How Long Can Your Lawyer Nap Before It’s “Ineffective Assistance of Counsel”?
As long as it’s it’s less than a “substantial portion” of trial, the Constitution doesn’t mind.
Criminal
Three Follow-Ups
Let's return to some prior stories and see how things have developed. I. Escape Proves Temporary In 2009, I reported that repeat offender Ronald Tackman had escaped from a holding area in Manhattan Supreme Court, where he was awaiting trial,…
Warren Jeffs Fires Defense Team, Now Represented by God
Everybody wants God on their side, but über-polygamist Warren Jeffs is apparently getting legal advice directly from Him. Jeffs, who is the leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS), is on trial in Texas…
BIDDING ON THE CASEY ANTHONY HEAD HAS CLOSED
Bad news if you bid on eBay item #260823841484 (CASEY ANTHONY LATEX RUBBER MASK EXT. RARE) and bid less than $999,900, as that was the winning bid allegedly placed by an unidentified person this afternoon. The auction closed at just after…
CASEY ANTHONY LATEX RUBBER MASK FOR SALE [Updated]
Just a few hours left to get in your bid on this horrifyingly realistic Casey Anthony mask, now being offered on eBay: Halloween is only a few months away. Forget Freddy, Jason, [Michael] Meyers [sic], here's your chance to scare…
Mystery Man Identified
The Albuquerque Journal is reporting that the Utah inmate I mentioned earlier has been identified, but sadly, it appears he is not the missing DA from Pennsylvania. John Doe's brother reportedly recognized him after the mug shot was released to…
Sheriff’s Department Doesn’t Think “Yakety Sax” Video of Escape Attempt Is Funny
That was its official position, anyway. In reality, the first 60 seconds or so is pretty good: An investigator looking into the incident apparently put the video together from surveillance-camera footage, sped it up and added the “Benny Hill”…
Alcohol May Have Played a Role In Alligator Theft, Police Say
The Detroit Free Press reported on July 7 that “three intoxicated men stole a 14-foot flattened and preserved alligator, strapped it to a pickup truck and took it off-roading to a mud bogging party,” a sentence that raises the obvious question: why…
DOJ Says It Will Not Seek Extradition of Randy Quaid
According to the Santa Barbara DA's Office (via the ABA Journal), the Department of Justice has declined to pursue extradition proceedings against actor Randy Quaid and his wife, Evi. As you may recall, the Quaids fled to Canada last year…
New Documentary to Tell Story of Dog-Cloning Mormon-Raper
Or, "Mormon-raping dog-cloner"? I couldn't decide. I'm very glad to see that Errol Morris, who has made some great documentaries ("The Thin Blue Line," "The Fog of War"), has now taken on a story that was odd enough for me…