goldstein of using his law firm, Goldstein & Russell, to transfer money from firm accounts to cover personal gambling debts, among other financial manipulations. Additionally, he is alleged to have paid mistresses as employees for non-existent work.

This week, District Court of Maryland Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby dismissed Goldstein's claims that the charges of tax evasion, willful failure to pay taxes, and aiding in the preparation of fraudulent tax returns were too old to prosecute. Judge Griggsby noted that the statute of limitations had been extended due to Goldstein's extensive travel outside the country, a matter she stated would be decided by a jury.

Further complicating Goldstein’s defense, statements he made to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in 2018 were ruled admissible by the court. During a customs inspection, Goldstein declared that he was carrying $968,000 in cash, claiming it was gambling winnings. However, he later told the IRS that the money was from loans.

As the case moves to trial, the legal community and the public are keenly watching how these serious allegations will affect Goldstein, a prominent figure in legal circles known for his Supreme Court advocacy and commentary on SCOTUSblog. The trial promises to reveal intricate details of the intersection between personal financial dealings and professional conduct in the high-stakes world of legal and tax law.