tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post5109241490403877522..comments2024-03-28T00:50:16.901-05:00Comments on Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center: Comes A ProsecutorMurray Newmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-31730953442551941262009-11-08T10:26:05.187-06:002009-11-08T10:26:05.187-06:00When did DAs stop being political animals? Sorry,...When did DAs stop being political animals? Sorry, I must have missed that memo. When was an ADA not supposed to make the DA look good? Shucks, musta been on vacation when that policy went down. <br /><br />You act like Lykos is the first DA in the world to stick a wet finger up into the political wind. Yeah, the wind blows in a direction you don't like, but don't act like all other DAs have been altruistic pursuers of true justice with no thought to politics. <br /><br />Also, the example that you gave was purely hyperbolic vitriol with a large helping of personal animosity. If you want to argue about a policy, then argue about the policy like a reasonable person, not like some political extremist trying to stir people up for his own personal or political agenda. <br /><br />Your example was about as helpful as the "death panel" debate in health care. Keep it up and you may be just as successful in keeping people from thinking about THIS set of issues in a serious way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-90581104733962342252009-04-01T11:27:00.000-05:002009-04-01T11:27:00.000-05:00Think Bill could educate some of the folks over at...Think Bill could educate some of the folks over at intake?Tenderfoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02892759706923972940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-58115993735648363422009-03-31T21:15:00.000-05:002009-03-31T21:15:00.000-05:00To piggyback anon 6:23, we were told today in "tra...To piggyback anon 6:23, we were told today in "training" that our job is to make the da look good. <BR/><BR/>Maybe someone changed the oath since I took it, but our job is to see justice done. Period. This elected troll isn't mentioned anywhere in that oath. Besides, how does she honestly expect us to want to "make her look good" when she destroys two of the best of us for the sake of the five o'clock news cycle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-18069324708153467672009-03-31T20:10:00.000-05:002009-03-31T20:10:00.000-05:00There was an in-house lecture on how to effectivel...There was an in-house lecture on how to effectively conduct voir dire today. I was told the lecturer actually said that ADA's job was to make the DA look good. God forbid they follow their oath to seek justice. Jeeeez.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-76317512744032383022009-03-31T18:23:00.000-05:002009-03-31T18:23:00.000-05:00Good for Bill and the HCDA office. It seems it is...Good for Bill and the HCDA office. It seems it is still the duty of prosecutors to seek justice. As long as prosecutors remember that and abide by it, there will be more suspensions. The current administration is only interested in promoting Lykos. Image over substance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-86864790132007651132009-03-31T17:09:00.000-05:002009-03-31T17:09:00.000-05:00And just to clarify my above statement, Bill isn't...And just to clarify my above statement, Bill isn't the one who told me about the staff meeting, and he wasn't addressing me when he made the comment in court. I told him that I thought it was great what he was doing but didn't want to draw attention to him by publishing it in the blog.<BR/>He never sought me out to give me that information.Murray Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-59225218688332893902009-03-31T17:03:00.000-05:002009-03-31T17:03:00.000-05:00I spoke with Bill prior to writing the article. I...I spoke with Bill prior to writing the article. I've never burned anyone who has talked to me confidentially, and I never will.<BR/><BR/>Give him credit. He's got guts.<BR/><BR/>And give me a little more credit than that, too.Murray Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-31152907022199470002009-03-31T16:59:00.000-05:002009-03-31T16:59:00.000-05:00I can't believe that you outed Bill like that. Yo...I can't believe that you outed Bill like that. You claim he's your friend?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-55466806754413397762009-03-31T16:43:00.000-05:002009-03-31T16:43:00.000-05:00There are other DA's offices in the area and in th...There are other DA's offices in the area and in the State who would gladly hire members of the Harris County DA's office. They do try serious cases in those offices, and some actually pay quite well.<BR/><BR/>Keep that in mind. That and the AG's office, which you might get to spend alot of time in Houston even if your family can't relocate now.<BR/><BR/>TexAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-71876319303368418052009-03-31T10:34:00.000-05:002009-03-31T10:34:00.000-05:00What would happen if every ADA grew a pair of ball...What would happen if every ADA grew a pair of balls and traded fear for justice?<BR/>This is reminiscent of when terrorists hijacked 4 commercial airliners. One of our planes did not hit it's intended target, the White House, but instead crashed in the fields of Pennsylvania. The passengers stood up for what was right. They took the risk at their own personal peril to do what was right for others. I in no way mean to detract from those heroic efforts by implying that this situation is anywhere equal to that bravery, but merely suggest that the principle of self sacrifice for the good of society is honorable and noble. We must do our jobs with integrity not fear. If that means losing our jobs or being demoted or publicly ridiculed and scorned in the process so be it or resign but do it with honor lest you be reduced to one of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-60202508437334898172009-03-31T09:14:00.000-05:002009-03-31T09:14:00.000-05:00Once again, a bad case makes for bad case law (or ...Once again, a bad case makes for bad case law (or policy in this "case"). :~)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-71429509056683853502009-03-31T08:21:00.000-05:002009-03-31T08:21:00.000-05:00Anon 7:32 AM,If Hawkins leaves, they are going to ...Anon 7:32 AM,<BR/>If Hawkins leaves, they are going to have to fire him, if you ask me. The man does not quit. He's committed to the goal of finishing whatever he sets out to do. <BR/><BR/>Michael, <BR/>That is the message the Leitner has been spewing at the meetings. Yes, I meant the example to be absurd and extreme, but under his and Patsy's rules, if you can't get the juror for cause, you will not be getting them at all.<BR/><BR/>Jig,<BR/>Jim quickly backed off of his stupid campaign promise, but he did say it. I'm surprised to see him back on it again.Murray Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-7853958777477900382009-03-31T08:09:00.000-05:002009-03-31T08:09:00.000-05:00That had to be campaign retoric. No one who actua...That had to be campaign retoric. No one who actually tried cases with hope of winning could possibly believe in waiving their strikes. Certainly not the defense.jigmeisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01924600460740103836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-76451912769565773202009-03-31T07:42:00.000-05:002009-03-31T07:42:00.000-05:00I am not sure whether you meant for your example t...I am not sure whether you meant for your example to be absurd or not. Why would the Lykos/Leitner rules prevent an ADA from using a peremptory strike to keep juror #13 off his jury? It would be easy to articulate a race-neutral reason for keeping him out of the box. Are you saying that L/L want all minorities on the jury no matter what? If so, where's the evidence to support that? I don't think it is established by the Whitfield case.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06800907780727476826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-82747182917598549702009-03-31T07:40:00.000-05:002009-03-31T07:40:00.000-05:00I'm just wondering how many more people have to be...I'm just wondering how many more people have to be canned or leave on their own before Lykos and Leitner are the ones copying offense reports. We can't be too far from that now, seeing how there are felony district courts with unfilled spots.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-49934146040462848402009-03-31T07:32:00.000-05:002009-03-31T07:32:00.000-05:00Bill Hawkins is one of the finest men I have ever ...Bill Hawkins is one of the finest men I have ever met in my life. His code of honor extends to all areas of his life. That said-- I doubt he'll bw at the office much longer. Well, you write a hell of a eulogy, Murray.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-26117161641470668702009-03-31T06:55:00.000-05:002009-03-31T06:55:00.000-05:00Well said, Murray.Well said, Murray.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-76007640229540443392009-03-31T00:55:00.000-05:002009-03-31T00:55:00.000-05:00I understand that there may be some queasiness abo...I understand that there may be some queasiness about removing a Black juror given what happened last week. Nevertheless, the process is geared toward being adversarial, that's the point, just not racial. I think the prosecutors (I am not one) should have the right to excuse people, just like the defense, for race-neutral reasons. If the prosecutors can point to why they excused a juror and that reasoning is logical and takes you to the end, I do not see why they can't use their strikes appropriately. Voir dire is, arguably, the most important aspect of the trial.Jelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18204168567809547119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-52230917224225373392009-03-31T00:11:00.000-05:002009-03-31T00:11:00.000-05:00Well if he didn't have a target painted on him bef...Well if he didn't have a target painted on him before, he probably will now. <BR/><BR/>As you mention, his style has been a bit controversial. And his habit of certifying youth as adults after the lege took away the ability to send them to TYC is a decidedly Rosenthalesque tactic that puts him at odds with Lykos' campaign promises. <BR/><BR/>Leadership has a price. We'll see if he pays it here in the next few weeks, I'm betting.Rage Judicatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04765188025349228048noreply@blogger.com