Archive for April, 2011

Where the lack of mentorship has left us

A year ago I started my law practice all by my lonesome.  I work in a building with lots of other people, but no other lawyers, so I joined a listserv for small and solo practitioners.  I made some ‘friends’ and while I never posted a substantive question on the list (why would I ask [...]

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Dear Anonymous

We’ve had a good run, haven’t we?  It was nice back when I didn’t know any better and I just let you have your say, not moderating your comments which were, on occasion, not so kind and frequently, not so clever.  But, I’m sorry, it’s you, not me.  Or maybe it’s me.  But we’re through.  [...]

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Padilla Retroactivity in Maryland

Ah, a legal post.  Aren’t you all a-flutter.  Don’t lie.  I know you are, especially one that deals with Padilla and retroactivity.  Oh, and Maryland law.  Here it goes: In February, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals issued a decision, Miller v. State, that said that it is indisputable that Padilla is not retroactive, meaning, [...]

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On Grief, three weeks later.

There are moments when I am well.  Extremely well.  Thinking about work and clients and obligations that I’ve put off to tend to the needs of my family in this time of grief.  And then there are days when it all falls apart and while I can go through the motions it is hard to [...]

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Ineffective assistance of counsel, again.

So while Dontrell Deaner’s judge was wise enough to halt proceedings and get him new, competent counsel before he spent the rest of his days in jail waiting for an appeal that would be fruitless, a trial judge in Michigan thought, ah hell, this fucker is guilty so we might as well just go on [...]

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A silver lining.

The story is all around the internet.  It’s the hot topic of the week, and it should be on the lips of every criminal defense practicioner, if not every lawyer who gives a shit about the legal profession – Joseph Rakofsky, an alleged criminal defense lawyer (with all of one whole year of experience) lied [...]

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Oh, New York Times – Don’t you at least have Google?

So, today is April 1 – April Fool’s.  It seems as if mother nature has played a great big April Fool’s joke on most of us – haha, you thought it was spring! Phhhtttt. And you know, that’s ok.  I mean, I’m just a mere human being. I can be fooled by a power as [...]

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