Missing the Paigow (et al.) [sniff]

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
what's your best estimate of the error rate?

Innocent people who are convicted of crimes they did not commit? Small.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
While there is much I agree with in your post, including the logical position that DNA fingerprinting should be used to the fullest possible extent on cases based primarily upon victim identifications, I cannot agree with the above. Saying trials were flawed before DNA evidence became admissible is like saying medicine was flawed before penicillin.

I really am at a loss to understand what you propose to do to make eyewitness identifications more fair to the defendant, other than taking the witness credibility determination away from a jury and giving it to a panel of critical race theorists. Yes, most criminal defense attorneys suck, and most juries are stupid and credulous. But I really don't see how that makes the judge or DA or system morally responsible for the conviction of men who were positively identified by a crime victim who apparently convinced a Batson-qualified jury and whose conviction, by apparently being upheld on appeal, was judicially determined to be nothing more than a credibility determination in favor of the victim who, in turn, honestly believes s/he is testifying truthfully. Got any better ideas about how to avoid that perfect storm?

It really sucks when someone gets convicted for a crime they didn't commit. But it also really sucks when your wife or sister or brother is raped and the DA, flying in the face of 800 years of Western jurisprudence,* tells you that her testimony isn't enough to go on because the victim is presumptively incapable of successfully IDing the perp because, OBTW, she's a latent racist. I'll give you a time machine to 1982, or for that matter any point before DNA became admissible evidence in 1989 (and again I note that when it did, it did so over the objections of defense attorneys, not because of them). Can you seriously say (in 1982) that the system is flawed because it relies heavily on eyewitness identification? I'm asking seriously, because I agree with you that factually wrong trial results suck, but I am honestly incapable of imagining how it could have been done any better under the circumstances, other than grossly differential treatment of cases based on the race of the complaining victim.

I'm all for taking a deeper look at the problems the system has, especially by improving the quality of criminal representation. Maybe I'm just seeing this from a very blue part of a very blue state, but I'm not seeing a lot of shaky criminal prosecutions where the DA persists in spite of evidence of factual innocence, and you're grossly overstating your case to say they do. It's fun to think that DAs try to convict the innocent for sport, but the reality I see is that they dismiss cases when they themselves start to think the D is the wrong guy because, even if they took sick pleasure in pursuing cases where they believed the D was innocent, it's hugely fucking embarrassing to these guys to lose to a schmucky PD at trial -- it's worse than taking the heat for dismissing the case. When they're concerned about the effect of strong exculpatory evidence on their win percentage, it's simpler to dismiss the case and not count it toward their batting average.

*I suppose we could adopt the sharia law and require four adult male witnesses, but I think the experience of the Western world is that presumptively disbelieving a rape victim creates some social ills, like, um, more rape. Lucky us that DNA fingerprinting is uniquely helpful in solving cases that tend to involve leaving your genetic material at the crime scene.

For informational purposes only: NPR piece from this morning on the post-conviction review in Virginia of hundreds of DNA samples. Since 1989 DNA has uncovered 170 wrongful convictions.

Originally posted by ThurgreedMarshall
Finally, if you want to be a defense attorney at all, a few months out of each year should be spent as a public defender. Mandatory.

Typical corporate lawyer -- make the litigators fix it.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by ironweed
Typical corporate lawyer -- make the litigators fix it.

Aside from those rapes and murders I got off of because I only choose racist victims, who tend to only be around racist witnesses, it wasn't my fault this time.

TM

[NotFromHere]

I am blatantly ignoring the "no pictures of Michael Jackson" rule. Mainly because I don't care and also that this is so freaking bizarre, even for him.


Michael Jackson, center, wears an abaya, the traditional Arabic women's veil and all-covering gown, and holds the hand of one of his children, also veiled

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by dtb
I would think that naming a lodging establishment the "Hotel Dive" isn't the best way to get customers. But what do I know?

Like naming a car "Nova". Not a big seller in Spanish-speaking countries.

Uh....right.

That'd be Hotel Diva. My apologies.

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by spookyfish
You're proposing body shots? Good man.

You do know not everyone does them that way, don't you?

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by bold_n_brazen
You do know not everyone does them that way, don't you?

Which way?

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
"Soapdish"

Okay, that's just weird.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by c2ed
It's LA.

Next to, perhaps, Kuwait, LA seems to have the most formalized form of class hierarchy that I've seen in a very long time. This has nothing to do with layability. It's where she was on the strata (and clearly, not working the Starbucks on San Vicente).

I think I travel in different circles. Entirely possible these people are in yours, though.

[ABBAKiss]

Originally posted by sunnybunny
and I need them in grey.

Squirrel fur feels nicer and is less expensive, assuming you can skin and sew. And it can come in grey.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by ABBAKiss
Squirrel fur feels nicer and is less expensive, assuming you can skin and sew. And it can come in grey.

http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0...21108272104970

LL Bean probably has them too.

Both of these may be too prole for you. Williams Sonoma home may have some, but their on-line catalog is a pain in the ass so you can go look yourself.

[bold_n_brazen]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
http://www.landsend.com/cd/fp/prod/0...21108272104970

LL Bean probably has them too.

Both of these may be too prole for you. Williams Sonoma home may have some, but their on-line catalog is a pain in the ass so you can go look yourself.

You're only encouraging her, you know.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by bold_n_brazen
You're only encouraging her, you know.

spill it on the body shot technique, missy.

[ABBAKiss]

Originally posted by Pretty Little Flower
It is absolutely pathetic that I had to spell this out to you in this level of detail.

Next time try lyrical dance. Some people learn better through visual/tactile expression. Also, you look AMAZING in tights.