There is no sense of the drama I got in the courtroom today in the media coverage. Maybe it’s a lawyer thing, but what I saw with Judge Lackey was the most dramatic witness I’ve seen in court, and it was fascinating watching the cross-examination (which evermore did not work out). This was movie-level courtroom drama, and the media accounts did not capture it.
There were cameras etc. in the courtroom today, somewhat to my surprise. Above is a photo from today’s Oxford Eagle (by Bruce Newman) of Grady Tollison questioning Dickie Scruggs.
The Oxford Eagle’s Alyssa Schnugg had the earliest deadline (it’s an afternoon paper) but probably the best, albeit brief (thanks to her deadine), story. Here it is (not a permalink, and sorry for those who try to get the story later).
Here is Patsy Brumfeld’s article in today’s Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. It’s okay.
The Clarion Ledger seems to have gone with a very slight AP story.
Will someone tell me why neither the AP story nor the Daily Journal story capture the “monster” part of the hearing? That may have been the most compelling bit of courtroom drama I ever saw.
Update: Best story yet about the hearings yesterday is from Paul Quinn, a student journalist at the Daily Mississippian. Here it is. Small correction: Daniel, Coker is the law firm representing the non-Scruggs Katrina groupies, not the lawyer himself. There were three different lawyers from the Daniel, Coker firm in court, led by Larry Moffett who I think is the one mentioned in the story.
Just WOW, NMC. The fuzziness of the reprint lets me look at this photo and expect that standing, gesturing figure to turn around and be Charles Laughton himself.
Alyssa’s story is very good, but I’m assuming the “monster” stunner came after her deadline or she’d have led with it. Why that word isn’t tall all over this morning’s headlines makes no sense to me. Good lord, when has anyone ever heard something like that from a testifying judge?
Journal and Clarion Ledger error to the side of Scruggs! Have all along. There is your answer. Remember Brumfield’s puff story about Langston?
I’m not sure why the photo is so grainy, etc. I’ve had better luck with Bruce’s other photos.
The timing on the events in this hearing was as bad as possible for Alyssa’s deadlines– I think Judge Lackey actually took the stand about when her normal deadlines would be up, and the best stuff from the hearing was well after that.
There’s a decent story (with tape of Tollison questioning Scruggs and Judge Lackey explaining his reaction to the original approach, along with a comment from me explaining an adverse inference) on Mississippi Public Radio this morning. It’s being played right after every half hour.
NMC the best coverage is on this blog and we have you to thank for that.
FINALLY, one paper gets The Quote — and it’s our pal dmwriter in the Daily Mississippian:
‘Course, Khayat may now be looking for him, to personally expel him for conduct unbecoming a toady . . .
‘Tis true NMC. I was able to sneak in the first part of his testimony. The rest will be in this afternoon’s addition along with this morning’s ruling.
Look’s like Jones will be a very rich man soon. And I’m sure Tollison will get a nice chunk of change. The usual is 30 percent right?
No idea what his fee arrangement is, LydiaLaw. There’s a large range of possibilities.
Reader FR has just emailed to alert me that clicking on this photo will get you a much clearer version — and bedawg if Grady don’t look more like Charles Laughton than ever. Thanks, FR.
Thanks for the props guys, thedmonline got about 400 extra clicks today because of your linking my story.
Khayat hasn’t called me in yet but I wouldn’t be surprised if I have a hold on registering. Thank the Lord I have already signed up!