Prominent Supreme Court litigator Thomas Goldstein was convicted of tax evasion and related charges stemming from his secret ultra-high-stakes poker career. A federal jury found the SCOTUSblog co-founder guilty on 12 of 16 counts, including tax evasion, aiding false tax returns, and making false statements on loan applications.

Prosecutors accused Goldstein of failing to pay taxes on millions in gambling income, diverting firm money to cover debts, and deducting gambling losses as business expenses. The government alleged he won approximately $50 million in poker in 2016, including $22 million from Asian games, while concealing his activities from colleagues, accountants, and even his wife.

The conviction shocked Washington's legal community, where many were unaware of Goldstein's gambling lifestyle. The case unraveled when another gambler reported a $15 million debt to the IRS. Goldstein, who argued over 40 cases before the Supreme Court including work on the 2000 election recount, faces sentencing after a six-week trial that featured testimony from actor Tobey Maguire.