Trials

British judges wigs Above the Law blog.jpgToday’s Judge of the Day hails from the other side of the pond. From Reuters:

A British judge admitted on Wednesday he was struggling to cope with basic terms like “Web site” in the trial of three men accused of inciting terrorism via the Internet.

Judge Peter Openshaw broke into the questioning of a witness about a Web forum used by alleged Islamist radicals.

“The trouble is I don’t understand the language. I don’t really understand what a Web site is,” he told a London court during the trial of three men charged under anti-terrorism laws.

These internets can be so confusing…
So is this Judge Openshaw positively ancient? Actually, no:

Prosecutor Mark Ellison briefly set aside his questioning to explain the terms “Web site” and “forum.” An exchange followed in which the 59-year-old judge acknowledged: “I haven’t quite grasped the concepts.”

Jeez, Judge Openshaw — get with the program. Even Justice John Paul Stevens uses email. And he’s getting close to 90!
Judge to prosecutor: So what’s a Web site? [Reuters via MSNBC]

Morning Docket: 05.14.07

* Padilla trial set to open. [AP via How Appealing]
* Heck of a plea bargain. [CNN]
* Will they sue like Imus? [BBC News]
* Deportes Perros: former teammate says Vick likes dog fighting. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution]
* Immigration reform: enforcement through local xenophobia. [Jurist]

Morning Docket: 05.08.07

Queen Elizabeth II QE2 Above the Law blog.jpg* Still excited about last weekend’s Kentucky Derby? Here are the rules for betting on the Iowa and NH Derbies. [Slate]
* NBA playoffs as a metaphor for the presidential race. [
SI]
* World Bank panel finds Wolfowitz violated rules in getting his girlfriend a job. [MSNBC]
* Prominent U.S. lawyers to dine with Queen of England. [WSJ Law Blog]
* “A series of sometimes bizarre events, including a judge’s tumble from a ladder and a case of appendicitis, have delayed” R. Kelly’s trial for five years. [CNN]

Morning Docket: 05.04.07

* No do-over for Vonage. [c|net via How Appealing]
* Legislature approves $5 million settlement in Florida boot camp death case. [CNN]
* Katrina wrongful death claims blown away by judge. [Jurist]
* Reno trial lawyer faces his own trial. [Reno Gazette-Journal]
* Fen-Phen plaintiffs have a horse in Saturday’s race. [WSJ Law Blog]

spector2.jpg
Opening statements began today in the Phil Spector murder trial. Spector was making some god-awful faces, either because he’s nervous about being on trial for murder or because he’s still getting used to what he’s now done to his hair.
This on the prosecutor’s opening statements, from AFP via Yahoo! News:

In opening statements of what is the highest-profile celebrity trial in Los Angeles since the 1995 OJ Simpson case, prosecutors painted a portrait of Spector as a man with a “rich history of violence” towards women.
“The evidence is going to paint a very, very clear picture of a man, Phil Spector, who turns sinister and deadly in certain circumstances,” prosecutor Alan Jackson told the hearing at a packed Los Angeles Superior Court.
“It is going to paint a picture of a man who put a loaded pistol inside Lana Clarkson’s mouth and shot her to death.”

The prosecution referred to several prior incidents of violence toward women by Spector, evidence of which the prosecution had earlier succeeded at getting admitted over the objection of the defense.
Spector’s defense team is led by Gotti-defender Bruce Cutler. The defense opening statements have yet to begin. When they do, they are expected to lay out a defense based on Lara Clarkson having committed suicide. But like a commenter said earlier: women use pills, not guns.

Morning Docket: 04.24.07

dna-molecule.jpg* Legal “loophole” with dangerous consequences. [CNN]
* In defense of the defense. [
WSJ]
* DNA exonerates man after 25 years in prison. [MSNBC]
* Dick Butkus files suit over rights to name top college linebacker. [AP via SI]
* Law firms are paying more for advertisement exposure. [ABA Journal e-report]

Conrad Black Above the Law blog.jpgFormer media magnate Conrad Black is currently on trial in federal court in Chicago. Lord Black (at right) stands accused of fraud, racketeering, tax violations, obstruction of justice, and money laundering — serious stuff. He’s being defended by Edward Greenspan, one of Canada’s most colorful trial attorneys.
Greenspan — who went to law school with Black, by the way — can already claim the distinction of being “among Canada’s most famous lawyers.” And now “Fast Eddie” can add a new prize to his mantle: ATL Lawyer of the Day!!!
Greenspan recently got benchslapped in open court by a judicial hottie — and he clearly deserves some recognition for this achievement. For the gory details, we refer you to our big sibling, DealBreaker.
Congratulations, Mr. Greenspan! We look forward to more antics from you as the trial progresses.
Conrad Black Defense’s Routine Needs Tweaking [DealBreaker]
Où est Monsieur Black? [DealBreaker]

Lewis Libby Scooter Libby I Lewis Scooter Libby Above the Law Blog.jpgOkay, ‘fess up. You didn’t follow the Scooter Libby trial that closely. It struck you as kinda confusing, kinda boring.
You didn’t read that much about the trial while it was going on — maybe an article on the day of opening arguments, and an article or two after the verdict. Whenever the Libby case came up at cocktail parties, you tried to steer the talk towards Britney’s shaved head, afraid of your ignorance being exposed.
Live in fear no longer. Just read this excellent Talk of the Town piece by Jeffrey Toobin, which tells you all you need to know about the case, in clear and concise fashion.
(We heart the MSM! They write about stuff like the Libby trial, so we don’t have to.)
Talk of the Town: Verdicts [New Yorker]

house plant potted plant Brendan Sullivan Above the Law blog.jpgLegendary litigator Brendan Sullivan, who has been involved in some of the most high-profile cases of the past few decades, ensured his place in Bartlett’s when he quipped at the Iran-Contra hearings: “I’m not a potted plant.”
But despite not being a potted plant, Sullivan was unable to prevail against two of our former colleagues, Michael Martinez and Craig Carpenito, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. Martinez and Carpenito, a pair of superb young lawyers, were given the daunting task of handling the third trial of former Cendant chairman Walter Forbes. Their triumph over Sullivan and his Williams & Connolly team is chronicled in a fascinating article by Andrew Longstreth in this month’s American Lawyer.
More discussion of the piece, with a few added comments from us, after the jump.

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Not a Potted Plant — But Not Victorious, Either”

Non-Sequiturs: 02.27.07

* This is in no way an admission that MTV is somehow partially responsible for your laziness and/or learning disabilities. [New York Daily News]
* More Heidi Fleiss-inspired antics! I keep forgetting this kind of thing is illegal — there should be a carve-out for the C-listed and below. [Los Angeles Times]
* This mom-of-the-year is kind of like a low-rent Joe Simpson, although we’re pretty sure Jessica isn’t faking. [MSN]
* The lurid nature of this trial may make the “sex, lies & videotape” qualifier okay, but that was, like, 18 years ago. Conversely, why do we remember Peter Gallagher only from The OC? [New York Times]
* Utah is that boring. [QuizLaw; Denver Post]

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