Wednesday, May 9, 2012

The Shadwick Leave Of Absence

As we grow closer to the beginning of early voting, someone posted on the blog last week that Grand Jury prosecutor and aspiring judge Lana Shadwick has taken a leave of absence from the District Attorney's Office.  The "official" word is that the leave was done for Lana to spend the last few weeks before May 29th campaigning.

Other sources have indicated that the leave of absence may not have been for such simple reasons.

Apparently, a case was recently dismissed in one of the felony courts due to the Defendant having an alibi.  The co-defendant on the case was not so fortunate as to get a dismissal from the State.  After a court setting, that co-defendant's file was sent down to the Grand Jury Division to prepare for presentation to the Grand Jury.

As is the practice with co-defendant files, the dismissed Defendant's case file was rubber-banded to the pending active co-defendant's case.  My understanding is that the dismissal was properly marked and documented on the front of the Defendant's file.  Unfortunately, both files landed on the desk of Grand Jury prosecutor Lana Shadwick.

Who promptly got both cases indicted.  That includes the one that was dismissed and the client was released from jail.

Luckily, this extremely enormous error was caught by someone (not Lana) before the Defendant was wrongfully arrested.

Folks, the job of being a Grand Jury prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney's Office is one of the easiest (if not THE easiest) jobs in the Office.  It is not tricky.  Lana Shadwick has bounced through three different divisions before landing in this massively low-pressure job.

And yet, she still screwed it up.  She managed to find a way in her short time in Grand Jury to screw up something in the worst way possible for a Grand Jury prosecutor.

My understanding from several reliable sources is that her Leave of Absence may not have entirely been her choice.  It seems that even Pat Lykos realizes how bad it would be if someone got wrongfully arrested right before Election Day.  Political hire or not, Shadwick will be spending the rest of the campaign season on the sidelines of the D.A.'s Office.

Even though she can't manage being a Grand Jury prosecutor, Lana Shadwick hopes you will vote for her for judge.

Hopefully you are starting to see why that would be a really terrible idea.

Vote for Kristin Guiney, folks.  It is really a no-brainer.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

But, her website makes her seem so qualified (not withstanding the fact that the words are utter nonsense)--

Unlike a trial prosecutor, she has the opportunity to spend her days researching and analyzing the complex nuances of the law. It is well-known among attorneys that trial lawyers consult appellate lawyers on the law. She has handled all of the types of felony cases that she will preside over in felony court, including capital murder cases. She has managed a court docket and presided over a busy court.

Anonymous said...

We heard she is appearing in a documentary being filmed here about the daily life of a prosecutor.It is being filmed i Ft Bend Co.

Anonymous said...

Murray: It would seem that a vote for Kristin Guiney is not the only no-brainer in your posting.
Calvin A. Hartmann

Anonymous said...

The leave of absence was confirmed today when they moved another #2 in to her spot. That makes sense.

What doesn't make sense is the two new chiefs they made. One of them hasn't been in the trial bureau for over 3 years and hasn't ever tried a solo first chair murder (or any first degree felony solo first chair) and the other gets to skip intake and go straight to a spot (for you non-lawyers --> it's been common that new chiefs start out at intake and work there until a court opens). The ADA that got skipped has more trials then both the new chiefs, been at the office longer, and in my opinion is more respected. The skipped person also has been in the trial bureau almost their entire career and works their ass off.

But once again, the idiots on 6 don't know how to make the correct decision. Jim - I know you read this blog, this is a giant fuck up and I hope the skipped ADA doesn't quit.

Anonymous said...

Lykos has brought the good old boy system to new heights. She could teach good old boy system. She is the ultimate good old boy boss.

Anonymous said...

Just saw the Mike Anderson TV ad on Channel 13 and thought it was really good.

It was effective. It catches a person's attention. I was drawn to it, because I was watching the news and thought it was a breaking story so I didn't turn away.

I also liked the slogan.

Anonymous said...

Would an unpaid intern have been more effective in GJ?

A Flying Pig said...

Good grief. The Ocho are now making chief?? Watch your backs.

Anonymous said...

Attention!

Jim Bob isn't really making the promotion decisions. That is entirely done by Chow and her lunch Buddy, Vollman. They sit at lunch together devising ways to screw people.

Anonymous said...

Heard Durfee is leaving to become the judge's lawyer

Anonymous said...

EXTRA EXTRA read all about it on Murray's next post:
2 top rats jump from sinking HMS Lykos. The end is near boys and girls--stick a fork in the old troll 'cause dat bitch be done!
oooooooooooo rah!

Anonymous said...

Anon 1:55 Tell us more.

Anonymous said...

It's amazing around the office. There are times when things really start to look up for the morale, people are in a good mood and then the mood gets real tense, like when moves like this come and we all wonder where our next appointment is going to be.... and when? for how long?

I really do hope that the people of Harris County see this woman for what she is... She is the consummate politician and will do ANYTHING to win this race.

We are praying that May 30th brings a breath of fresh air in here. Be it Anderson or Fertitta, it can only get better with this thing out of our lives.

Anonymous said...

Durfee is a big loss. Great attorney and great guy. Good luck Scooter.

Anonymous said...

Man, Durfee... The Durfmiester... Durfareeno... his quitting is all the proof anyone needs that LIEkos sucks.

Of course... if he HASN'T actually quit... that kind of means there are plenty of anonymous commenters on this blog who speak with great authority but don't actually know what they are talking about--right?

Anonymous said...

Durfee is NOT leaving the office. Tales of his departure have been greatly exaggerated....

Anonymous said...

What was billed as the last debate between Anderson and Lykos occurred last night. Once again Mike prevailed in his best performance to date. He just keeps getting better. It helps to have truth on your side. Among other things he called her out for taking credit for what she calls new programs that have been part of the office for years under slightly different names.

Early voting starts Monday. If you want change, please volunteer to spend even as little as 1 hour at one of the early voting polls.

Anonymous said...

Today is a good day to be walking your neighborhoods and getting the voters out for Mike Anderson!

Early voting starts tomorrow...

Episode Seven: The Voters Awaken - A One Act -Sci-Fi Play

SCENE:  The Death Star orbits over Downtown Houston. [INTERIOR] The Imperial Council Chambers. EMPRESS OGG sits at the head of a long table ...