Talking Terrorism

Mohamed Osman Mohamud—arrested in November 2010 for allegedly attempting to detonate a car bomb at a crowded Christmas tree–lighting ceremony—is now in court, the first terrorism suspect in Portland ever to take his case to trial.

For commentary on the proceedings, media outlets across the country are turning to Lewis & Clark law professor Tung Yin for his expertise in terrorism law.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Mohamud’s case will be closely watched because of the entrapment argument the defendant’s team is planning to mount. Yin believes the entrapment argument may resonate given Portland’s demographics. The liberal community is “one of the two or three best places in the country to raise the entrapment defense,” Yin says.

Yin’s scholarly work focuses primarily on domestic legal issues arising out of the United States’ military and prosecutorial responses to the 9/11 attacks, and he teaches courses in national security law, criminal law, and criminal procedure. On his blog, Yin writes about current issues in the law; he has created a section for his analysis of the Portland case.

• KGW, January 31: Talk Box: Legal Impacts of Mohamud Verdict
• OPB, January 31: Sentencing in May for Mohamud, Convicted in Bomb Plot Case
• Reuters, January 11: Trial Ramps Up in Oregon Christmas Tree-Lighting Bomb Plot
• Voice of Russia, January 11: Defense in Oregon Terror Case Expected to Argue Entrapment
• KPTV, January 10: Potential Jurors Removed From Tree Lighting Bomb Plot Trial
• KGW, January 10: High-profile Attorneys Take Lead in Portland Tree Bomb Plot Trial
• OPB, January 9: Jury Selection for Mohamud Trial to Begin Amid Last Minute Surprise
• Wall Street Journal, January 9: Stings to Get Close Look in Oregon Terror Case
• Oregonian, January 8: Portland Terrorism Trial: Mohamud Faces Long Odds With Entrapment Defense, Good Chance of Favorable Jury