Sure. But the big guns were all LA lawyers for a LA trial. They also brought in others we were experts on forensics.
Ha! Point well made, then.
That argument has been made on these boards from time to time.
Man, I hate when that happens! It totally ruins my chances for wild speculation and conspiracy theories.
I’m glad you pointed this out. It sometimes seems like local knowledge is totally ignored in big cases. (or maybe underreported) A bit like the Florida lawyer Trump hired for $3 million dollars and then back benched when he wouldn’t argue the crap that all the other Trump lawyers kept trying.
It would be a hijack here, but I really don’t see an easy solution to this problem. Appoint instead of elect? Penalties for overcharging cases?
Well, with recent history and current campaign rhetoric…you never know.
The Constitution is inviolate, until you disagree with it. Then it’s a suicide pact and needs re-interpreting.
Require that the public defender’s office receives a budget equal to that of the DA’s office?
Probably wouldn’t hurt, but I have no idea if they are equal or not. Like everything in the US, there’s probably a different answer for every jurisdiction.
It’s a start, but how do you account for all the police, which the prosecutors have at their disposal?
I was on a jury where the defense’s expert witness bailed or no-showed the day of. So they called instead… the undercover cop that had just testified for the prosecution.
Some new stuff here:
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney said his client will plead not guilty, but the judge did not take that plea during the virtual court proceeding. Instead, the judge issued conditions of release that allow Gutierrez-Reed to keep a gun at home for self-defense.
Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney told the judge his client has received numerous threats and was forced to file for a restraining order against a stalker. He said authorities released documents related to the case and failed to redact identifying information that included phone numbers.
Bolding mine. Another great job from the DA. Normally I would think it could just be a mistake, but this DA has lowered my trust in her ability considerably.
In addition to allowing Gutierrez-Reed to have a gun at home, the judge ordered her not to have any contact with witnesses who might testify as part of the case.
The judge allowed Baldwin to have limited contact with potential witnesses in connection with plans to complete the filming of “Rust.” Other provisions included a prohibition on consuming alcohol and against any possession of weapons, including firearms.
Some more bolding by me. Is Baldwin known for having a drinking problem? I wonder if Reed got the same restriction and it wasn’t reported.
Do I recall a recording of an alcohol-fueled phone call berating his daughter a few years back? [ ETA: 2007, it’s on youtube. Sounds very angry, not drunk. ]
But even so, the prohibition on alcohol consumption seems bizarre and inappropriate to me unless he has a criminal record associated with alcohol abuse or there is any allegation that he had been drinking on set when the Rust shooting occurred. I’d be interested to hear from one of our lawyers whether this is within the range of normal bail conditions.
I don’t remember that, but I see now he has admitted to drug and alcohol addiction in the past. His interviews say he stopped drinking in 1985. Apparently, it’s still okay if he takes drugs, just no drinking. 
ETA: Yeah, that sounds angry, not drunk.
Yeah, I was just catching up on that. Apparently sober since 1985, and his sobriety seems like it’s well known - discussed in several interviews. So if he had ever relapsed, it probably would have been difficult for him to conceal it.
That makes the judge’s order more inappropriate to me. Perhaps it’s well intentioned, maybe the judge thinks that this will be an extra push to help him maintain his sobriety at a difficult time? But I don’t think it works that way.
I can’t say what it’s like in New Mexico, but in my Canadian jurisdiction, that sort of prohibition is standard. The judge has said it so many times it come out in an automatic drone:
“It is a condition of your release that you keep the peace and be of good behaviour, abstain from alcohol and non-prescription drugs, surrender all firearms for the duration of your parole, make all scheduled appointments with your parole officer, answer the door when your parole officer or police attend at your residence, etc, etc, etc.”
Standard in Washington State, even for non-alcohol related crimes. I tried to object a few times and the judges just shrug and say “it will do him some good regardless.”
Yep, docket court, where bail is dealt with, is the conveyor belt leading into the trial process. Standardized conditions are the norm, just like any other assembly line.
What would happen in the case of an actual alcoholic for whom stopping cold turkey would dangerous medically?
Would the line grind just grind on?
Defence counsel should raise the issue with the judge and outline a medical plan for dealing with it, to be included in the terms of release.
Alcohol plays such a large part in most criminal matters that it’s just seen as a normal condition.
It looks like the “Sue Alec Baldwin Bandwagon” has taken on more riders.
Alec Baldwin hit with another ‘Rust’ lawsuit: What we know about all the legal challenges
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Three crew members who worked on the set of “Rust” have filed suit against Alec Baldwin and the film’s producers, the most recent in a slew of legal challenges related to the 2021 shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
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In the suit filed Tuesday, dolly operator Ross Addiego, set costumer Doran Curtin and key grip Reese Price maintain they all were standing close to Baldwin when his prop gun, which contained a live bullet, went off during a rehearsal at the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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The trio say they suffered “blast injuries” when the gun suddenly discharged, killing Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. The suit, provided to USA TODAY by Vigil Law Firm of Albuquerque, notes that the trio is asking for compensatory and punitive damages.
This is a good chance for Baldwin to sue producers again. He was obviously closer to the gun than these three so he should really have some terrible “blast injuries.”