Governor Schwarzenegger today vetoed, among other anti-crime bills, a bill which would have required corroborating evidence for the testimony of jailhouse snitches.
Has the Governor gone soft on crime?
All Points Bulletin: Sophia at Large!
September 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Shocking? Only to the Constitution…and to the Humane
September 17, 2008 By 3 Comments
I have not infrequently written about the fact that our nation is moving toward a state of institutionalized lawlessness. I haven’t exactly used that term before, but that now seems the best name for the monstrous abuse of governmental authority increasingly encouraged by the courts. It’s no small wonder our officers are becoming uniformed thugs: the courts have all but told them there is no degree of thuggery that will cause the court to chastise them.
The Science of Killing People
September 15, 2008 By 2 Comments
Like about a bazillion other people, I’ve often wondered why we kill people to show that killing people is wrong.
Not surprisingly, the political beliefs of those in power have a lot to do with it. But I was a bit surprised to learn that neither the severity of the crime, nor the race of the individual, mattered as much as the level of education of the convicted individual.
Simpson Screwed
September 12, 2008 By 2 Comments
O.J. Simpson might be guilty of having committed a crime. The prosecution in his case, however, has ensured that we’ll never really know. Backed by the judge, the prosecutor in the case excluded all blacks from the jury, while simultaneously allowing white people who believed Simpson was unfairly found “not guilty” of murdering his wife.
I’m betting on a conviction.
Defend Your Rights!
September 8, 2008 By Leave a Comment
Not much time lately for serious posts, but I promise more soon.
Meanwhile, photographer Bob Marcotte, a friend of mine who owns Marcotte Photography, shot some images of me yesterday. Click on the images to enlarge.
Bob sent over this next image with the words, “This is my lawyer…” in the subject line and “…go ahead. Sue me.” in the text.
Bob Marcotte, of Marcotte Photography. Thanks, Bob!
Absence of Law
September 2, 2008 By 3 Comments
I have a difficult time these days referring to myself as a defense lawyer. It’s not because of the usual negativity that one encounters as a defense attorney. Many people on hearing that someone is a criminal defense lawyer will have an automatic negative reaction and ask “how can you defend criminals?” I’m used to that. (Forget the fact that a large number of people charged with crimes in Fresno are actually not guilty.)
No, the problem is my ongoing encounter with law enforcement officials and judges who literally do not care what the law is. They’ve made a decision about what they think should happen with a particular defendant and — by God! — they’re not going to let the facts or the law stand in their way.
Makes it easier to understand how it’s possible for a police officer to believe that making a woman strip and submit to a body cavity search on a busy roadway is a legitimate exercise of his power. But I digress…
