It’s interesting when personalities start to emerge from the details of a story, and that’s starting to happen with the two new conversations involving Sid Backstrom. Put these together with the one noted the other day (where he’s horrified that Balducci wants A WHOLE HOUR of his time) and a picture starts to emerge:
Sid Backstrom as Eeyore.
Except that in the company he’s keeping he may have reason to be discouraged.
But what we have here are conversations where Sid is discouraged because he’s being trapped listening to Zach and Dickie go on and on, or discouraged because of the way Dickie will go charging off in too many different directions (he’s horrified that Balducci is going to suggest another option, of bribing the judge big-time for outright dismissal. Just get the order signed!), or discouraged about having to sit there and listen to BIG SHOT Tim Balducci bloviate about his BIG SHOT plans.
I sorta feel bad for him. Almost. Not quite.
Sid’s most-frequent line is “Mm-hmm” so far.
Except when he gets going on his house-building and kids’ trick-or-treating. *Sigh*
When I read the Mmm Hmmm over and over, I thought that he might be suspicious of Balducci since that’s when Tim was asking if they wanted the whole she-bang or just the arbitration… but the his reply seemed to indicate that he didn’t suspect it.
Also, he used the P word.
Nuff said.
Jane, I don’t think you’ve undermined my basic observation
I have the distinct impression that Sid feels that he is having to do all the work while all these other guys run aroun yakking all the time.
Recall the moment when Balducci shows up late to drop off the order and pick up the check and the only person there is Sid.
It struck me that all these guys seem to be flying flags of convenience. They don’t really appear to actually like one another, and indeed there seems to be a certain degree of contempt for and suspicion of each other.
And all the talk about throwing the big drunk for the Ole Miss-LSU game (or whatever it was) was just dispiriting.
I have a question. Other than the 11/1 90 minute conversation and the 11/13 call to Backstrom, I don’ t see any new facts in these pleadings. There’s some narrative here and there, but what’s said is stuff we already know about. Am I missing anything that anyone has noticed?
Another observation I’d like to hear comment about: The 90 minute conversation is the first one where inflection on the tape is going to be really important, because I suspect the edge of irony or sarcasm that Scruggs showed when he told Balducci he really loved doing voir dire, as he said he’d get him another $10K check to use to bribe the judge, is going to really hurt him.
am I being excruciating again?
No, realistic was the term that popped into my head.
Excruciatingly realistic
The thing that is most offensive to me (at least at this point after one quick reading) is the rather casual way that this is being discussed as if it is business as usual. That there is no need for anything to be hidden or kept under wraps as if this was no big deal to any of the main players. Just another day at the office.
And Backstrom not wanting to “overreach”??? Now bless his heart. Isn’t he just the most delicate one. Apparently bribery is ok as long as you don’t overreach. And to then make a joke of it as in, “We just cut out for about three minutes there and I didn’t hear any of that” and then laughs at his joke.
Help me folks, I may be losing my objectivity here.
Agreed, TL…this clearly isn’t the first time that any of these have laid the corn on the ground. They’re jaded about it. Which leads me to believe that there are definitely more indictments to come…. Harvest Time is Coming!
tiredlwyr Said:
“The thing that is most offensive to me (at least at this point after one quick reading) is the rather casual way that this is being discussed as if it is business as usual. That there is no need for anything to be hidden or kept under wraps as if this was no big deal to any of the main players. Just another day at the office.”
My thoughts exactly
This really doesn’t belong in this string but I’m just venting here. That crack team of journalists and investigative reporters at the CL still have not one word up about the events of today. I guess it depends on whose ox it is………………
tiredlwr– don’t forget award winning!
I will say this. I would wish some of these guys thought a little more about their stories and worried somewhat less about being on the web first. Of course, I’m not really the one to say that, but I’m regularly bothered by how half-baked some of the stories about this seem. I write (or type) at a pretty high velocity, but I have a full time job and invariable am aware of very important stuff the press is missing about this mess. Oh, well. Save it for a book.
I feel much better now…………..
NMC, what flummoxes me is how much faster yer brain goes than yer fingers. It’s good I have to hunt&peck at the keys . . . that rhythm fits my brain waves poifeckly.
Some believe a undertaker will be needed soon Government’s transcripts may be fatal for Scruggs
I’m not sure what you’re telling me here Lotus.
I guess my alternatives are: 1) Do what Alan Lange does and post doc without comment. That’s no fun. The whole fun here is writing about this stuff. 2) Slow down a lot and thereby deny everyone the HEADLINE NEWS part of the blog. Hey, isn’t part of our rep how quickly we get things up with analysis? 3) Keep doing what I’m doing at the expense of typos and other things that have to be corrected as I go along.
The other possibility is a Folo pool to pay me my hourly rate to blog, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
DEATH BY TRANSCRIPTS!
In other news, today the defendant _________ had a fatal transcript.
Muddle along as bes’ ye can, NMC. Who knows, maybe someday folo’ll make your hourly rate per week . . .
I’m suffering from information overload. NMC, how do you practice law and do all of this, too?
Based on the reading I’ve done since I got home, and I’m not through yet, I can see that Dickie hasn’t changed a bit since I worked with him long ago.
I would love to hear more about that, MsLawyer. I’m curious if my guesses about how he goes about practicing law are right.
No hints as to how you practice law AND keep us all informed to-the-minute?
MyThoughts – I can only guess starbucks considers NMC a profit center!
pretty foul- mouthed bunch. i hope i don’t curse that much and not realize it. especially when I am ostensibly talking business.
I noticed in the post that mention was made of Tim being a big shot, well most people that I have talked with think that he is a “weesel” no one ever thought much of him, trusted him etc…reminds me of a used car sales man.
Stormy, I meant big-shot-in-his-mind-only. He’s got this “I’m BIG STUFF NOW” spiel he always seems to be running. That’s one of many reasons he’s annoying. The weasel-thing is a bigger one.
My Thoughts:
I type very fast (although Lotus would tell you with too many typos). I enjoy dashing off smart-ass comments here as a break from work. Occasionally, it has got the better of work, though not so much lately.
And, yes, local coffee shops are a major part of the deal. Not necessarily Starbucks, though.
Even IF (Big, big if here) any of these defendants “walk” from the charges due to legal manuevering, technicalities, or a whacky jury verdict in their favor, each one is a HUGE LOSER in the Court of public opinion. And I would expect the MS BAR to come down pretty hard on each for the obvious ethical violations (whether ultimately deemed criminal or not). None of these guys will likely ever practice law again —at a minimum. And even if they did, could you imagine the scrutiny (and perhaps even contempt) they would get from opposing counsel.
My first letter to one of them would start with a declaratory statement along the lines of : Despite your high opinion of yourself and low opinion of us other “dumb ass” lawyers , please be on notice that we plan to be vigilant and report any known or suspected spreading of the corn, transfer of sweet potatoes, or other such means of corrupting the judge, jury, or any witnesses in this case. If you and your client should be fortunate enough to prevail in this case, it will be by the old fashioned way — actual lawyer skills, favorable facts, and legitimate and honorable means.
afotl, surely-to-gawd you’re right about the MS Bar’s pulling their tickets. If not, y’all have my permission to fry said MS Bar in its own lard.
I’m not too keen on the Mississippi Bar these days considering the rampant secrecy that goes on behind its doors.
I (like many other attys I am certain) have spoken to the full-time employed head of the MS Bar organization about these matters.
Lets let these matters play out first before casting judgement on the MS Bar. And keep in mind that the Bar has limited investigatory powers on its own — while it has the ability to compel its members to give testimony and produce evidence as a condition to maintaining their license to practice, it has ZERO power to compel testimony and production of evidence from non-lawyer witnesses. Thus, in many respects, it must rely upon the work of law enforcement to generate the evidence needed for action. And keep in mind that the Bar generally does not act unless there is a formal complaint filed by someone.
As part of their plea deals, Balducci and Langston have already permanently surrendered their law licenses. Patterson was not a real lawyer, although he apparently stayed at a Holiday Inn and pretended to be one.
The fate of Scruggs, little Scruggs, and Backstrom awaits. If any of them are found guilty of or plead guilty to any type of felony, then the MSBar can disbar them immediately without even a hearing and with no need for a formal complaint filed by anyone. In the absense of a felony charge, the Bar would then be able to initiate proceedings to disbar these defendants upon a formal complaint being filed (and trust me, there will be several) —a process that would give the defendants a chance to defend themselves with evidence and a hearing. The Bar could compel their testimony, and could use the criminal file documents (including any non-lawyer witness testimony) in making its decision.
I realize that in the age of the internet, when morning news is old news by the end of the day, folks want things to happen at light speed. But, with respect to the law, things do not happen that fast. People, including lawyers, still have legal and constitutional rights that must be protected in any process. And thank GOD for those constitutional rights. It is the only thing that may protect me or you one day from a lynch mob.
Patience. Let the legal system work. And let the MS Bar rules work. Patience.
Given the casualness of the conversations re. getting the Judge’s orders written as desired, leads one to the mantra of “another day, another bribe”. One wonders how many others received yams and when they will be identified. This could drag on for some time and have strange effects.
I can see civil trials being retried if original presiding judges were involved in accepting bribes or other favors in non related cases, it colors all decisions.