WHEN COURTS GO BAD

I FILED A MOTION TO SUPPRESS EVIDENCE IN ONE OF MY CASES IN FEBRUARY. WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A DECISION FROM THE JUDGE. WHO DO YOU COMPLAIN TO WHEN THE JUDGE DOES NOT DO HIS JOB? THIS CAN BE A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, BECAUSE IF YOU COMPLAIN TOO MUCH, IT MAY HURT YOUR CLIENT'S CASE. I MUST TREAD CAREFULLY.

WHY AM I STILL COMING BACK TO COURT FOR OVER ONE YEAR FOR MY TRIAL?

New York City has the biggest criminal justice system in the world. Additionally, we do not have enought judges to conduct all of the trials in a timely manner. So, most misdeamenor cases take a year or two to come to trial. Add to this a speedy trial law that allows prosecutors to hide extend the case for a long time because they have not done what they are supposed to do, and you have a recipe for disaster. So, if you are a defendant and waiting for a trial, keep the faith and make sure your lawyer is putting pressure on the prosecution. Otherwise you will be coming to court for years.

OUTLANDISH!!

I WENT TO COURT TODAY AND ARRIVED AT 9:30AM. JUDGES USUALLY TAKE THE BENCH BETWEEN 9:30AM AND 10:00AM. THIS JUDGE DARED TO GET ON THE BENCH AT HER LEISURE AT 10:50AM. SHE DESTROYED THE REST OF THE DAY FOR EVERY LAWYER, COP, AND CITIZEN IN THAT COURTROOM. THIS IS THE ARROGANT ABUSE OF POWER.

THE JUDGE MAY BE BLUFFING

I RECENTLY BEGAN A TRIAL WITH A CLIENT WHO WAS VERY AFRAID OF RETURNING TO JAIL. SOMEHOW THE JUDGE PICKED UP ON THIS AND THREATENED TO SEND MY CLIENT TO JAIL IF HE WAS CONVICTED. THIS TOTALLY RATTLED MY CLIENT. WE HAD A STRONG CASE. AGAINST MY ADVICE HE PLEAD GUILTY. THIS WAS AN UNFAIR ALTHOUGH TOTALLY COMMON POSITION FOR A JUDGE TO PUT A CRIMINAL DEFENDANT IN. JUDGES ARE LOATH TO DO TRIALS THAT THEY BELIEVE SHOULD BE RESOLVED WITH A PLEA.

WHY DO ARRIAGNMENTS TAKE SO LONG?

One of the most frustrating things for the family and friends of someone who has been arrested is how long it takes them to see a judge. It os very common in NYC for a person to be in custody for 18-24 hours before he sees a judge. This is simply because of the amount of people that are arrested in NYC everyday. Each borough with the exception of S.I. has about 200-300 arrests a day. In certain situations like an event like the Republican National Convention, there could be up to 1000 arrests. In cases like these you must simply sit and wait and contact an attorney as soon as possible.

I AM NOW TEACHING AT HUNTER COLLEGE

I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN APPOINTED AS AN ADJUCT PROFESSOR AT HUNTER COLLEGE. I WILL BE TEACHING NY CRIMINAL LAW TWO DAYS A WEEK. I WILL TAKE MY STUDENTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE NYC CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM FROM ARREST TO APPEAL. I LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT SEMESTER.

LOHAN IN TROUBLE AGAIN

While this is not a celebrity bolg, I need to address celebrity arrests. With Lindsey Lohan's second arrest, the powers that be in California will take great pleasure in pursuing the stiffest penalties possible. In most cases, publicity in a criminal case is a big problem for a defendant. This is because prosecutors are mostly elected officials and seek out the publicity for their own purpose. Lohan will be prosecuted much more harshly than an average citizen and that is simply not what the criminal justice system is about. Your thoughts?