Comments on: MS Bar heard from in the Sun Herald http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/ Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:40:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: iratetoday http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16686 iratetoday Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:10:33 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16686 Hell, I 'm still waiting for electronic filing that the MSSC has been looking into for a few years... I think the biggest problem is the lack of being proactive. Hell, I ‘m still waiting for electronic filing that the MSSC has been looking into for a few years…

I think the biggest problem is the lack of being proactive.

]]> By: Ben Cole http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16677 Ben Cole Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:46:24 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16677 Generally, federal courts run circles around state courts in timely disposition of criminal cases. There are numerous reasons for this, most notably better staffed investigative resources, better staffed courts, significantly smaller caseloads, and, perhaps most importantly, well-developed case management plans drafted around the Speedy Trial Act. Federal courts put great stock in highly detailed statistical data compilation and analysis, all focused on keeping cases moving. As in most other aspects, Mississippi state courts are several decades behind the federal judiciary. We need to do better, but the standard canard says it all: "Forget it, Mack. It's Mississippi." Generally, federal courts run circles around state courts in timely disposition of criminal cases. There are numerous reasons for this, most notably better staffed investigative resources, better staffed courts, significantly smaller caseloads, and, perhaps most importantly, well-developed case management plans drafted around the Speedy Trial Act. Federal courts put great stock in highly detailed statistical data compilation and analysis, all focused on keeping cases moving. As in most other aspects, Mississippi state courts are several decades behind the federal judiciary. We need to do better, but the standard canard says it all: “Forget it, Mack. It’s Mississippi.”

]]> By: a friend of the law http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16673 a friend of the law Mon, 14 Apr 2008 03:58:05 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16673 Upon further review, my comment about the speed of the beef plant case may have been misplaced. IF this trial takes place in August as currently scheduled, then it will be on approx. the same fast timeline as the Scruggs case --- with each set for trial approx. 5 months out from the indictments. Maybe this will be the new standard timeline for these federal criminal cases involving corruption in MS --- 5 months from indictment to trial. Folks, that is FAST in the legal world. Upon further review, my comment about the speed of the beef plant case may have been misplaced. IF this trial takes place in August as currently scheduled, then it will be on approx. the same fast timeline as the Scruggs case — with each set for trial approx. 5 months out from the indictments.

Maybe this will be the new standard timeline for these federal criminal cases involving corruption in MS — 5 months from indictment to trial. Folks, that is FAST in the legal world.

]]> By: Douggie http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16653 Douggie Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:05:14 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16653 So will AG Hood's ethics be called into question? He admits that he is too close to many of these lawyers. How can he be an effective law enforcement officer? Time to resign ? So will AG Hood’s ethics be called into question?
He admits that he is too close to many of these lawyers. How can he be an effective law enforcement officer? Time to resign ?

]]> By: Nature Lover http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16652 Nature Lover Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:57:36 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16652 I would have to agree regarding the speed with which this was wrapped up. A prominent Madison County Il Plaintiffs attorney was accused of sexual and drug peccadilloes some 2+ years ago , was indicted April 2007 and had a March 17 trial date this year. It appears to have been further postponed . Mr Lakin tried copping a plea for the drugs but not the underage sex. The judge: "This case isn't like wine," Gilbert said. "It's not going to get better with age." The lakin case is quite parallel to Scruggs subbing sex for bribery and allowing the son off. Incidentally Courtney Cox is the Federal Atty in this district, and no, not that Courtney Cox. I would have to agree regarding the speed with which this was wrapped up. A prominent Madison County Il Plaintiffs attorney was accused of sexual and drug peccadilloes some 2+ years ago , was indicted April 2007 and had a March 17 trial date this year. It appears to have been further postponed . Mr Lakin tried copping a plea for the drugs but not the underage sex. The judge:
“This case isn’t like wine,” Gilbert said. “It’s not going to get better with age.”
The lakin case is quite parallel to Scruggs subbing sex for bribery and allowing the son off.

Incidentally Courtney Cox is the Federal Atty in this district, and no, not that Courtney Cox.

]]> By: MORE COWBELL http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16649 MORE COWBELL Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:20:46 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16649 They can still work at Adams & Reese. That's where George Dale is. You don't have to be a lawyer to work for a law firm. Just can't go to court. Can't wait to see what firm Patterson goes back to when he finishes his 12 months. They can still work at Adams & Reese. That’s where George Dale is. You don’t have to be a lawyer to work for a law firm. Just can’t go to court. Can’t wait to see what firm Patterson goes back to when he finishes his 12 months.

]]> By: a friend of the law http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16645 a friend of the law Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:33:58 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16645 Jim, I did not mean to imply that the entire ordeal was "over" or anything yet close to "mission accomplished". I was just referring to the US v Scruggs matter re the Lackey judicial bribery attempt. Yes, there were others involved in THAT matter who were not charged as defendants (eg PL Blake comes to mind, as does Ms Patterson, etc. etc. ). So, there may be more coming even regarding that particular set of facts, or there could be good reasons they weren't included in Round One (reasons that will be more clear to all of us down the road). I do think we will see more prosecutions on the way, at the appropriate time for the feds, re the DeLaughter related matters (to include Scruggs, Peters, and others). And there well may be other matters. I am just impressed with the speed in which all of Round One took place. Being a lawyer, I am unfortunately all too familiar with the usual slow speed of justice. In terms of legal time, this case was resolved at light speed. No, there is still more work to be done. More folks to prosecute. More corruption to be uncovered. The mission is not yet accomplished. And we can only hope that the latter rounds of this fight take place with the same speed and progression as this one did. Already, the recent beef processing matter is on the usual time track of "forever" (with no slight meant at all to NMC -- he is defending one of the defendants -- as it is to his client's advantage, for the most part, to delay and have as much time as needed). The trial in that case, as of now, has been delayed to the fall. I would be surprised if it even goes forward then. But, with a different judge, and different prosecutors, with a different sense of how fast things should proceed, you get different results. Such is why I was pointing this out. You just don't normally see cases like this Scruggs case proceed as fast as it did --- anywhere. And it was indeed refreshing. And I think it reflects well on our state. We (me included) always tend to focus on the bad, without pointing out the good. Well, chalk up one in the "good" column. And don't worry about seeing any of these folks practicing law in MS (or anywhere else for that matter), in the future. They have been or will be permanently disbarred. That party is over. Jim, I did not mean to imply that the entire ordeal was “over” or anything yet close to “mission accomplished”. I was just referring to the US v Scruggs matter re the Lackey judicial bribery attempt. Yes, there were others involved in THAT matter who were not charged as defendants (eg PL Blake comes to mind, as does Ms Patterson, etc. etc. ). So, there may be more coming even regarding that particular set of facts, or there could be good reasons they weren’t included in Round One (reasons that will be more clear to all of us down the road).

I do think we will see more prosecutions on the way, at the appropriate time for the feds, re the DeLaughter related matters (to include Scruggs, Peters, and others). And there well may be other matters.

I am just impressed with the speed in which all of Round One took place. Being a lawyer, I am unfortunately all too familiar with the usual slow speed of justice. In terms of legal time, this case was resolved at light speed.

No, there is still more work to be done. More folks to prosecute. More corruption to be uncovered. The mission is not yet accomplished. And we can only hope that the latter rounds of this fight take place with the same speed and progression as this one did.

Already, the recent beef processing matter is on the usual time track of “forever” (with no slight meant at all to NMC — he is defending one of the defendants — as it is to his client’s advantage, for the most part, to delay and have as much time as needed). The trial in that case, as of now, has been delayed to the fall. I would be surprised if it even goes forward then. But, with a different judge, and different prosecutors, with a different sense of how fast things should proceed, you get different results.

Such is why I was pointing this out. You just don’t normally see cases like this Scruggs case proceed as fast as it did — anywhere. And it was indeed refreshing. And I think it reflects well on our state. We (me included) always tend to focus on the bad, without pointing out the good. Well, chalk up one in the “good” column.

And don’t worry about seeing any of these folks practicing law in MS (or anywhere else for that matter), in the future. They have been or will be permanently disbarred. That party is over.

]]> By: Jim in Tupelo http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16641 Jim in Tupelo Sun, 13 Apr 2008 19:56:39 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16641 Friend of the Law, You wrote "At this time, a little over 4 months from when the stories first broke, the US v Scruggs case is essentially over, with the only remaining items being the sentencing of the defendants" For some reason this worries the heck out of me. I think there is a reason all five pleaded guilty so fast. I think that reason is, there are others implicated. Others that are or were in seats of power that could call the forces of hell down on them. I kinda figger that Scruggs Sr & Jr. will both be back in the limelight either practicing law or in politics in the future. Either way they keep their fortune and will be able to add to it. Faith in our system of laws? Not here in Mississippi. Friend of the Law, You wrote
“At this time, a little over 4 months from when the stories first broke, the US v Scruggs case is essentially over, with the only remaining items being the sentencing of the defendants”

For some reason this worries the heck out of me. I think there is a reason all five pleaded guilty so fast. I think that reason is, there are others implicated. Others that are or were in seats of power that could call the forces of hell down on them. I kinda figger that Scruggs Sr & Jr. will both be back in the limelight either practicing law or in politics in the future. Either way they keep their fortune and will be able to add to it.
Faith in our system of laws? Not here in Mississippi.

]]> By: waterwalkin http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16622 waterwalkin Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:54:23 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16622 "Smoke and Mirrors" “Smoke and Mirrors”

]]> By: Researcher http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16617 Researcher Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:15:02 +0000 http://www.folo.us/2008/04/13/ms-bar-heard-from-in-the-sun-herald/#comment-16617 I can think of something worse than bribing a judge in a dispute over attorney fees: Sentencing innocent people to death and/or prison using planted evidence and/or fraudulent forensic testimony. Don't let the bar or the state pretend that the only problems are the actions of Scruggs and his associates. I can think of something worse than bribing a judge in a dispute over attorney fees: Sentencing innocent people to death and/or prison using planted evidence and/or fraudulent forensic testimony. Don’t let the bar or the state pretend that the only problems are the actions of Scruggs and his associates.

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