Per a suggestion of one of our loyal viewers, Reasonable Doubt has added a way to ask questions of the hosts and guests on the show on Thursdays.
If you have a question, please e-mail it to us at HCReasonableDoubt@gmail.com or contact us on Twitter at @ReasDoubt.
We look forward to taking your questions.
NOTE: Let us know if you DON'T want us to use your name on the air.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tonight's Reasonable Doubt (7/14/11)
Tune in tonight for Reasonable Doubt at 8:00 p.m. with me and Todd Dupont. Our guest will be Carmen Roe, and we'll be talking about juries, the Casey Anthony verdict, and anything else you want to talk about.
As always, you can (allegedly) watch it live streaming by clicking here.
As always, you can (allegedly) watch it live streaming by clicking here.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
New Post on Chronicle Blog
My prosecutor friends are probably going to yell at me for this Chronicle post on the Casey Anthony verdict, but I think it was a gutsy call by the jury, no matter how much I disagree with their verdict.
Scott Greenfield's post on Casey Anthony
As most of you realize by now, the Casey Anthony jury is out deliberating her fate in Florida at the time of this writing. I haven't commented on it for a variety of reasons -- the two primary ones being that it has nothing to do with Harris County and I haven't been following it in the slightest. I didn't even realize until about two weeks ago that the pathologist on the case, Dr. Jan Garavaglia (AKA Dr. G) was someone I knew back when she worked for the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office back in the 1990s.
But, I also don't like talking about big media cases that I have no personal knowledge about. Something about it just doesn't sit right with me.
My friend (and absolutely-excellent-writer-you-really-should-be-reading-his-stuff-every-day), Scott Greenfield just published a post on his thoughts about the Casey Anthony case, and I couldn't agree with his position more. I highly recommend you check it out by clicking here.
But, I also don't like talking about big media cases that I have no personal knowledge about. Something about it just doesn't sit right with me.
My friend (and absolutely-excellent-writer-you-really-should-be-reading-his-stuff-every-day), Scott Greenfield just published a post on his thoughts about the Casey Anthony case, and I couldn't agree with his position more. I highly recommend you check it out by clicking here.
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Declaration of Independence
HCCLA members and all others who are interested (and encouraged) to attend will be joining in front the Harris County Criminal Justice System this morning, Friday, July 1st, at 11 a.m. to read the Declaration of Independence. This was an event that began last year with HCCLA and is the start of a wonderful and noble tradition.
In fact, the tradition is spreading across numerous counties in Texas this year and will hopefully grow as the years go by.
I know that it is easy to get cynical in the old CJC, but I think it is important to take a moment and realize the principles our Nation is founded upon and how much the legal system and criminal justice system play an every day role in maintaining that.
Special thanks to Robb Fickman, HCCLA President Earl Musick and all the other dedicated members of HCCLA for putting on this event.
In fact, the tradition is spreading across numerous counties in Texas this year and will hopefully grow as the years go by.
I know that it is easy to get cynical in the old CJC, but I think it is important to take a moment and realize the principles our Nation is founded upon and how much the legal system and criminal justice system play an every day role in maintaining that.
Special thanks to Robb Fickman, HCCLA President Earl Musick and all the other dedicated members of HCCLA for putting on this event.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tonight's Reasonable Doubt (6/30/11)
Please join me and Todd Dupont for tonight's Reasonable Doubt at 8:00 p.m..
Our guest will be CrimeStoppers Director (and my favorite ever former-Chief [sorry, Warren]) Katherine Cabaniss.
As always, you can (allegedly) watch it live streaming by clicking here.
Our guest will be CrimeStoppers Director (and my favorite ever former-Chief [sorry, Warren]) Katherine Cabaniss.
As always, you can (allegedly) watch it live streaming by clicking here.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Mr. Grant
From the day I first walked into 201 Fannin as an academic intern for the Harris County District Attorney's Office, back in the summer of 1998, there was an iconic gentleman at the front door to greet me and all other visitors to the Office. He was an older, distinguished man with a gravelly voice and a friendly smile that we all knew as "Mr. Grant."
Without knowing a thing about him, he generated the impression that he had been at the District Attorney's Office long before I had even considered law school and he would be there long after I was gone. Despite his tenure being vastly more significant than mine would ever be, he was kind and conversational with me and anyone else who might wander in the door. During the day, if I went out for a smoke break, he was usually outside having one, too. He was a master at light conversation, whether it be talking about sports, the weather, traffic, etc. He seemed to be in a perpetual good mood.
In fact, his kind-hearted light spirit often served as a very stark contrast to the subject matter that was dealt with inside the rest of the building.
When we moved from 201 Fannin to the CJC, it was mentioned more than once that it wouldn't be the same experience of arriving at work in the morning without being greeted by Mr. Grant. Fortunately, he did come to work at the new building -- usually working in the back sallyport, where those of us nasty smokers would still get to see and visit with him.
He had his health problems over the years, and Terrance Windham (who referred to Mr. Grant as "the General") would keep us updated via e-mail on his condition. Mr. Grant, although not being an Assistant D.A., investigator or support staff, was unquestionably part of the D.A. Office family.
A quite significant member of the family, actually. Everyone loved Mr. Grant.
Elbert L. Grant, Jr. passed away on Tuesday, June 21st at the age of 80. He was a former Merchant Marine and a U.S. Army veteran who served in Korea. He lived a long and distinguished life.
My memory of him will always be that he was the first person I saw when I walked in the door of 201 Fannin for the first time on a hot summer day in 1998.
Life changed a lot after that.
But Mr. Grant never did.
He was a good, sweet man whose memory will be a part of the history of that Office as much as (if not more than) any other person who walked through the door he manned for so long.
Without knowing a thing about him, he generated the impression that he had been at the District Attorney's Office long before I had even considered law school and he would be there long after I was gone. Despite his tenure being vastly more significant than mine would ever be, he was kind and conversational with me and anyone else who might wander in the door. During the day, if I went out for a smoke break, he was usually outside having one, too. He was a master at light conversation, whether it be talking about sports, the weather, traffic, etc. He seemed to be in a perpetual good mood.
In fact, his kind-hearted light spirit often served as a very stark contrast to the subject matter that was dealt with inside the rest of the building.
When we moved from 201 Fannin to the CJC, it was mentioned more than once that it wouldn't be the same experience of arriving at work in the morning without being greeted by Mr. Grant. Fortunately, he did come to work at the new building -- usually working in the back sallyport, where those of us nasty smokers would still get to see and visit with him.
He had his health problems over the years, and Terrance Windham (who referred to Mr. Grant as "the General") would keep us updated via e-mail on his condition. Mr. Grant, although not being an Assistant D.A., investigator or support staff, was unquestionably part of the D.A. Office family.
A quite significant member of the family, actually. Everyone loved Mr. Grant.
Elbert L. Grant, Jr. passed away on Tuesday, June 21st at the age of 80. He was a former Merchant Marine and a U.S. Army veteran who served in Korea. He lived a long and distinguished life.
My memory of him will always be that he was the first person I saw when I walked in the door of 201 Fannin for the first time on a hot summer day in 1998.
Life changed a lot after that.
But Mr. Grant never did.
He was a good, sweet man whose memory will be a part of the history of that Office as much as (if not more than) any other person who walked through the door he manned for so long.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Ken Magidson
At 8:30 a.m. on Christmas Eve of the worst year of my life, Ken Magidson fired me from a job that I had held and deeply loved for a little over nine years.
Today, I learned that President Obama has nominated him to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.
My thoughts?
President Obama could not have made a better selection.
Ken Magidson came to the Harris County District Attorney's Office in a time when the Office was experiencing discord and turmoil unequalled in its history. Hell, it was probably experiencing more discord and turmoil than any District Attorney's Office had ever experienced in its history.
And like the Captain of a ship at sea in the middle of a hurricane, Ken Magidson calmed the passengers and rode out the storm with a leadership that was desperately needed at the time. He told us to all sit down, shut up, do the right thing, and this too would pass.
And he was right.
As the scandal of Chuck Rosenthal was impugned upon every last Assistant District Attorney's integrity, he was the calm in the Storm. He assumed the leadership of an Office in crisis and led it back to stability. He was a stranger and an outsider to those of us who were too young to have known him when he had worked at the Office, but his leadership skills calmed and reassured us all. He made us all stop focusing on the scandal that didn't affect our day-to-day job and go back to doing what we had sworn an oath to do.
Seek Justice.
With his offbeat manner and strange habit of snapping two fingers and then clapping his hands as he spoke, he got all of us re-focused in a time that was very difficult to focus. He became a leader of people that did not know him, and he did it seamlessly.
He was a prosecutor's prosecutor that had us all refocused on doing the task at hand. Despite our personal differences (and argument over the definition of the First Amendment), I loved the guy. The Harris County District Attorney's Office would be in a much better place than it is now if only Magidson had remained in charge of it.
On a personal level, the way I feel about Ken Magidson will always trouble me. I liked him. I respected him. I was sad that my relationship with him ended on a bad note.
On a professional level, he is a leader that I would follow into battle at a moment's notice.
I wish him the best in his new position, and think that any politician who would question his ability to do his job is a fool.
He is a good man who will make any institution he leads better through his leadership.
Today, I learned that President Obama has nominated him to be the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.
My thoughts?
President Obama could not have made a better selection.
Ken Magidson came to the Harris County District Attorney's Office in a time when the Office was experiencing discord and turmoil unequalled in its history. Hell, it was probably experiencing more discord and turmoil than any District Attorney's Office had ever experienced in its history.
And like the Captain of a ship at sea in the middle of a hurricane, Ken Magidson calmed the passengers and rode out the storm with a leadership that was desperately needed at the time. He told us to all sit down, shut up, do the right thing, and this too would pass.
And he was right.
As the scandal of Chuck Rosenthal was impugned upon every last Assistant District Attorney's integrity, he was the calm in the Storm. He assumed the leadership of an Office in crisis and led it back to stability. He was a stranger and an outsider to those of us who were too young to have known him when he had worked at the Office, but his leadership skills calmed and reassured us all. He made us all stop focusing on the scandal that didn't affect our day-to-day job and go back to doing what we had sworn an oath to do.
Seek Justice.
With his offbeat manner and strange habit of snapping two fingers and then clapping his hands as he spoke, he got all of us re-focused in a time that was very difficult to focus. He became a leader of people that did not know him, and he did it seamlessly.
He was a prosecutor's prosecutor that had us all refocused on doing the task at hand. Despite our personal differences (and argument over the definition of the First Amendment), I loved the guy. The Harris County District Attorney's Office would be in a much better place than it is now if only Magidson had remained in charge of it.
On a personal level, the way I feel about Ken Magidson will always trouble me. I liked him. I respected him. I was sad that my relationship with him ended on a bad note.
On a professional level, he is a leader that I would follow into battle at a moment's notice.
I wish him the best in his new position, and think that any politician who would question his ability to do his job is a fool.
He is a good man who will make any institution he leads better through his leadership.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
New Post on the Chronicle Blog
I continue my two-timing blogging with a new post on the Chronicle website about Facebook and the 5th Amendment. You can check it out by clicking here.
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