Supreme Court Lawyer Faces Jury in High-Stakes Poker Tax Evasion Trial
A six-week trial in Maryland is concluding for Thomas Goldstein, a distinguished Supreme Court attorney accused of evading taxes on millions of dollars earned from ultra-high-stakes poker games. The case has captivated the legal community, revealing a secretive double life that contrasts sharply with his public reputation.
From Courtroom to Card Table
Goldstein, who argued over 40 cases before the Supreme Court before retiring in 2023, co-founded the influential SCOTUSblog. Unbeknownst to colleagues, he simultaneously pursued poker, grossing tens of millions in winnings but accumulating staggering gambling debts. His indictment last year sent shockwaves through Washington D.C.'s legal circles.
Prosecution's Closing Arguments
Justice Department prosecutor Sean Beaty told jurors that Goldstein, despite his intellect and accomplishments, is a willful tax cheat. Beaty described the scheme as textbook tax evasion, alleging Goldstein failed to pay taxes on gambling income, diverted law firm funds to cover debts, and falsely deducted gambling losses as business expenses.
Prosecutors claim Goldstein raked in approximately $50 million in poker winnings in 2016 alone, including $22 million from games in Asia. The scheme allegedly unraveled when another gambler, feeling cheated, reported a 2016 debt to the IRS.
Defense's Counterarguments
Defense attorney Jonathan Kravis asserted Goldstein's innocence, accusing the government of blindly accepting an accountant's made-up story and rushing to judgment. Kravis emphasized that a mistake is not a crime, arguing Goldstein made innocent errors on tax returns but did not knowingly cheat.
Goldstein testified in his own defense, denying wrongdoing and stating he repeatedly instructed staff to correctly characterize personal expenses. In a 2014 email, he wrote, we always play completely by the rules.
Additional Allegations and Testimony
The trial featured testimony from Tobey Maguire, the Spider-Man actor and avid poker player, who enlisted Goldstein's help recovering a gambling debt from a billionaire. Prosecutors also presented evidence alleging Goldstein:
- Lied to IRS agents and hid gambling debts from accountants and mortgage lenders
- Omitted a $15 million gambling debt from 2021 mortgage applications in Washington D.C.
- Used his law firm to improperly pay salaries and provide health insurance to four women with whom he had romantic relationships
Prosecutors claim these women had sham jobs at Goldstein & Russell, with their compensation falsely treated as business expenses. Defense attorneys accused prosecutors of improperly presenting lurid evidence about these relationships to grand jurors.
Political Context and Personal Fallout
Goldstein's legal career includes representing Democrat Al Gore in the 2000 election Supreme Court litigation. In November 2024, after learning he was under investigation but before charges were filed, he wrote a New York Times guest essay advocating for ending criminal cases against Republican President Donald Trump.
In a recent interview, Goldstein revealed his wife, SCOTUSblog co-founder, knew nothing about his gambling or relationships with other women, stating, I just had this entirely separate life.
The trial, which began January 12, concludes with Goldstein facing 16 counts including tax evasion and assisting in preparing false tax returns. Jury deliberations will determine whether this secret life constitutes criminal conduct or, as his defense maintains, a series of unfortunate mistakes.
