Monday, April 26, 2010

The Bench/Bar Conference

The Houston Bench/Bar Conference was held this weekend in Galveston with what was shaping up to be fairly low turnout. Historically, I've always enjoyed the Conference, because it is a great chance for members of the Defense Bar, the Prosecutors, and the Judiciary to all hang out for a day or two in a relaxed setting. There are Continuing Legal Education hours available, and people can exchange ideas in a pleasant atmosphere.


For some reason, the Conference wasn't all that highly publicized this year. I looked for information on it a month or so ago and couldn't find it. It turns out that I wouldn't have been able to attend anyway, since I had my son at my house over the weekend.

Due to budget constraints (hardwood floors = less cash on hand for CLE credit), the D.A.'s Office only sent 14 people to the Conference, which is a shame, since the bi-annual event has always had a good showing from the Office in years past.

But rest assured that the Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight would only spend precious office resources on their "best and brightest" when deciding who they allowed to go on the road trip to Galveston.

So, of course, these yahoos pull up . . .


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Did roger explain what makes interns qualified to determine treatment plans for divert cases?

Anonymous said...

Doesn't your photo insult the Clampetts? The Clampetts displayed more management acumen than the Lykos group has demonstrated.

Anonymous said...

did they really put hardwood floors in the DAO?

Anonymous said...

To: Anon 10:29

You better believe she put hardwood floors in-after she expanded her office to take in her secretary's office. Government carpet is not good enough for a Queen. Hanna Chow-Mein ok'ed that expenditure even though it cut into her chairs and water budget.

The Secretary was relegated to the hallway...

Anonymous said...

I assumed she put in hardwood floors because they don't retain the nasty cigarette smoke smell that carpet does. Regardless, it's a shame the county doesn't have the funds it once did due to this recession and the fact that Patsy isn't more resourceful with the funds she has been given. I heard the office was having to lay people off -- something the old administration NEVER had to do. Of course, they didn't put in hardwood floors or water coolers, and they didn't pay cronies top dollar to do nothing, or have a personal chauffer for the DA or a personal lobbyist. When you think about it, how can they afford to send anyone to a CLE (which is required of all lawyers each year) when there are so many other more important expenditures?!

Anonymous said...

Wow. I thought that was just a rumor about the hardwood floors. How unbelievably selfish of Pat.

Say what you want about Chuck R. but he was smart enough to have Bert Graham in charge of the books. None of this would have happened if Bert were still there, or if Pat, et al, had even cared enough to learn from Bert about how to manage the DAO budget.

Watching them run this office into the ground is just so sad.

Anon 10:29

Anonymous said...

She was too proud to keep the people who had a vast amount of knowledge around. She is still too vain to realize that she is a clown in a lawyers suit, or a lawyer in a clown suit...

Either way you slice it, Pat Lykos has been a shameful excuse for a large county DA and ruined a lot of good attorney's opportunities.
Hell, Look no farther than Jim Leitner. A one time good defense attorney who sold his soul to that wretch and is paying the price daily.

Harris County has lost so much experience and skilled attorneys that it will take a long time to catch up to where we once were. Recruting is awful now as the word is getting out and the applicant pool knows what they are in store for here at Pat's Place. I wouldn't go back and do it over now either with all the petty little bickering, lack of morale, fear, I could go on and on (just read some of the stuff here on Murray's blog).

Needless to say, it's going to take some time to get the train back on the track. We have until November 2012... But the planning starts NOW! Its important to get the word out to your friends and family who wouldnt otherwise read blogs like this and tell them of the importance of having a good DA who knows what the hell a prosecutor really does!!!!

Thanks to Murray and other bolgs like this, we have a forum, Let's use it!! It works!!! If you dont believe me, ask Marc.

Anonymous said...

Murray, you should run for DA.

Anonymous said...

Mike Hinton for DA!

Motto: "Open files and an open bar."

I used to love tending bar at the HSBD hospitality suite at the bench/bar conferences. Only downside was trying to get Troy McKinney to vacate the place before 5AM. ;)

-Eric M.-

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