Paper: ‘No admit-No deny’ settlements undercut accountability in civil enforcement

Should federal regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission require admissions of guilt from the targets of civil investigations? According to a new paper co-written by a pair of University of Illinois law professors, even though the federal watchdogs rely heavily on “No admit-No deny” settlements as an enforcement tool, the failure of regulatory bodies to require admissions of guilt can trigger claims of “rigged justice” and calls for greater accountability from the public.