James Bensfield and Jonathan Kossak* were mentioned in conjunction with their representation of Michael McAlister, who has spent more than 29 years in prison for an attempted rape he did not commit. McAlister's legal team filed a joint petition with Richmond Commonwealth Attorney Michael Herring for an absolute pardon with Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D). Mr. McAlister faces the possibility of remaining in prison indefinitely under a Virginia law that allows the civil commitment of sexual predators. "Mr. McAlister finds himself facing the Kafka-esque prospect of indefinite incarceration beyond his mandatory release date -- all predicated on a crime that not a single person in law enforcement with knowledge of the case believes he committed," the lawyers wrote.

*Former Miller & Chevalier attorney