"Court Case Friday" I was in the middle of jury selection, in a trial I was presiding over, when a young man entered the courtroom. I had ordered all witnesses excluded during jury selection. So, I interrupted the proceedings, and asked, “Excuse me sir, are you a witness in this case?” He replied, “No, … Continue reading Another “Dumb” One – “I’m the Criminal”
"Court Case Friday" “We don’t catch the smart ones.” I learned of a case where the defendant was on trial for armed robbery. The typical trial issue in these cases is whether the victim can identify the robber. Often, the victim is so focused on the gun, they can’t describe the criminal. The victim in … Continue reading Another “Dumb Criminal”- Outburst in Front of the Jury
"Court Case Friday" As a new D.A. I was prosecuting a drunk driver. My expert criminalist testified in the jury trial that the defendant must have consumed at least seven drinks in order to reach his blood alcohol level. After finishing with the criminalist’s testimony, I rested my case, and the judge announced a noon recess. … Continue reading LDS Drunk Driver With a Guilty Conscience
"Court Case Friday" Experienced criminal trial lawyers learn to be very careful handling exhibits in front of a jury. A Deputy District Attorney assigned to my court had a jury trial involving “Assault with a Deadly Weapon.” The “deadly weapon” was a knife. The young, inexperienced Defense Attorney argued, throughout the trial, that the knife … Continue reading Defense Attorney cuts herself with a “non-dangerous dull” knife
"Court Case Friday" I try to "act" dignified in my courtroom, especially during jury trials. Sometimes I fail. Hair Spray for the Throat I was presiding over a very intense and stressful jury trial. I had a bad sore throat that made it difficult to talk. During a short recess I rushed to my chambers … Continue reading My Most Embarrassing Moments on the Bench
"Court Case Friday" A little background. I have a two rules governing jury trials. First, jury trials start promptly on time. Second, the "hammer" drops if a defendant or witness is a half-hour late without excuse. Rule Number One: Jury Trials Start on Time My parents weaned me on promptness. And so, I get very … Continue reading “God Overruled Me”
"Court Case Friday" My Case As a new D.A. I was assigned to try a misdemeanor prostitution case. This was a "first" for me. The defendant was a female massage parlor employee who solicited money-for-sex from an undercover officer. I was "gobsmacked" on the first day of jury trial, when Roger Diamond substituted in as … Continue reading Prostitution Cases and My First Jury Trial
"Court Case Friday" My next door colleague presided over a difficult case that gained national publicity. Pitbull Attacks Baby A father was walking with his two-year-old son on the sidewalk in a strip mall. Outside one of the bars, a man had tied his pitbull to a pole while he went inside. As the father … Continue reading Father is Prosecuted for Killing the Stranger’s Pitbull that Mutilated his Baby Son
"Court Case Friday" I was presiding over a misdemeanor jury trial. The young woman prosecutor was a dressed in an cream-colored silk blouse, and expensive tailor suit, with a charcoal pinstripe coat and a matching skirt. This was her first trial, and she wanted to make a big impression on the jurors. We resumed … Continue reading D.A. with Skirt Tucked in Her Panties
When I was a rookie deputy district attorney (D.A.) one of my colleagues quickly grabbed a case file and rushed off to court for his first jury trial. He wanted to make a good impression. The judge explained that the defendant waived his right to an attorney and insisted on exercising his constitutional right to … Continue reading The D.A.’s Disastrous Embarrassing False Start with a Jury
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