Hillary Clinton’s email issues over her improper and perhaps illegal use of a private server in her house while serving as Secretary of State loom large over her presidential aspirations. And even though Bernie Sanders has repeatedly stated that he is not interested in Hillary Clinton’s emails, many folks and the FBI are interested. If you add the email legal issues to her likeability and trust issues which rank quite low, one might assume that she needs the help of Olivia Pope, the fictionalized character in the TV series Scandal. Coincidently, crisis management lawyer Judy Smith, the real life Olivia Pope, represented Monica Lewinsky during the Bill Clinton sex scandal. For that reason, I doubt if Clinton will be using Judy Smith. But Clinton needs a good crisis manager lawyer. As a lawyer, I often represent clients who experience legal issues involving criminal grand jury political investigations before they are charged with a crime. Clinton needs lawyers who are not in her inner … [Read more...] about Scandal Prone Hillary Clinton Needs Olivia Pope
Archives for May 2016
Implications of Baltimore Police Officer’s Acquittal
On Monday, May 23, Baltimore police officer Edward Nero was found not guilty of all charges by Judge Barry Williams in the case involving the death of Freddie Gray. Before a packed court room, Judge Williams methodically read his opinion lasting almost 25 minutes detailing how he came to his conclusions. I was present in the court room as he read his reasoning for the decision. Williams, himself, a former Baltimore City prosecutor and litigator in the Department of Justice on police misconduct cases was well versed on the law--vis a vis the involvement of Edward Nero. The entire opinion is linked here. Many question whether the acquittal of Nero will have an effect on the remaining five officers whose trials are set between June and September. Some question if any of the other officers are likely to take a bench trial, now that they see how it turned out for Nero. On Monday, I appeared on PBS News Hour to discuss the implications of Nero's case as it pertains to the remaining … [Read more...] about Implications of Baltimore Police Officer’s Acquittal
How Donald Trump Could Affect Minorities Attending Schools
In the same week that the Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education marked its 62nd anniversary declaring that “separate but equal” schools are unconstitutional, a Mississippi town was found to be in violation of Brown and Donald Trump lists his possible eleven Supreme Court picks for vetting. It’s almost surreal and one could not script the three together. But the three are intertwined together in ways that could affect minorities and attendance at schools. Brown v. Board of Education’s decision on May 17, 1954 marked the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision which found that barring blacks from attending white segregated schools on the theory that all schools were separate but equal was unconstitutional. The premise of “separate but equal” had held true as the law in the U.S. since 1868. And following Brown v. Board of Education, many African American and other minority children were bused to schools in white areas or otherwise allowed to attend previously all white schools, as … [Read more...] about How Donald Trump Could Affect Minorities Attending Schools
Judge to Deliver Verdict in Baltimore Police Officer Trial
The first verdict of the 6 Baltimore police officers cases involving the death of Freddie Gray will come on Monday, May 23. And despite the concerns of some in the police community that Judge Williams might be swayed by emotions, that is a non-issue. Officer Edward Nero chose a bench trial before Judge Barry Williams instead of a jury trial. And his fate will be sealed by Judge Williams’ decision based on sound legal principle and judgment. And the verdict may surprise many who have followed the trial. All judges are not created equal. And Judge Williams ranks heads above most judges for his intelligence, judicial temperament, sometimes wit and at all times no nonsense approach. And above all, Judge Williams is fair to wall sides as his previous rulings in the cases of William Porter and Edward Nero will support. That may be the real reason, the defense chose a bench trial—for his fairness and legal intellect. I suspect as a former Baltimore prosecutor that Judge Williams will … [Read more...] about Judge to Deliver Verdict in Baltimore Police Officer Trial
Former Prosecutor’s Recap of Baltimore Officer Nero’s Trial
My former office, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney Office, concluded the prosecution side of the case against Edward Nero, one of the six police officers charged in the case of Freddie Gray. At this point, the state’s case has some holes that weren’t plugged. Although the defense began its case, the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt remains with the prosecution. It’s a high burden and appears like an uphill Mt. Everest climb in Nero’s case. Judge Williams will decide if an “unfortunate accident” occurred as the defense alleges or whether a crime was committed. Officer Nero was one of the three police officers on bicycle patrol who allegedly arrested Freddie Gray on April 12, 2015. Nero is charged with committing three crimes: assault on Freddie Gray due to a lack of probable cause to arrest Gray, reckless endangerment due to lack of a seat belt to restrain Gray and misconduct in office allegedly for violating police protocol. At the center of … [Read more...] about Former Prosecutor’s Recap of Baltimore Officer Nero’s Trial
George Zimmerman is Like a Bad Dream that Won’t End
Just as Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, was getting past her 5th Mother’s Day without her son, Trayvon, George Zimmerman was getting ready to sell the gun he used to shoot and kill her son. Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman on February 26, 2012. Earlier this week, it was reported that Zimmerman was set to auction the gun with Gun Broker.com. They later withdrew the gun as an auction item. But there’s always someone willing to do gun business, and another company, United Gun Group, listed the gun for auction on the same day that the other company withdrew it. Zimmerman once again shows he has no remorse for taking the life of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman’s position appears to be that the gun is his property and he can choose to sell it if he desires. And while Zimmerman may have the legal right to sell his property, he should seriously ponder if he should morally be selling the gun he used to take the life of an innocent teenager. Trayvon Martin … [Read more...] about George Zimmerman is Like a Bad Dream that Won’t End