Our Blog Posts & Pod Casts

Blog

Episode 35: Hanging Judges

We’ve all heard the stories about the tough judges, the judges who view themselves as hard-asses.  Lawyers traveling to other towns always ask, “tell me about the judge” because we want to know if the judge is tough or has developed a reputation for being a “hanging judge”.  They have no place in today’s legal system but they exist and because of their impact in the lives of the accused before them, I take them on during this episode.  We subject this style of judge to killer cross examination.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 34: Proverbs 18:17

The first to state his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.

They biblical phrase describes trials, direct examination and cross examination in some ways better than any book or pamphlet.  Witnesses take the stand and on direct examination and “seem right”. They seem right, believable and convincing.  Then the challenge to their story comes in … we challenge their story.  We provide the counterweight.  When done, the witness no longer seems right.

I take you through a recent case, a probation violation hearing, where Proverbs 18:17 came to life.  I walk you through how the prosecution witness gave damning testimony against our client and it seemed “right” until cross examined.   This is a valuable lesson in not jumping to conclusions and allowing cross examination to tell the story.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 33: Killer Cross Examination Takes On Robinhood

Robinhood. Vlad.  Citadel.  Steve Cohen. David Portnoy.  Game Stop.  Nokia.  AMC Theaters Holdings.  Dogecoin.  Bitcoin.  Shorts.  Options.  Wall Street bets.  Reddit.  We’ve seen a convergence of these names, financial terms, stocks, companies and entities over last few weeks as old school Wall Street butted heads with the public and WSB Reddit.  But when traders needed a platform to trade, Robin Hood and other similar trading companies banned trades, halted trading, changed the rules.  Wall Street benefitted.  The individual investor did not.  Yet, not one of the leaders, power brokers or those involved were subjected to real cross examination – real powerful, probing questioning.  I saw the interviews on television.  Softball questions.  Time limits.  What we needed is/was killer cross examination of Vlad and others.  In fact, I offered to do it.  

This is where Killer Cross Examination meets Robin Hood.  

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 32: The Questions I Get Asked

I get asked a lot of questions about criminal defense.  I think all criminal lawyers do.  The questions, you can guess them:

  • how can you defend those people
  • have you ever defended someone who is guilty
  • have you ever defended someone that admitted they were guilty
  • have you ever defended someone who you knew was guilty
  • have you ever gotten anyone off that was guilty

Here my take on why these questions miss the mark on what I/we do.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 31: Prosecutor Appeals Are Not Appealing

As a child, I watched the Wide World of Sports on ABC.  Like others, I loved the introduction – “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”  Who can forget the iconic ski jumper falling sideways off the ski jump, crashing and tumbling.  Pain. Hurt.  Disappointment.   In the criminal justice system, prosecutors can appeal rulings that they don’t like – when evidence is suppressed, police are adjudged to have broken the law or when a charge/case is dismissed.  I’ve watched client’s jump for joy, elation and relief when the charges are dismissed or evidence suppressed. I’ve watched as client’s have the proverbial rug pulled out from under them when the prosecutor appeals and tries to reverse the ruling.  It is cruel.  

In this episode, I explore and discuss this phenomenon.  As I said, when prosecutor’s appeal, it is not appealing.  

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 30: Mia Sat For An Interview – Why You Shouldn’t

You’ve seen the interviews. Client sitting there. Lawyer next to her. And a reporter conducting an interview of them while the case is under investigation or while pending. Mia Ponsetto just did it, with her lawyer. Casey Anthony did it, with her lawyer. Others have done it with their lawyers too.

DON’T BE LIKE MIA. OR HER LAWYER.

In this episode, I explore these disastrous interviews and why you and your lawyer should avoid them at every turn.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 29: Bail Em Out

The Eighth Amendment of the US Constitution commands that no person shall be held on excessive bail.  Michigan’s statute and court rules repeat that refrain.  No excessive bail.  Yet how do you define excessive? How is the process to bail people out? How is it abused? Is it fair?

In this episode, I describe this process including a recent horrible experience that I had on a holiday.  The system failed – short circuited.  Listen in.  I want you to hear the story, understand how these hearings are misused and why cash bond is a dangerous tool to give a magistrate who knows nearly nothing about the case or the accused.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 28: Stop Lying to Your Lawyer

Your lawyer is your advocate, your friend, you counselor, your voice, your support system and your advisor so it seems obvious that you ought to tell your lawyer the truth. It seems obvious that you shouldn’t mislead your lawyer or withhold critical or important information. Yet, this happens too frequently. When you lie to your lawyer, you’re lying to yourself.

In this episode, I explore what happens when clients lie to their lawyers, how dangerous it is, how they undermine the lawyer’s ability to defend the client and how it is akin to tying our hands behind our back and tying our shoelaces together in a fight.

Take a listen.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 27: Criminal Defense is Not for the Weary

Criminal defense is not for the weak or weary. Nor is it for learning or experimenting or to get experience. And it is not for older lawyers, past their prime, to “stay active” or to dabble here or there. We’re dealing with lives, liberty and reputations. We’re dealing with life changing consequences. Like surgeons. Baby doctors looking for experience or octogenarian internists looking to stay in the game don’t perform surgeries. Surgeries have real consequences and as a result we require surgeons to be experienced to ply their craft. Defense lawyering is no different. It’s time to stop treating our field like it is for anyone … it is not. It is not for the weak or weary.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.

Episode 26- Brady- Not Tom or The Bunch

Prosecutors have a tremendous amount of power. I should know, I oppose them daily. Not to mention that for a very short period of time, I was one. In fact, upon hearing that I was a prosecutor once, the famed cowboy lawyer from Wyoming, Gerry Spence, said to me, “I forgive you, my son.” But I digress. Prosecutors have tremendous power. Among the most significant of their powers is the obligation not turn over what we call Brady evidence. 

Brady evidence is evidence that tends to help the accused and believe it or not, prosecutors decide for themselves what is and what is not Brady evidence. Sure sometimes we catch them in their failure to disclose it or the fact that they possess it but more often than not, we are left to trust that they have turned it over. Some prosecutors are very good at disclosure. Some, awful. This episode breaks down Brady evidence and how we can improve the legal system to ensure that accused citizens and their lawyers get Brady evidence and don’t just rely on prosecutors to turn it over.

Please be aware we are relying on impressions, recollections, memories and interpretations.