But, but, but, my lawyer said I could shoot people on 5th Avenue, so it must be OK. I was just following advice!
There is a weird sort of disconnect to watch these lawyers debate fine legal points pertaining to lawyers and public officials who clearly said out loud fuck the law. I mean, I understand the need to get this exactly right, but it seems likely that the Scofflaw Party will eventually get back in control of the levers of power, and while their capacity for learning appears weak, these are powerful lessons. They will simply steamroll the opposition and force the law to say what they want it to say.
All 19 have waived arraignment and pled not guilty.
Judge to have hearing on severance at 1 pm tomorrow. Should be on camera.
No ruling yet on meadows.
Cameras are up, judge is in the court room.
Watched the opening and it’s going to be boring as heck for anyone not interested in legalspeak.
LOL, took me right back… a walk down Memory Lane. I’m still watching.
ETA: So far what I’m hearing from Chesebro’s attorney is, “We don’t know how the prosecution is going to relate my client to the RICO scheme, we don’t have discovery yet. But her case should nonetheless be severed!”
Not finding it boring. Now that they got past the case law, it is getting more interesting as the judge interacts with the lawyers
Powell’s lawyer is good, don’t like how he is trying to be familiar with the judge. They were obviously colleagues before mcafee became a judge, but don’t like the way he kept referring to it.
I misspoke. That was Chesebro’s attorney. Powell’s lawyer is speaking now.
I agree re the chummy stuff. It’s like he’s saying, “Hey, we’re all buds here – do me a solid, Scott!”
That never goes down well with judges, IME.
Exactly, that is how I read it.
I do like the judge so far. He is keeping it tight with a light hand so far.
Prosecution states a trial of 4 months, not including jury selection and over 150 witnesses. If severance occurs prosecution will go through the same amount of time and witnesses for each clump.
Power point has created a bit of a hold up.
I think the prosecution is arguing well. I’m reserving judgment on the judge. I hope he plays it straight. And I hate that I even have to wonder about that.
I do find it amusing that Chesebro’s attorney refers to him as “Chezz-bro,” and the prosecutor refers to him as “Cheese-bro.”
It is like Cheeny vs chainy for bush’s vp cheney.
The prosecution is arguing well, the power point graphics annoy me.
I’m interested in this (and can’t watch) What are they using the powerpoint for?
re: Length of Trial.
Fulton County prosecutors told Judge Scott McAfee that trying all 19 defendants together would take four months–not including jury selection. The state says it would call at least 150 witnesses.
Further, if it were just Chesebro and Powell (they severed out), it would take the same amount of time.
**All per Ana Bower from Lawfare via her Tweets.
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The power point is white letters on black background. So far used to flash up case law applicable to the case. Some times there are red and yellow lettering to indicate what the prosecution thinks of applicability.
I’m still such a clerk. I’m listening, but I wasn’t paying attention to the Power Point presentation. Also, they’re not showing it much on the tv camera. I think it’s basically just a summary of the high points of the prosecution’s arguments. Seems to me like the prosecutor is using it like a roadmap for the points he wants to remember to make.
Yes, it is visible only when they are showing the prosecutor.
The judge has moved on to the federal spanner in the works.
The judge just posited that the Eleventh Circuit may rule on appeal that the entire case be removed to federal court. That’s an interesting take.
He’s raising various possibilities that could bollocks up a RICO trial with 19 co-defendants depending on what the Eleventh rules based on the Jones ruling in the removal motions.
He seems to be leaning toward removal based solely on trial logistics and what ifs, despite pretty persuasive case law against such a ruling.
I read the judge as trying to get in as many possible scenarios and hear the arguments for and against them.
Very interesting on his thinking about the various federal scenarios.
I do like the transparency of this sausage making.
Yes it is very reassuring to see the judge’s planning process. It’s like being on a jury where the court takes time to follow the whole process.