tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post7955482344339992608..comments2024-03-28T00:50:16.901-05:00Comments on Life at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center: NRG Arena and the Streisand EffectMurray Newmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00662196272138109874noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-65229969002672761592020-08-02T10:00:20.951-05:002020-08-02T10:00:20.951-05:00So, Murray give us your plan. So, Murray give us your plan. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-40115333240207382422020-08-01T18:29:42.259-05:002020-08-01T18:29:42.259-05:00Okay, so everything being proposed is horrible, so...Okay, so everything being proposed is horrible, somehow or another will reduce the effectiveness of the defense but not prosecution, and is just plain unfair in regards to the Constitution (exaggeration of course)? I'd like to hear about reasonable solutions more than bellyaching and given the brain trust of local lawyers, some of whom are literally geniuses in a way few casual observers ever give them credit for, what would you do differently? On other blogs, some that are linked to here, the suggestions amount to letting the inmates run the asylum or handing out free passes. So lets hear some better ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-78454245076500803352020-07-21T20:45:25.830-05:002020-07-21T20:45:25.830-05:00Murray, During your tour, did anyone mention how m...Murray, During your tour, did anyone mention how much the NRG Arena (owned by Harris County Sports Authority)was charging Harris Cty Clerks Office? I can only imagine the millions being 'reprogrammed' for a system that needed more input from more folks at the table! And oh my goodness I completely agree with Jay and Bernie, and Murray-your letter was way more than informative. thank you Bud <br /><br />MDWMDWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-18147882361924267332020-07-21T09:59:47.060-05:002020-07-21T09:59:47.060-05:00Man, I am so glad to be 50 miles from downtown Hou...Man, I am so glad to be 50 miles from downtown Houston, never to return. What the court reporters, clerks, deputies, and of course the attorneys trying to be effective must be going through is hard for me to wrap my head around, for sure. I'm 66 now, and no one really likes to get older, but I'd rather load a beer truck in 95 degree heat than be anywhere near all this craziness. Some of you down there are left who were around in the "good old days", but not too many, I suspect. Those of you fresh out of law school or brand new to county employment, my heart goes out to you. The good news for you is that this "new normal" will be all you know in the CJ system. Those who came before, yet still need to work down there have even MORE of my sympathy. To those who remember me, I miss you guys. Be safe, and hang in there. Bernie Palmernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-38814323211614738092020-07-19T16:18:09.169-05:002020-07-19T16:18:09.169-05:00I'm curious if anyone has consulted the court ...I'm curious if anyone has consulted the court reporters who will have to endure -- yes, endure this torture. If anyone thinks it's bad for the attorneys and the judge to hear what people are saying, how ridiculous to think that a court reporter will be able to hear what's going on in the back where Grant is sitting, take all that is said down verbatim and most of all, produce a transcript without an incredible amount of "inaudible" in the record. Just a thought...that no one has really thought of or probably even cared to ask a reporter about. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-63332346915218412582020-07-18T09:37:54.534-05:002020-07-18T09:37:54.534-05:00This is ridiculous. Trial, especially for those in...This is ridiculous. Trial, especially for those in custody, need to happen ASAP. But it needs to be done right. This is an obviously well intended but completely unworkable approach. Karahan is absolutely right. As a prosecutor, I would absolutely join with the defense in objecting to these conditions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-50062558708840428982020-07-17T23:55:09.680-05:002020-07-17T23:55:09.680-05:00Great read, explains the problems well. I dread t...Great read, explains the problems well. I dread the day I'm called on to be a part of a jury selection in that venue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-65135410480541084672020-07-17T17:14:06.687-05:002020-07-17T17:14:06.687-05:00Excellent expose on the new jury “selection” court...Excellent expose on the new jury “selection” courtrooms. I am hard-pressed to add to Troy’s and your observations other than to say this: there is a sixth sense that good trial lawyers and judges must have in addition to absorbing the sights and sounds of a robust jury selection, all of which enable them to exercise good judgment in the process. What Harris County now offers for jury selection at NRG leaves everyone charged with fulfilling their respective due process duties without the real working tools of trade necessary to exercise that good judgment - they are now expected to do their job mostly deaf, dumb, blind and perhaps even unaware. I dissent.Jay Karahanhttp://jaykarahanlaw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-19488313564995281812020-07-17T12:06:17.719-05:002020-07-17T12:06:17.719-05:00I can hear court reporters screaming already. They...I can hear court reporters screaming already. They need to be able to see people when they are talking just as much as they need to hear them.<br /><br />Success in picking grand juries with this set up is no evidence that it is suitable for any trial.<br /><br />Jury selection is going to be an all day event with this set up. Forget an hour per side.<br /><br />The road to Hell is paved with good intentions. This set up is a bullet train to the depths of Hell. The real losers are not the lawyers, The real losers are the citizens in civil and criminal cases who will have their lives permanently affected by this man made and avoidable disaster.<br /><br />"I cannot see or hear" is going to be the new "I cannot breathe." Catastophic results are just as systemically certain.Troy McKinneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-13031185697362374132020-07-17T10:33:28.480-05:002020-07-17T10:33:28.480-05:00Do you know if any civil lawyers were asked to att...Do you know if any civil lawyers were asked to attend? I want to start with the fact that I have tried several cases in front of Judge Schaffer, and found him to be fair and follow the law. And he likes lively discussion. He will let you know when he's upset, and the next time you see him and think he's going to take it out on you again, you find out that he lets it go just as fast as long as you had a good faith reason for doing what you did. And he is charged with a difficult job.<br /><br />But from what I have heard, civil lawyers (including me) are also pretty much universally against this plan. I know y'all see our cases as less important, and where liberty is concerned I do too, but not where my job is concerned. With every trial, civil lawyers are interviewing for their job all over again. Our clients take note and will look for a new firm to hire if they feel you dropped the ball. That's not to say my job is the most important issue to me here; it's certainly not. And in the larger picture, your criminal cases are where I have the greatest concern, but this system won't work for any type of case because even a civil litigant can be asking for something life-changing, or be accused of doing something that, if a jury agrees, will change their life if found liable. <br /><br />I expected that trial lawyers (not just plaintiff's lawyers, who have co-opted that term) would have been given notice of this chance to see the facilities. I planned to attend, and would still enjoy a chance to see them and comment. <br /><br />Judge Schafer knows I'll speak my mind. Hopefully he knows it will be constructive; that will certainly be my intent. But if not me, please find some diverse group of civil lawyers and get their input. I can tell you that Plaintiff's lawyers only make money if cases settle or go to trial, and nothing makes a case settle like a looming trial setting. If they tell you they don't like it (as many have told me), it is against their direct financial interest and bears credibility. Me? The longer I have a case the better it is for me, but I love trial. But not a trial done improperly--I've been involved in several of those, and left every one (even the ones I won) thinking justice wasn't served. <br /><br />To The Hon. Mr. Daniel: Maybe your work during your eight years is why they have not asked you. If you have some information you think will help, this is a pretty good forum in which to reveal your brilliance. There have been several commissioner's court meetings at which you could have had your input. I've seen numerous open letters related to various pandemic-related issues, none bearing your name that I recall. We are all open to suggestions and most of us are willing to have our minds changed. <br /><br />What we will not lay down for, however, is a system that is more dangerous than the last, that is more likely to render wildcard results for the sake of ticking the case count down a little bit.Jason Truittnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-18726859820769114882020-07-17T10:25:58.475-05:002020-07-17T10:25:58.475-05:00Sounds like this system will be fairly unfair. Sounds like this system will be fairly unfair. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-11298788252191143242020-07-17T07:59:04.619-05:002020-07-17T07:59:04.619-05:00Thank you. I could not imagine nor explain what it...Thank you. I could not imagine nor explain what it would look like to my clients. This is very helpful and fair, per usual. <br />Melissa MorrisMelissa Morrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-42640036622395387392020-07-17T07:53:01.290-05:002020-07-17T07:53:01.290-05:00I guess Marylin knows best. I still haven’t been ...I guess Marylin knows best. I still haven’t been asked to help with this mess despite all the disasters I helped the county through with Juries over an 8 year period.Chris Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03082965464343232015noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566778230970156239.post-53782565374797133762020-07-17T07:26:10.676-05:002020-07-17T07:26:10.676-05:00Look, I know there are no easy answers. This pand...Look, I know there are no easy answers. This pandemic has wreacked havoc on every aspect of society and criminal justice has not been spared. But like you Murray and many other people said, an unfair trial is worse than no trial at all. As defense attorneys, we want more than anything for our clients to have their days in court and possibly get out of that germ-infested jail. However, I would be doing my client and my profession an injustice if I blindly accepted any trial process for the mere sake of having one. I know those involved have spent an extraordinary amount of time trying to come up with a way to have trials. And I commend them for thinking outside the box. However, my problem is that it seems more important to them to have a system, any system, in place than it does to make it fair. I'm sorry but anyone who looks at that photo of Grant on the back row of jury selection either must admit this system won't work or is wilfully blind to it's lack of fairness. That's absolutely ludicrous to think we can fairly represent our clients in that environment. The powers that be need to remember it's not about cranking out trials and keeping dockets going. There are human beings with families and people who love them who will be horribly affected if this process isn't fair. If protecting the rights of the accused is what these folks are most worried about, as they claim, they will accept the fact that this process will not allow for the fair trial that the defendants deserve and our constitution requires. And don't even get me started on the make-up of the jury panels who will show up for jury duty during a pandemic. Give me a break! And we could all discuss the health aspects of this forever. Bringing this many people together during a pandemic is dangerous, regardless of the precautions taken. Unfortunately, we're in unchartered water and the bottom line may be that there is no way to have fair trials right now. And if that's the case, we need to accept that reality and not try to force it. We MUST give defendants fair trials. It's a moral imperative. And we must protect the public. Sometimes the best answer is realizing there really is no answer, at least not right now. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com