Completely off topic link to a story about some poor judge who was set up by a stripper. The story takes place in Atlanta but would fit in here perfectly. Perhaps worthy of its own thread.
I'm in favor of changing the inquest process, but would the new process be an improvement? Clearly, the DA's office will never attempt to do anything other than prove that a shooting was justified (cops and DA's go hand-in-hand), so what about an independent panel?
The inquest process will always be about one of two things. Showing that the cops were justified, or showing that they weren't. Those are the opposing sides in this matter. The inquest will never be an unbiased presentation of fact.
Look at the how the DAs office handles the inquest. Now ask yourself if it would be any different if someone like Howard Brooks was in charge. Different bias resulting in a different outcome perhaps, but it wouldn't be substantially different.
Scrap the whole thing and put on a trial if the case merits it. By the way LAPD is accountable to a civilian commission. Just another rubber-stamp.
Tell me why there's a coroner's inquest AT ALL? Shootings should be investigated just like any other death and submitted to the DA for review. Family members could still sue in civil court, and LVMPD could still take internal action.
ps, 1:01, Better not mention Howard Brooks in posts anymore. Jonell Thomas will go ape-poop crazy all over your cowardly, anonymous ass.
She's weird about that, Howard Brooks is a perfect example of the opposition point of view on the inquest. That it must serve to find wrong doing by the cops and if it doesn't then it's broken. Clearly he demonstrated his bias on this issue. As if we re only supposed to mention the DAs bias. They are two sides to the same coin, both demonstrating that the inquest is malarky.
However, it is comical to imagine Howard as grand inquisitor in red robes. Mosher in chains wearing a hairshirt. Makes me think of Monty Python.
As a civil attorney, I've always found it puzzling that PDs and criminal defense attorneys in general are all about "innocent until proven guilty" until it's a cop on the stand.
Forget about Erik Scott. The guy was not the hero his family portrayed him to be. But what about Trevon Cole? Poor, black and a penny-ante pot dealer who was absolutely murdered by the police, who fumbled and bumbled every step of the way. Which one of you will stand up for him? The Cole killing is what convinces me we need a new system to hold cops accountable, not the Scott killing.
If I were representing these cops I'd be asking why do they even testify at the inquest if it's possible that they might be judged criminal? Seems clear don't testify unless you have to.
@10:04 My old law school writing prof practices in Atlanta. He was talking about this yesterday and the locals seem quite amused and at the same time disgusted by him and ohters on the bench there.....seems different town, same story.
The Cole killing demonstrates how the inquest process is a joke. While he wasn't a saint, the police murdered that kid. Anyone know the stats on police shootings in Las Vegas compared to the national average? I wouldn't be surprised if we were the highest, although I can't tell if the killing rate is higher or lower under Gillispie instead of Young.
Lawyer Jailed Over Pledge Refusal Mississippi judge hits attorney with criminal contempt rap
OCTOBER 7--A Mississippi judge yesterday jailed a lawyer who refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in his courtroom.
Attorney Danny Lampley, 49, was taken into custody Wednesday morning after Chancellor Talmadge Littlejohn cited him for criminal contempt of court for failing to recite the 31-word pledge at the outset of the morning’s proceedings at the Lee County courthouse.
An October 6 order signed by Talmadge notes that Lampley was being charged for his “failure to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance as ordered.” Lampley, the judge added, “shall purge himself of said criminal contempt…by standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in open court.”
Lampley, pictured in the above mug shot, was jailed for nearly five hours before Littlejohn ordered his release so that the lawyer could be present for a “previously set hearing before the Court.” The attorney, no longer in stripes, returned to the Tupelo courthouse after being sprung from jail.
It is unclear whether Lampley, who does not believe citizens are required to recite the pledge, will again be sanctioned by Littlejohn if he takes a pass on the pledge. (2 pages)
With regard to the Coroners Inquests, it's about instructions to the jury regarding "INTENT", and it is a mockery of justice. Make no mistake about it, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer is DAVID ROGER our District Attorney. David is as corrupt as they come. Crime is not down as his commercial states, and the only reason he can state that he wins cases he prosecutes is because he is the king of plea deals. David rarely litigates, unless it is politically advantageous to him, i.e. O.J. Simpson. And then there is all the deals made to those who have contributed generously to his campaign(s), i.e. Paris Hilton, Strip clubs, convicted felons, i.e. Galardi and Rizzolo, and the attorneys who represent them. Follow the money. Ask yourself if David Roger felt O.J. Simpson was important enough for him to litigate personally, why not the recent Eric Scott inquest. David was HIDING, and allowing the Sheriff to dodge those bullets. Now we have a new cover-up in play with the traffic accident involving a metro cop. Metro deliberately misrepresents the truth to the press, stating the teen hit the police cruiser. Not true. Why lie? No sirens or lights? Speeding? The driver came to a complete stop. Was the cop texting? The big question now is why did David Roger not insist that the highway patrol investigate an accident involving Metro. No, our D.A. sends Metro to investigate Metro, and they lie, in hopes no one will notice. Like Mann? Both Gillespie and Roger need to go.
Gillespie states, "Our volume of work is not decreasing. Our calls for service are up. Overall crime is down, but our jail population is increasing," Gillespie said. "We're not seeing a reduction in work demand, and that definitely will be part of the conversation as we move forward." TRANSLATION: DA David Roger's campaign is based on his representation that crime is down. I need to cover for him and still make my case.
Because, as we all know - nothing solves problems like convening a panel. 
I can't believe this guy didn't request a transfer to Vegas!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39530875/ns/us_news/?GT1=43001
Completely off topic link to a story about some poor judge who was set up by a stripper. The story takes place in Atlanta but would fit in here perfectly. Perhaps worthy of its own thread.
ReplyDeleteI'm in favor of changing the inquest process, but would the new process be an improvement? Clearly, the DA's office will never attempt to do anything other than prove that a shooting was justified (cops and DA's go hand-in-hand), so what about an independent panel?
ReplyDeleteGrand jury. Then a trial or not.
ReplyDeleteThe inquest process will always be about one of two things. Showing that the cops were justified, or showing that they weren't. Those are the opposing sides in this matter. The inquest will never be an unbiased presentation of fact.
Look at the how the DAs office handles the inquest. Now ask yourself if it would be any different if someone like Howard Brooks was in charge. Different bias resulting in a different outcome perhaps, but it wouldn't be substantially different.
Scrap the whole thing and put on a trial if the case merits it. By the way LAPD is accountable to a civilian commission. Just another rubber-stamp.
Tell me why there's a coroner's inquest AT ALL? Shootings should be investigated just like any other death and submitted to the DA for review. Family members could still sue in civil court, and LVMPD could still take internal action.
ReplyDeleteps, 1:01, Better not mention Howard Brooks in posts anymore. Jonell Thomas will go ape-poop crazy all over your cowardly, anonymous ass.
She's weird about that, Howard Brooks is a perfect example of the opposition point of view on the inquest. That it must serve to find wrong doing by the cops and if it doesn't then it's broken. Clearly he demonstrated his bias on this issue. As if we re only supposed to mention the DAs bias. They are two sides to the same coin, both demonstrating that the inquest is malarky.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it is comical to imagine Howard as grand inquisitor in red robes. Mosher in chains wearing a hairshirt. Makes me think of Monty Python.
As a civil attorney, I've always found it puzzling that PDs and criminal defense attorneys in general are all about "innocent until proven guilty" until it's a cop on the stand.
ReplyDeleteForget about Erik Scott. The guy was not the hero his family portrayed him to be. But what about Trevon Cole?
ReplyDeletePoor, black and a penny-ante pot dealer who was absolutely murdered by the police, who fumbled and bumbled every step of the way.
Which one of you will stand up for him?
The Cole killing is what convinces me we need a new system to hold cops accountable, not the Scott killing.
@4:18 It's about righting injustice the law comes second.
ReplyDeleteIf I were representing these cops I'd be asking why do they even testify at the inquest if it's possible that they might be judged criminal? Seems clear don't testify unless you have to.
ReplyDelete@10:04
ReplyDeleteMy old law school writing prof practices in Atlanta. He was talking about this yesterday and the locals seem quite amused and at the same time disgusted by him and ohters on the bench there.....seems different town, same story.
The Cole killing demonstrates how the inquest process is a joke. While he wasn't a saint, the police murdered that kid. Anyone know the stats on police shootings in Las Vegas compared to the national average? I wouldn't be surprised if we were the highest, although I can't tell if the killing rate is higher or lower under Gillispie instead of Young.
ReplyDeleteLawyer Jailed Over Pledge Refusal Mississippi judge hits attorney with criminal contempt
ReplyDeleteraphttp://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/stupid/lawyer-jailed-over-pledge-refusal
Lawyer Jailed Over Pledge Refusal Mississippi judge hits attorney with criminal contempt rap
OCTOBER 7--A Mississippi judge yesterday jailed a lawyer who refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in his courtroom.
Attorney Danny Lampley, 49, was taken into custody Wednesday morning after Chancellor Talmadge Littlejohn cited him for criminal contempt of court for failing to recite the 31-word pledge at the outset of the morning’s proceedings at the Lee County courthouse.
An October 6 order signed by Talmadge notes that Lampley was being charged for his “failure to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance as ordered.” Lampley, the judge added, “shall purge himself of said criminal contempt…by standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in open court.”
Lampley, pictured in the above mug shot, was jailed for nearly five hours before Littlejohn ordered his release so that the lawyer could be present for a “previously set hearing before the Court.” The attorney, no longer in stripes, returned to the Tupelo courthouse after being sprung from jail.
It is unclear whether Lampley, who does not believe citizens are required to recite the pledge, will again be sanctioned by Littlejohn if he takes a pass on the pledge. (2 pages)
I never say the pledge of allegiance. Friggin Mississippi hicks.
ReplyDeleteSHERIFF AND DA
ReplyDeleteWith regard to the Coroners Inquests, it's about instructions to the jury regarding "INTENT", and it is a mockery of justice. Make no mistake about it, the Chief Law Enforcement Officer is DAVID ROGER our District Attorney. David is as corrupt as they come. Crime is not down as his commercial states, and the only reason he can state that he wins cases he prosecutes is because he is the king of plea deals. David rarely litigates, unless it is politically advantageous to him, i.e. O.J. Simpson. And then there is all the deals made to those who have contributed generously to his campaign(s), i.e. Paris Hilton, Strip clubs, convicted felons, i.e. Galardi and Rizzolo, and the attorneys who represent them. Follow the money. Ask yourself if David Roger felt O.J. Simpson was important enough for him to litigate personally, why not the recent Eric Scott inquest. David was HIDING, and allowing the Sheriff to dodge those bullets. Now we have a new cover-up in play with the traffic accident involving a metro cop. Metro deliberately misrepresents the truth to the press, stating the teen hit the police cruiser. Not true. Why lie? No sirens or lights? Speeding? The driver came to a complete stop. Was the cop texting? The big question now is why did David Roger not insist that the highway patrol investigate an accident involving Metro. No, our D.A. sends Metro to investigate Metro, and they lie, in hopes no one will notice. Like Mann? Both Gillespie and Roger need to go.
Gillespie states, "Our volume of work is not decreasing. Our calls for service are up. Overall crime is down, but our jail population is increasing," Gillespie said. "We're not seeing a reduction in work demand, and that definitely will be part of the conversation as we move forward."
TRANSLATION: DA David Roger's campaign is based on his representation that crime is down. I need to cover for him and still make my case.