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A Public Defender 

Criminal law news from Connecticut and around the country.
Post Frequency: 10.1/day Last Entry: March 31, 2011 at 12:17:35 Recent Entries: 819
By Gideon
Go to A Public Defender, find other Public Defense blogs, or browse all law blogs.
A sweeping blueprint for change
Posted on July 10, 2008After slightly over a year under the stewardship of Chief Justice Rogers, the Judical Branch is readying itself for some wholesale changes. The Public Service and Trust Commission, appointed by the Chief Justice, released a 57 page report, chronicling all that is wrong with the Judicial Branch and what is going to be done to [...
Cops lie and people die
Posted on July 07, 2008Grits for Breakfast points us to this important and disturbing story published in the L.A. Times a few days ago. It is a report on the murder of 16-year old Martha Puebla, whose name the police used while fabricating an identification. They were trying to get her boyfriend for an unrelated murder and during their interrogation [...
Monday Evening Winddown: Fourth of July edition
Posted on July 07, 2008photo credit: gte333f As promised, this Fourth of July’s most interesting posts and stories: Prior to the Fourth of July, a fireworks manufacturer in CT lost a suit seeking return of over 500K worth of illegal fireworks seized by police. The Fourth of July edition of Blawg Review is up here...
Monday Morning Slowstart
Posted on July 07, 2008Thanks to the long weekend, the Jumpstart will not be ready until later this evening, when it will be called (as usual) the wind-down. My apologies. If you’re itchin’ for some readin’, click on some links on the left. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Monday Morning Slowstart", url: "http://apublicdefender...
Sunday stupidity: how not to represent yourself edition
Posted on July 06, 2008Dude tries to fake a heart attack. Watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrWSx46NlI4 SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Sunday stupidity: how not to represent yourself edition", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/07/06/sunday-stupidity-how-not-to-represent-yourself-edition/" });
Abandoned cities and towns
Posted on July 06, 2008Pictures and a brief description of 20 of them SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Abandoned cities and towns", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/07/06/abandoned-cities-and-town/" });
Independence Day
Posted on July 04, 2008Because this may be the first year since 1999 that this movie isn’t on TV today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRGUqd_M6Mg SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Independence Day", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/07/04/independence-day/" });
Link-dump day
Posted on July 02, 2008photo credit: Jake Wild! One day left before the end of the week, so it’s time to dump some links on you: ACLU has asked a CT court to vacate its decision to force feed an inmate on hunger strike. A Newsweek review of “Ganja Queen”, the story of Schappelle Corby, still stuck in an Indonesian jail...
Heller goes to the airport
Posted on July 02, 2008In this latest installment of “Heller goes to…”, in which we follow the zany adventures of Heller v. D.C.*, the lovable Supreme Court case, as he makes his way through the country, Heller decides to go to the airport to see what the fuss is all about...
TMYK: Due Process edition
Posted on July 01, 2008Apparently, it is not a violation of due process in the state of CT if there is not an adequate factual basis for a plea stated on the record. See Paulsen v. Manson, 203 Conn. 484 (1987). Who’da thunk it? SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "TMYK: Due Process edition", url: "http://apublicdefender...
Castle doctrine come home to roost
Posted on July 01, 2008You may have heard, you may not have. A Texas grand jury has decided to “no-bill” Joe Horn (no, not that Joe Horn). Prosecutors sought to indict Horn after Horn killed two men who were fleeing after committing a burglary. Except it was not his own house...
Dysfunctional and close to collapse
Posted on July 01, 2008A report on California’s death penalty system. H/T and title from CDW. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Dysfunctional and close to collapse", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/07/01/dysfunctional-and-close-to-collapse/" });
Truth in advertising
Posted on June 30, 2008Who said lawyers can’t tell it like it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXiJQVyLelM Thanks for Scott for sending me the link SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Truth in advertising", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/06/30/truth-in-advertising/" });
Undoing Gideon?s promise
Posted on June 30, 2008As public defender offices across the country are cutting budgets and closing up shop, and at the same time that SCOTUS gave fresh guidance on when the right to counsel attaches, it is important to reflect on the place of the public defender in our criminal justice system today...
Monday Morning Jumpstart: short week edition
Posted on June 30, 2008Who’da thunk it? Fourth of July is almost around the corner (and fireworks are still illegal) and before you know it, it’ll be snowing again. Dammit. These stories and posts should take your mind of that chilling eventuality: A whole bunch of new laws go into effect Tuesday - including, ofcourse, the stiffer penalties for home invasions...
Supreme Court changes course on kidnapping
Posted on June 29, 2008In what may prove to be a landmark decision, the Connecticut Supreme Court last week reversed decades of precedent in interpreting the State’s kidnapping statute. The Court issued two companion cases: State v. Salamon (concurrence and dissent) and State v...
Welcome CT public defenders
Posted on June 27, 2008To those of you to actually listened to our Chief’s words today at the annual meeting and decided to check out the blog, I say heartily: welcome! Poke around the site; you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained. Remember, she said it’s okay to look! If you’re looking for the post she cited, it is here...
It?s an opinionated week!
Posted on June 26, 2008Lots and lots of interesting decisions this week, both from SCOTUS and the CT Supreme Court. For Kennedy coverage, the best place to go is Sex Crimes. Giles is the potentially more interesting decision for the criminal defense practitioner. I should have something up on Giles later today...
Ganja Queen
Posted on June 24, 2008A documentary on Schapelle Corby premieres on HBO. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ganja Queen", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/06/24/ganja-queen/" });
Traffic rules
Posted on June 24, 2008Do you have to signal if you’re in a right or left only lane? SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Traffic rules", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/06/24/traffic-rules/" });
Where have you gone, Justice Berdon?
Posted on June 24, 2008For reasons that aren’t important, I was engaged in a discussion of Connecticut’s Supreme Court and the tone of recent opinions. This led to a discussion of retired Justice Berdon, Gov. Lowell Weicker’s first nominee to the Supreme Court, and a prolific writer who wore his opinions on his sleeve (and pen)...
More of Judge Kozinski?s stash
Posted on June 23, 2008at Patterico. Gideon yawns. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "More of Judge Kozinski’s stash", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/06/23/more-of-judge-kozinskis-stash/" });
Roth-very narrow
Posted on June 23, 2008SCOTUS today issued its opinion in Rothgery v. Gillespie County [pdf], which has caused some discussion in the blawgosphere. The prevalent theme in this discussion is a sense of being unfulfilled. A sort of “that’s it?” There’s also some confusion as to what the decision really means...
Monday Morning Jumpstart
Posted on June 23, 2008photo credit: Taekwonweirdo Apparently there’s a hail advisory for this part of the State. Which one of you angered the weather Gods? Make it up to them by spending your morning reading some of these stories and posts: Rest in peace, George Carlin...
Attorney-client confidentiality in prisons
Posted on June 23, 2008One of the most important aspects of our job is maintaining attorney-client confidentiality and it is also an integral component of the adversarial system. We need confidentiality so clients can take us in their confidence without fear of repercussion...
Someone needs Orbit
Posted on June 22, 2008Chef Ramsey - whose shows I love - managed to unleash the f-bomb eighty times in 40 minutes. SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Someone needs Orbit", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/06/22/someone-needs-orbit/" });
Sunday Stupidity: Trying to ?palm? the cash edition
Posted on June 22, 2008Sigh. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oPAPnJjOJM SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Sunday Stupidity: Trying to “palm” the cash edition", url: "http://apublicdefender.com/2008/06/22/sunday-stupidity-trying-to-palm-the-cash-edition/" });
There?s pretext and then there?s pretext
Posted on June 22, 2008photo credit: aslinth Among the many discussions clogging the bandwith of the local listserve this week was one about the validity of a traffic stop based on the police officer’s observation of an air-freshener hanging from the rear-view mirror of a vehicle...
QOTD
Posted on June 18, 2008Quote of the day, apropos of everything that we, as criminal defense attorneys, have to remember: We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are. Anais Nin We will all be better attorneys if we remember this while dealing with clients and jurors...
Monday Morning Jumpstart
Posted on June 16, 2008It’s going to be a busy week folks, so posting may be slow. These stories should tide you over, at least for today: America’s oldest continuously published newspaper is about to undergo some drastic changes for the worse. Blackwater joins the “war on drugs”...
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NO TRIMMING IN PUBLIC PLACES
In the Village of Scarsdale, you're not allowed to "...
I have worked for this employer for only three weeks. The employer makes up his own rules as to what he chooses to report for the purpose of property taxes. He tells me to "let them come after us". He defines Entertain
He arrogantly insists, "let them come after us." Well, if you are invo...
Does a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge a secured mortgage loan?
Yes if you file they cannot sue you to the knowledge I know. My brother is in re...
How to prevent an arrest from appearing in the local newspaper?
Dont know the law in Minnesota but in most jurisdictions an arrest is a matter o...
When there is a very high level of abuse in which nursing home patient died, neglect from her nurse is mediation good for this or is a jury trial more apropriate?
Totally against mediation! I agree with you, it will never resolve your mother...
My situation is somewhat difficult to describe, but about two months ago planes began arriving at an airport near my house and an organized stalking effort began. As I'm driving to and from home, cars will begin encircli
I would like this person 'anonymous' to get in touch with me. Question...

I have worked for this employer for only three weeks. The employer makes up his own rules as to what he chooses to report for the purpose of property taxes. He tells me to "let them come after us". He defines Entertain
He arrogantly insists, "let them come after us." Well, if you are invo...
Does a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge a secured mortgage loan?
Yes if you file they cannot sue you to the knowledge I know. My brother is in re...
How to prevent an arrest from appearing in the local newspaper?
Dont know the law in Minnesota but in most jurisdictions an arrest is a matter o...
When there is a very high level of abuse in which nursing home patient died, neglect from her nurse is mediation good for this or is a jury trial more apropriate?
Totally against mediation! I agree with you, it will never resolve your mother...
My situation is somewhat difficult to describe, but about two months ago planes began arriving at an airport near my house and an organized stalking effort began. As I'm driving to and from home, cars will begin encircli
I would like this person 'anonymous' to get in touch with me. Question...








