Entries Tagged as 'News Watch'

Wish I Hadn’t Looked

After being away from the computer for a few days, I sat down to catch up on the latest news and happenings. As always my first stop was Bloglines and The Agitator (25 new posts), and Grits for Breakfast (12 new posts).

So….what have I missed….?

Obama sending letters threatening to shut down TV stations that run ads critical of him.

Sarah Palin has accepted $25,000 in gifts during her 20 months as governor of Alaska, including “from industry executives, municipalities and a cultural center whose board includes officials from some of the largest mining interests in the state.”

McCain - (read about his asinine behavior at the Agitator)

Holy Shit!!! THESE are the choices for the next President of the United States???!!!!!!!

And “none of the above” isn’t an option.

As a nation, we shouldn’t just be afraid -

we should be embarrassed. Hugely, grossly - embarrassed.

And if that wasn’t enough -

Cops employing robbers.

Officer had no choice but to shoot and kill an “aggressive”–wait for it–Jack Russell terrier.

Police in Canton, Ohio shot and killed a man during a SWAT-style drug raid last week. He was in the shower at the time of the raid, and apparently brandished a gun at the raiding officers. He is a convicted felon, though his last crime was 13 years ago. Police say the raid was conducted based on tips that there was drug dealing at the man’s home. So far, I haven’t read an account of the raid that mentions if the police found any illicit drugs. - via The Agitator

Texas Youth Commission closed abuse cases without proper investigation.

Website Rates Lawyers

Avvo is a free website that rates and profiles every lawyer to help people choose the right lawyer. Avvo makes the process of selecting a lawyer easier by presenting the Avvo Rating, client ratings, attorney profiles, and a disciplinary sanction history (if any) for every attorney in the states that we cover.

Much “for or against” discussion this week by criminal law bloggers about the Avvo website. (good discussions here and here at Simple Justice)

This post isn’t a jump into that debate.

“How do people choose an attorney?” has been asked and answered. There seems to be a widespread misconception that referrals/recommendations from friends and acquaintances are how most clients choose an attorney. This is probably true in non-criminal cases such as divorce or probate, but not so much in criminal cases. (big money/white collar crime excluded)

Criminal defendants tend to hang out with other criminal defendants. The vast majority are members of the low to very low income bracket. ie., most opt for a public defender because they can’t afford to hire an attorney.

For the Average Joe or Jane, searching for and choosing a criminal defense attorney is a bigger freakin’ nightmare than anyone can imagine. My search for a good attorney finally ended (thank God and Spencer Rowley) after 8 years, and burning around $8000 to 3 piss poor attorneys.

News Watch

Chorpus Christi, TX  A man died in police custody after he was beaten with a baton and pepper-sprayed in the face by officers because he resisted arrest, police said.