- Joined
- Jan 14, 2013
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- 30,667
I work in criminal - we have to tick off the judge all the time. It's just part of it for us.
I hope it's unavoidable for you (or you don't need anything from the judge).
I work in criminal - we have to tick off the judge all the time. It's just part of it for us.
I hope it's unavoidable for you (or you don't need anything from the judge).
Unfortunately - many judges are second prosecutors in there. If I thought it would benefit my client, I'd kiss the ring - but it generally doesn't. Often, I'm talking to either the jury or the court of the appeals when I'm pissing off the judge - sometimes, I'm just pointing out as delicately as I can that they are out of bounds. Criminal isn't the same kind of popularity contest that civil often is - the judges like us but hate our clients. We have to bow up or else our clients go down even harder than they should.
One of the best lessons I ever learned was that judges respect you more when you bow up on them than they do when you bow down to them. I had a mean old coot on the bench once - former prosecutor - who tried to bail out the DA in a trial by basically taking over the questioning and leading an inept witness for the state. I objected to one of the judges questions - it was way out of bounds - and he cleared the jury and laid into me for like 20 minutes. Brutal. I kept my cool, pointed out his error and how it prejudiced my client and took away a jury argument. He ended up sustaining my objection to his question. Trial went on - we lost - but about a month after that I was in front of the same judge and he called me up to the bench and shook my hand in open court and announced that the state had their work cut out for them. The guy has loved me ever since because I fought for my client - and specifically because I fought him.
That's good to hear. The system is definitely stacked against criminal defendants. And with some judges, you're not going to be able to win. It sounds like it's unavoidable for you. I'm always baffled by the lawyers who go into the courtroom and tick off a judge in a totally avoidable circumstance (because the lawyer is being a prick).
Then again, my experience colors my perspective a bit.
What kind of law are you doing?
I'm currently clerking for a federal judge (which obviously colors my perspective). I think you'd enjoy practicing in front of him. Great guy and very fair.
Unless it's in response to the question, did you do it?You don't tell a judge no.![]()
Unless it's in response to the question, did you do it?
Lol
That's great experience. I'm almost exclusively in state court nowadays - much more of a lowbrow bench.
Fantasy gods are showering me with love right now. I drafted Zeke with all of my teams and drafted Kareem Hunt to stand in for Zeke during his suspension. Hunt rewards me with 40 points, and Texas rewards me with a TRO lol.
And meanwhile, a battered woman gets no justice, like in most cases.
Sorry that I have to be contrarian to your view, but were it up to me - and the charges were legitimate - Elliot would be permabanned from the NFL.
In my book, you're innocent until proven guilty.
And in mine, Elliott obviously had something on him to make him get a suspension and get it upheld by the arbitrator who reduced Greg Hardy's suspension to four games. Even if the girl you hit is a total bitch and all that, to beat her multiple times in a week is unforgivable.