The Good Fight

Overcriminalization at the Federal Level is a Real Threat

2011-05-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

This article from National Review Online outlines the harms associated with Congress' overcriminalization as a way to solve perceived social problems.

http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/266130/overcriminalized-america-masha-saeidi-azcu?page=1

Prosecutors Should be Held Accountable For Illegal Conduct While In Office

2011-04-08T09:01:00.001-07:00

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision wrongly protects prosecutors when they abuse the power of their office:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/when-prosecutors-err/2011/03/31/AFZmzqxC_story.html

Federal Authorities Have Too Much Power to Force Defendants to Plead Guilty

2011-03-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Federal prosecutors have any number of tools at their disposal to force a defendant in a federal case to plead guilty. Prosecutors can manipulate the sentencing guidelines and charging decisions to create a situation whereby the risk of going to trial is far outweighed by the plea bargain that is offered. The link below is an excellent Op-Ed piece demonstrating this point.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/03/12/tipping_the_scales_of_justice/

Criminal Evidence Much Different Today than Years Past

2011-03-11T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a very interesting article on the way crimes are solved has changed. There is much less ability to be anonymous in today’s world than there was even a decade ago.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/if-the-son-of-sam-were-on-the-loose-today/?ref=todayspaper Publish Post

Illinois Governor Did the Right thing to Abolish the Death Penalty

2011-03-10T17:25:00.000-08:00

Bravo for Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. It took a great deal of courage to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, and Governor Quinn's very well reasoned statement regarding his decision should be reviewed by everybody in government. The death penalty has run it's course and proven to be unworkable and unfair. It also costs too much money, and offers society no benefit. Please read this link for a very good Op Ed piece on the matter:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-oped-0310-turow-20110310,0,7368692.story

Good Results for a Federal Prison Sex Case

2006-10-31T11:20:00.000-08:00

I recently represented a woman charged with having sex with an inmate in FDC Florence a federal prison. The woman was in independent contractor with the facility, and I argued that the statute did not apply to such employees. The United States Attorney dismissed the case in its entirety. Below is a link to the story:

http://www.chieftain.com/metro/1162015216/13

Finding a Criminal Defense Attorney Online

2006-03-21T12:05:00.000-08:00

Here is some good advise for finding a lawyer:

http://wiki.ehow.com/Select-a-Criminal-Defense-Attorney

Finally Some Content

2005-06-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Well it's about time I posted something to this blog, I suppose. I've been procrastinating because I'm really not the type to keep a diary or be at all comfortable talking about myself, and that kind of seems to be the objective of these things. Anyway here goes.

I just finished a two week long murder trial. There were two defendants, the one I represented and another, the DA's had a huge team, and the courtroom was very small. We were literally sitting on top of each other. In fact, the table my team sat at was not large enough for all of us to sit at at the same time. I wrote my notes in my lap most of the trial. To top it all off the air conditioning malfunctioned. At the end of one day the judge told us (because he had a little thermometer on his bench) that the temperature was 87 degrees. Much to hot. Truly some of the worst conditions under which I've ever tried a case.

Today was my first experience being a "legal analyst". KOA radio contacted me wanting commentary this morning from the defense perspective regarding the Michael Jackson trial. I was on at 6:30 a.m. Much too early if you ask me. Anyway the hosts asked some insightful questions, and I thought the whole thing went well.

Basically, I told them that the real difference in the MJ trial and other trials is the lack of physical evidence and witnesses to the actual events. Both a present in regular trials, but this trial was really about character and past actions of the victim, his family and the defendant. In my view that is really the unique thing about this trial.

2005-03-08T15:58:00.000-08:00

At my desk