Willkie's Gordon Caplan Appears in Federal Court Next to Actress Lori Loughlin on College Admissions Charges

Gordon Caplan arrives at federal court in Boston on Wednesday to face charges in a nationwide college admissions bribery scandal. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Gordon Caplan, the suspended co-chairman of Willkie Farr & Gallagher, made his first appearance in Boston federal court Wednesday alongside a host of other parents accused of paying bribes to get their kids into top colleges.

Caplan appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley of the District of Massachusetts, along with his defense attorney, Joshua Levy of Ropes & Gray. The appearance was brief. Levy told the judge his client was waiving a preliminary conference. Caplan said, "Yes, your honor" to the judge several times, including in response to questions about whether he understood the charges against him and the possible maximum term.

Caplan appeared in court next to Lori Loughlin, the actress known for her role on TV's "Full House," and her husband Mossimo Giannulli, a fashion designer. The couple is represented by Latham & Watkins.

After the appearance, Caplan did not respond to questions from ALM, and his lawyers, Levy and Patrick Smith, declined to comment.

Caplan is among 50 people charged in the college admissions scandal, which centers on consultant William "Rick" Singer. Prosecutors allege Singer took fees to put parents, including Caplan, in touch with corrupt test proctors who would ensure their children did well on the ACT or SAT college admissions exams

Most of the defendants in the case have yet to be indicted or made arrangements to plead guilty. A total of 32 parents were all charged under one complaint, and 12 of them were set to make their initial appearances Wednesday in Boston before Kelley.

Represented by Foley Hoag, Felicity Huffman, of "Desperate Housewives" fame, was expected to appear Wednesday. Also scheduled to appear were Jane Buckingham, represented by Goodwin Procter; Manuel Henriquez, represented by Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, and his wife Elizabeth Henriquez, represented by Ropes & Gray; Bruce Isackson, represented by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan; and Toby MacFarlane, repped by Arguedas, Cassman, Headley & Goldman.

Other parents are alleged to have worked with Singer to pretend their children were high-achieving athletes so that corrupt coaches at several schools could push for them to be recruited. Most of the parents in both schemes have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud.

Many parents, including Caplan, are said by prosecutors to have been caught on a wiretap, or in conversations that Singer recorded, discussing the details of the alleged schemes. Caplan is quoted in court papers as saying that the scheme is "a bit weird" and expresses concerns about being caught, but ultimately goes along.

"To be honest, I’m not worried about the moral issue here," Caplan is quoted as saying. "I’m worried about the, if my daughter is caught doing that, you know, she’s finished."

Several of the country's top law firms, as well as specialist boutiques and solo practitioners, have flocked to Boston in recent days as wave after wave of defendants made their initial appearances. Ropes & Gray has entered appearances on behalf of at least three defendants, and some 15 other Big Law firms have appeared, such as White & Case; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; and Covington & Burling.

Other attorneys and firms to have shown up on the docket as defense counsel include Pierce Bainbridge, Smyser Kaplan & Veselka, Miner Orkand Siddall and Martin G. Weinberg.