a public defender

Veteran’s Day edition!

• Governor Rell is opposed to the $260million proposal to build new prisons, which was covered here.
• This NYT piece considers whether suspension of parole is an Ex-Post Facto violation. Norm covers the CT angle, while Scott has the New York perspective.
• Indignant Indigent has a great post on why it is ineffective not to raise claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. He goes through a pretty compelling list of reasons. As if it should even be a question.
• What do you carry during trial? Bennett has a long list.
• Prof. Berman points to a five part report in the Dallas Morning News about Texas being soft on murderers (imagine that!).
• Maggie takes a break from Nichols posting and wonders about the propriety of levity in the courtroom.
• Miss Tyrios tells us of unusual sentencing in (what the heck is Mass.’s nickname?) the Bay state (who knew!) where a judge imposed banishment.
• Legal Blog Watch notes the support in the blawgosphere for the lawyers in Pakistan, but asks if we would represent Musharraf.
• Here’s an interesting piece in the Village Voice by a public defender whose client chose to fight against NYPD’s crackdown on “trespassing”.
• NYCLU will file a “landmark lawsuit” today, alleging failings in indigent defense.
• Widow of Michael Richard (executed by Texas due to Judge Keller’s questionable actions) filed suit in federal court.

That should do it for now! As usual, leave a link in the comments if there’s something interesting you want to share.

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It’s Monday. Have you set your clocks back one hour?

• The topic du jour is snitching, so let’s start off with the Windypundit’s exploration of the snitching debate from an economics perspective.
• Speaking of economics, Grits has this absolutely terrific post on why economic theory doesn’t apply to plea bargaining.
• Corrections Sentencing follows up on Grits’ post and highlights the fundamental flaws in the criminal justice system that have brought us to where we are.
• Stephen Gustitis points to an interesting, though not groundbreaking, study that concludes that the cockier you are, the greater your credibility falls.
• Malum decries the lack of funding for indigent defense.
• Prof. Birmingham will be back in the spring, albeit one class lighter: Feminist Legal Theory.
• NACDL’s website has this terrific guide (which is from an old issue, but still very useful) which provides a blueprint for trying Eyewitness ID cases.
• Apparently, CT is facing a “growing problem” with fake lawyers. [H/T: LBW]
• CT gets a glimpse of life in Texas.

Enjoy the extra hour!

Ugh. It’s almost winter. Here are stories to keep you warm on this cold, dark morning:

• It’s not much, but at least the 18-year old West Hartford kid charged with having sex with his girlfriend is out on bail.
• CDW’s weekly roundup is here.
• GA isn’t the only state with capital defense payment problems.
• Speaking of which, the Brian Nichols trial has turned into quite the spectacle. Now, Judge Fuller is being investigated by the legislature, which seems like an even further colossal waste of time and, more importantly, money.
• Here’s a really long (and quite strange) semi-biography of Komisarjevsky and Hayes. Curiously, it seems as though someone who wasn’t supposed to speak, did.
• Who ever thought to challenge fingerprint science? You should have. One judge in Baltimore agrees that it might be junk.
• Mark Bennett continues to explain himself and his no-snitch stance. Here’s the text from his contract and here he discusses the ethics of snitching.
• Even better than Jenna! Scott explains “law porn”.
• The Confrontation Blog has this great post on child witnesses.
• Norm Pattis offers his take on the latest Skakel development.
• Blondie gives us another glimpse into the difference between being a pd and working as private counsel.
• Prof. Berman points out a notable collateral consequence of eliminating parole.

As usual, if you find something worth sharing, leave a link in the comments. Enjoy the day!

Another Monday, another edition of the Jumpstart!

• Anne Reed has posted the third installment in her series on “A trial lawyer’s guide to social networking sites”. [Here are one and two.]
• Mark Bennett is conducting a clinic on how to cross examine an expert.
• Scott Greenfield is expressing his desire to become a law school dean by exploring how best to fix law schools.
• Norm Pattis has a new blog.
• CDW’s weekly roundup is available.
• Woman in Black won!
• Maggie at Of Counsel has done a wonderful job summarizing Georgia’s indigent defense problems in the Nichols capital case in this post.
• Gov. Rell has added staff to speed up the release of non-violent offenders.
• Stephen Gustitis points to a new study that explores another reason for false confessions: trust in the system.
• CTLP points out that a FOIA request revealed no legal research by counsel for Gov. Rell before her request in the Pollitt case.
• Ken at KrimLaw wonders why “aiding and abetting” is now known as “principal in the second degree”. Just like prosecutorial misconduct impropriety.

Have a good day!

Another Monday, another weekend full of interesting reads.

• Think that person you e-mail is real? Think again.
• CTLP writes about David Pollitt and highlights the use of fear.
• The National Institute of Justice’s latest journal includes this article entitled “Police Lineups: Making Eyewitness Identification More Reliable”. [H/T: CDW]
• Bennett informs us that there still are lawyers who use the barter system.
• Grits is conducting an informal poll on what, if any, sanction Texas CCA judge Keller should receive [backgrounder here].
• Sui Generis is holding a “Best of NY Blawgs” contest.
• Infinity Ranch is grappling with whether felony murder is applicable when the decedent is one of the participants.
• Blonde Justice is frustrated over dealing with a new client in private practice.
• Ruth loves Law and Order. Do you?
• Where the hell is 123txpublicdefender123?
• Sanchovilla puts his MySpace investigatorial skills to use.
• Stephen Gustitis talks about reciprocity with juries.

As usual, if I missed anything, leave a link in the comments.

Columbus Day edition!

• From the Columbus Dispatch: Challenges to residency restrictions and “sex offender ghettos”.
• Mark Bennett has a copy of Phil Russell’s plea agreement.
• Robert Guest takes an in-depth look at written plea agreements and what you have to agree to give up.
• CDW discusses Catholics usually being disqualified from sitting on death juries and whether SCOTUS will look at that.
• Malum In Se is a victim of being dressed like a pd.
• The Windypundit concludes his “Evil Lawmaking” series with this post on the granddaddy of ‘em all: DUI.
• Scott is not happy with “corporate apologists”.
• Protesters at a Columbus Day parade in Denver are arrested.

It’s just another Manic Monday.

• CT seems to be a bad place to be a teacher. Karoli has all the details about a teacher forced to resign because a girl’s parents didn’t like his choice of summer reading.
• More than 20% of CT inmates have moderate to severe mental illnesses. More on this later.
• Matlock the Republican creates a taxonomy of lawyers using baseball terms.
• S.cotus took the new naturalization test last week and followed it up with a test of his own.
• The Saucy Vixen gave us a glimpse into dealing with her clients (and the post spawned some interesting comments).
• Anne Reed’s Deliberations took a look at the idea of a national jury pool.
• Of Counsel has been all over the AJC’s coverage of the death penalty.
• Speaking of which, CDW’s weekly roundup is here.
• Grits brings the good news that the Dallas PD will participate in a study of lineup procedures.

If I missed anything, leave a link in the comments!

Is it Monday already? Fear not, the jumpstart is here!

• Anne Reed’s Deliberations is hosting blawg review this week.
• This post at the blog “Friends of Justice” has the most detailed reporting of the trial of Mychal Bell. It is bad.
• Scott at Simple Justice looks on “Superlawyers” with disdain. Cheese, please!
• A closer look at the SanFran’s use of cameras in high-crime locations (via KrimLaw)
• Bennett discusses the delicate topic of how and when to quote fees. (I know, don’t! Become a PD )
• Here’s a piece in the Hamden Daily News saying what needs to be said about the capitol’s reaction to Cheshire.
• The Windypundit has the next installment in his series of Evil Lawmaking: Administrative Punishment.

As Bugs Bunny would say: “That’s all folks!”

Sorry for the light posting folks. Nothing happened over the weekend that inspired me to post – it really was a lazy, boring weekend. But these people found some interesting stories to comment on. So go on over and give them a read:

• Maggie at Of Counsel writes about Eyewitness ID Reform hearings in the Georgia legislature
• Scott at SJ has a great post about how attorney-client communication is privileged, regardless of how big the sign over a jail phone is.
• SL & P has this post about a judge that added banishment to an already long sentence for a drug dealer.
• Here’s an interesting one: Grits reports that the Dallas DA withdrew his request for Joseph Lave to receive the lethal injection because two prior DAs has withheld potentially exculpatory information – polygraphs.
• CDW’s weekly roundup is here.
• Happy Birthday Audacity
• Sex Crimes has its usual great coverage and insight, this time on the capital case of Patrick Kennedy – the only man on death row for a crime other than murder.
• Steve at SexCrimeDefender is back and is asking for your help.

I promise to have a post up later today. Have a good day folks!

The Jumpstart is back and with it stories to keep you entertained today!

• Blonde Justice picks up on a theme that has been discussed around these parts and talks about why people plead guilty.
• Audacity last week brought our attention to a novel motion.
• CDW’s weekly roundup is now available.
• The New Jersey Public Defenders celebrated their fortieth year.
• Corey Yung has extensive coverage of the North Carolina Adam Walsh Act decision.
• Woman in Black writes about some excitement at work.
• Scott at Simple Justice comments on solo/private lawyers taking over cases.
• This is a little old, but EyeID has this terrific post on the burden shifting in innocence cases.

There’s more, but I’ll post that later. Enjoy!

Monday morning blues? Don’t want to work? Here are stories to keep you occupied until that second coffee break:

• There’s an unconventional campaign to save Kenneth Foster’s life: Youtube. Death Penalty USA has the details.
• The dirty comic book prosecution in Georgia raises some interesting questions [SexCrimes].
• Shawn Matlock writes about the unethical lawyer that steals clients. Bennett and Greenfield chime in.
• Mark Bennett also has tips for the new practical blawger. Mine will be up later.
• Scott Greenfield writes about the jailhouse lawyer, following up on this post by Malum In Se.
• Grits is covering Texas DAs opposition to solutions designed to relieve jail overcrowding.
• Southern Crim Law writes about an excessive sentence for a violent crime.
• The Confrontation Blog has a new post up.
• Skelly asks: “Why don’t they just call the person the suspect?”
• CDW’s weekly roundup is now available.
• MissTyrios writes about overcrowding and Massachussets and what can be done about it.
• The Public Defender Blog Guide at PD Stuff has been updated.

A list of recent posts on this blog is, as always, on the top left.

That should get you through lunch!

A new week, a new set of reading material:

• Justice Demands Defense: A commentary piece by Norm Pattis in yesterday’s Courant about why the Cheshire accused need zealous representation.
• Blonde Justice is saying goodbye to civil service and heading to the private sector. We wish you well, Blondie!
• Malum In Se writes about non-English speaking defendants being treated differently by both the prosecutors and his own office.
• Mark Bennett gives us six witness rules and commenters add more. I wrote about this a few months ago.
• Robert Guest criticizes MADD’s mad policies.
• The Defense Perspective continues its series on the unforeseen consequences of conviction.
• CDW has a quick look at the week that was.
• Scoplaw has a great post on what “loss of liberty” really means.
• Here’s a piece in the Courant about how the new underage drinking law has the hidden consequence of an automatic license suspension. I recently discussed the new DUI law, which has similar consequences.

Have a great day!

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It’s going to be a busy week, so here’s some stuff to get you in the mood:

• CDW’s weekly roundup is back and also has good news on two death row inmates: Greg Wright and Troy Davis.
• Grits is doing his usual terrific work, including this post about how one county is making it extremely difficult for low-income defendants to get appointed lawyers.
• Scott at Simple Justice takes last week’s jumpstart post about sex offender status on drivers’ licenses in Florida and expands it into a discussion of shaming as a punishment.
• Blonde Justice uses two examples of kids who die after being left in cars and the ensuing prosecutions to discuss sentencing disparities.
• SexCrimes has a roundup and analysis (via other sources) of “the pedophile blogger” and whether legal action is available.
• Anne Reed writes about the old days, when peremptory strikes ruled the Earth.
• Stephen Gustitis at The Defense Perspective is writing a great series of posts on building the persuasive case. These are the two most recent posts.

Enjoy! If you find anything else that I missed, leave a link in the comments!

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Here are some stories from last week to make this Monday morning more palatable:

• Southern Crim Law has compiled advice to new criminal defense attorneys from several bloggers in the form of responses to questions every newbie might have.
• In Florida, sex offender status will be listed on licenses.
• May it please the Court, Scott at Simple Justice doesn’t like old lawyer phrases.
• Mark Bennett has written up some legal first aid cheat sheets and one Motion to Change the Facts.
• EyeID writes about North Carolina’s new lineup ID rules.
• SL & P has a collection of stories questioning sex offender residency restrictions in Ohio and Kentucky.
• Norm Pattis writes about a recent CT Supreme Court opinion, which changes the language for a reasonable doubt instruction.
• The Lonely Abolitionist is back.
• Federal judges in California are considering imposing a cap on the number of inmates in California.

Enjoy!

The Jumpstart is back after a one-week hiatus for reasons unknown. Take these with your morning coffee:

• The big story for the next two days will be the impending execution of Troy Davis, who might just be actually innocent. CDW has been doing a wonderful job of collection information and educating us about Davis. I will have a full post on Davis later and I will be tracking the execution deadline.
• CDW’s weekly roundup is also available.
• This week’s Blawg Review is hosted by Jamie Spencer and focuses on Criminal Law.
• EyeID also has coverage of Troy Davis.
• Mark Bennett is creating a list of all bloggers in the “Practical Blogosphere”.
• Scott at Simple Justice discusses the PD vs. CJA study, providing his own insight based on his experience and has this fantastic post entitled “A Primer on Sentencing”.
• Prof. Berman informs us that the Senate has scheduled a hearing on the border agents case.
• SexCrimes links to a study on Static99 – a diagnostic tool for predicting sex offender recidivism.

Here are some of my posts from last week, in case you missed them:

• Appellate Court overturns sex offender treatment as condition of probation
• Public defender study
• Testilying in traffic court
• New Chief State’s Attorney for Hartford appointed: Impact on death penalty?
• “Banned words” trial starts/ends (?) with mistrial
• Indiana challenge to residency restrictions
• Is failure to register a continuing offense? Part II
• Gate pay for inmates a reality
• Choosing an attorney
• Being John Q. Prosecutor

Heh – looks like a mini crim law blawg review! Enjoy