Legal Antics

TWiL Podcast

Recently, I was lucky enough to be invited by the inimitable Denise Howell to participate in one of the most well known legal podcasts, TWiL.   The podcast is now available here.

In TWiL 16, host Denise Howell, Ernie Svenson, Marty Schwimmer, Evan Brown and I discuss iPhone unlocking, FBI child porn baiting, electronic discovery, Viacom v. YouTube, and more.

So beachy.

This blogger is at the beach.  Blogging will resume next Monday.

Take that world!

Breaking news! A law firm with a sense of humor.

And, in other news, pigs fly.

The ABA Law Journal tipped me off to this unusually funny law firm website--the Lawyer Job Interview Translator.  Halleland, Lewis, Nilan and Johnson actually gets Web 2.0 and Gen Y!

Somebody, pinch me, please!

More free legal advice

Bad acting does not a mistrial make.

Via Lowering the Bar, comes the following hysterical video.  Rather than re-create the wheel, I'll simply use the inimitable Kevin Underhill's description, since he's one of the funniest lawyers around:

This story shows the importance of proper training before appearing in a courtroom, even (well, especially) if one has decided to represent oneself.  And depending on the strategy, acting lessons may be a good idea.

Keison Wilkins may have thought he could ignore these principles since he successfully defended himself once before, in 2005.  This case also involved felonious-assault charges, apparently based on the attempted murder of a man in Dayton, Ohio.  Whatever Wilkins' legal strategy was this time around, it wasn't going very well, and Wilkins increasingly resorted to "antics" designed to disrupt the proceedings and force a mistrial.  The judge did have to clear the courtroom frequently, but the trial went on.

This happened often enough that by the time Wilkins tried to fake a heart attack during closing arguments, nobody was even paying attention anymore.

In this highly entertaining courtroom video footage, deputies react to Wilkins falling over, but other than that it is clear that no one is buying the act for a second.  The judge is shown shuffling papers as Wilkins clutches his chest.  Note also the lack of any reaction whatsoever by the attorney in the front row.  The judge has Wilkins checked by a nurse, who finds nothing wrong with him, but Wilkins tenaciously sticks with his plan -- even after being put back in his chair and then showing an obvious reaction to an ammonia stick placed under his nose.  The video is worth 3 minutes and 41 seconds of your time.

Free legal advice

Things not to say during a traffic stop:

“ I was smoking, I was smoking marijuana. It's right here in my ashtray. I just picked up an eighth, here it is. I smoked a bowl's worth. I was just smoking the last hit of the bowl. I have been smoking for the last half hour. There may be something in the trunk. Is this test only for marijuana because I might not want to take the urine test if they are testing for other drugs.”

People v. El-Khawam, 20 Misc.3d 1103(A) (N.Y.Dist.Ct. Jun 16, 2008).

Settlement talks = oxymoron

Via the Billable Hour comes the following greeting card/comic:

Could you be a bit more specific there, George? Not quite sure I follow...

Yet another judge breaks into verse

Via Quizlaw, comes yet another judge who can simply cannot refrain from creative expression when faced with a 465 page complaint:

Plaintiff has a great deal to say,

But it seems he skipped Rule 8(a).

His Complaint is too long,

Which renders it wrong,

Please rewrite and refile today.”

Because, if she didn't have legal skills, she'd be totally unqualified.

Via Above the Law comes this rather peculiar Craigslist job posting:

Help Wanted: Concubine - m4w - 35 (Upper East Side)
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Job Description: You will regularly provide sexual services as needed and on demand. Specific services required will vary from time to time, but generally will encompass all ordinary sexual activities, with some "pushing of the envelope," dependent upon a determination of where "the envelope" resides for you. The frequency of my need for your services will also vary, but generally I will call upon you two to three times per week... In short, your job description is to do as you are asked, without resistance or condition. While this position will not interfere with an ordinary "day job," it does preclude concurrent involvement in any other sexual relationships.

Qualifications: You must be a woman and over eighteen years of age, but otherwise age, race, and nationality will not be significant to the employment decision. Experience in a comparable position would be helpful, but is not necessary - I am willing to train the right person for the job. The successful candidate will be bright, articulate, extremely flexible, and willing to learn how best to fulfill her role as Concubine. Legal background (e.g., attorney, law student, or pre-law student) a plus, but not required.