Criminal Law

Apparently, I Would Slap My Father

Posted on May 31, 2009
Have you heard about this? It's in every newspaper. The articles, such as this from the New York Times (try bugmenot.com if you need a password): Op-Ed Columnist - Would You Slap Your Father? If So, You?re a Liberal, basically describes how liberals and conservatives express the emotion of disgust at different things...

Ounce of Prevention

Posted on May 07, 2009
I try to be a holistic attorney. Generally, the younger the client, the more time I spend on the little extras - reminding them about court dates, reminding them about things they can do between court dates to help their case, helping them figure out how to avoid further legal trouble...

A Recipe By Blonde Justice

Posted on April 21, 2009
Start by slicing a little bit of avocado for the tiny salad you're having for dinner.As you're eating dinner, start to wonder what you should do with the rest of the avocado.Try googling "how to store avocado" and then "how to start avocado cut." Find out you need lemon or lime juice to make the avocado not brown...

Pardon The Dust

Posted on April 13, 2009
I found out that Blonde Justice wasn't loading right in Internet Explorer, so now I'm messing with new templates. Please excuse the appearance while I tidy up.

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I met with a client last Tuesday

Posted on April 09, 2009
I met with a client last Tuesday at the jail. He's an older Latino man in his late fifties, and he's been here in the U.S. for almost twenty years. Still, his English isn't great, and when we're in the courtroom we use the Spanish interpreter.But I stopped by to see him at the jail without arranging for an interpreter...

PDs Rolling With The Punches

Posted on March 25, 2009
Speaking of dealing with difficult clients (and clearly, some are more "difficult" than others)...A reader tipped me off to this story from the Connecticut Law Tribune about defendants assaulting their public defenders.Lawyers on the BullseyeBy Christian NolanThe Connecticut Law TribuneIn 2006 when Hartford Superior Court Judge Thomas Miano refused to let Juan Vazquez, convicted of assault and robbery, withdraw his guilty pleas, Vazquez quickly turned and punched his lawyer, public defender Michael Isko, in the mouth...

Fail.

Posted on March 22, 2009
I haven't had much to write about lately, but one thing came up lately that might be worth writing about.I got a new client at the beginning of last week. His case is very serious, he is facing a lot of time. And it's not as if he's new to the "system," he's done quite a bit of prison time in the past...

It Always Comes Back To Eyewitness IDs

Posted on March 17, 2009
I don't know about you, but I feel like I can study it for hours, and I still can never fully wrap my mind around how our minds can trick us when it comes to identifying other people.Dahlia Lithwick on Eyewitness Identifications at Slate.com

Withdrawal

Posted on March 01, 2009

How to Prepare for Trial: Step Four

Posted on February 11, 2009
(Links to: Steps One, Two and Three)It's time to take care of some logistics.If you have non-paper exhibits you'll want to use (e.g. computer programs, tapes, DVDs, etc.) it's best to contact the court as early as possible to find out what they supply and what you'll need to bring with you...

How to Prepare for Trial: Step Three

Posted on January 22, 2009
(Step one was here, step two was here.)Perhaps I got a little carried away at the end of step two, when I wrote that the next step would be to formulate the opening argument, the cross-examination and so forth.Before you can do that, you need to put some serious thought into your theory of the case: What are you trying to convince the jury of? Are you conceding it happened, but it wasn't your client that did it? Are you saying it never happened? Are you convincing the jury that someone is lying or mistaken? And if so, who?I think the biggest mess a defense attorney can get themselves into is not knowing their theory of the case...

Black & Decker B1500

Posted on January 16, 2009
Please don't think Blonde Justice has been hijacked. I promise to return soon with more on how to prep a trial.But I need to go off-topic for just a moment. I recently inherited a Black & Decker B1500 Bread Machine. In looking through bread machine cookbooks, I found that most of them give a list of ingredients, and then tell you to add them to the machine as per your machine's manual...

How to Prepare For Trial: Step Two

Posted on January 01, 2009
(continued from Step One, here)Now is the time to decide whether you are going to be a trial notebook (a.k.a. binder) lawyer, or a trial file (a.k.a. redweld) lawyer. Part of this is going to depend on what you were taught or what is the predominant culture in your office - I've worked in an office that didn't stock redwelds because everyone was into binders and I've worked in an office that didn't stock binders because everyone used redwelds...

Now With Pronunciation Guide, Free!

Posted on December 16, 2008
After a long day of thinking and whatnot, today's post will attempt to answer one simple question. I hope this helps you, dear googler, where ever you may be....br /a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4...

How to Prepare For Trial: Step One

Posted on December 14, 2008
I suppose, to do it right, this will have to be a multi-post topic, spread over the next few weeks or months as it fits into my schedule of actual trial preparation.Just a disclaimer: This is not the only way to prepare a trial, nor do I believe it's necessarily the best way...

Here We Go Again

Posted on December 13, 2008
Right now, I'm prepping a trial. I am always prepping some trial.I would say that maybe one percent of my cases go to trial. Maybe less. I can usually get a good sense, early on, which cases might possibly go to trial. A small percentage of those actually do...

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Posted on December 08, 2008
I had a professor in law school who also practiced law. (Those of you who haven't gone to law school are probably thinking this goes without saying, but in the weird world of law school, it's quite unusual, and in fact, some law professors have never even attempted to practice law...

Misery Loves Company

Posted on December 03, 2008
I can't help but reflect sometimes, on how my life is different (read: better) this year than last year. One surprise is how much being a public defender again has improved my friendships. I have more free time and energy, and I've made an effort to dedicate some of it to my friendships that were, unfortunately, neglected last year...

Because I'm "Quirky"

Posted on December 02, 2008
Although I'm happy just to be nominated, I'd love to get your vote and actually win for once. If there's anything I've learned this year, it's that a little hope can go a long way in a big election.So, please go to the ABA Journal website and vote for Blonde Justice...

Deep Thoughts, by Blonde Justice

Posted on November 26, 2008
Back in, like, the 70s, marijuana was called "dope," right? But now, I think, "dope" means heroin. Anyway, I'm wondering if that ever gets confusing. Like, for old drug dealers who were around in the 70s.You're like, "Hey, man, can I get some dope?" and they're like "Marijuana dope or heroin dope?" And then, since you're starting to feel paranoid anyway, you're like, "What are you a cop? You're trying to get me to say the exact name of the drug?" and then, the old drug dealer never makes any sales...

Inspired

Posted on November 16, 2008
I haven't had a lot to say. But I decided to make a short little mix tape inspired by the election. It will give us something to listen to as we navigate the merging of Sirius and XM channels over the next few days. Now, where did my all my favorite stations go?

I Voted

Posted on November 04, 2008
All I can say today is, I voted. And it was good.Now, we wait. (And possibly sleep.)I really hope that this won't be another election where we have to stay up all night (and then a few weeks more) awaiting results. Because I have a trial tomorrow, and I don't want to be tired for it.

This is Halloween, This is Halloween

Posted on October 30, 2008
I have a Halloween tradition. One night (usually during the week leading up to Halloween), I like to turn out all the lights, light up all my pumpkin decorations in the windows, and watch The Nightmare Before Christmas. Now, it just came to my attention that some people have never seen The Nightmare Before Christmas...

Silver Lining of Funny

Posted on October 29, 2008
My job hasn't been filled with funny stories lately, mostly sad.But there was one sad story that had a tiny funny silver lining.My client, who had been out on bail, had to show up to court, and I knew that it was extremely likely that the judge was going to revoke his bail and lock him up...

Breaking News

Posted on October 28, 2008
Blonde Justice has just endorsed Barack Obama for president. And not just because of these hot pink pins...(now available on Cafe Press.)

Zima Confession Time

Posted on October 21, 2008
MillerCoors announced this week that the malternative beverage known as Zima, introduced by Coors Brewing in 1992, would be discontinued. Zima was my underage drink of choice.And I have a confession to make. I've never told anyone this. One year, my college roommate and I had a bad relationship...

Seriously

Posted on October 20, 2008
Fla. Woman Chooses To Go To Jail Over $7.45 BillThis is newsworthy? I have clients every day who go to jail every day for not paying their $2 bus or train fare so that they can get to work, get to their drug program, get their mental health medication, get their kids to and from the doctor, get to the welfare office, get to court...

Giving Lip

Posted on October 19, 2008
Not Martha blogged about Nivea lip balms, so I was excited to finally get two to try. But, strangely, the two that I got (and the others that I saw at my drug store) are not at all the ones in her post (even the second photo with the Nivea display). I got Nivea A Kiss of Shimmer Pearly Shimmer Lip Care and Nivea A Kiss of Rejuvenation Q10+ Anti-Aging Lip Care SPF 4...

Blonde Bits and Pieces

Posted on October 10, 2008
I've got a few little things I want to post. First, how about some music to get you through it?I was the mix tape princess of the early 90s. Matter of fact, I feel so old, but when I went to college we still made mix tapes for our sorority parties. I was elected "tune mistress" or whatever we called that position...

Reviewing Raising the Bar

Posted on October 07, 2008
I've wanted to review Raising the Bar since it started. But I get so behind in my tivo watching, that I haven't been able to review a recent episode. But I'm caught up. So, here goes:First, let me say that I wasn't too impressed by the pilot. I wasn't sure where this was going...

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