Defending People

the tao of criminal defense trial lawyering

Asshat Lawyer of the Day Kirk Bernard

Mark Bennett | June 12, 2009

Washington personal injury lawyer Kirk Bernard.
No editorializing required—Kirk makes it look so easy.
(H/T Kevin O’Keefe via Twitter.)
(More: Kirk Bernard is a Slime Ball.)

Entitled Asshat of the Day

Mark Bennett | January 29, 2009

From Above the Law:
A promising Harvard Law School standout told cops during a bizarre
drunken tirade that he would “lie and cheat” to ruin them if — as a
future attorney — he ever calls them to a witness stand, police said.
The 3L, an unpaid intern for prosecutors in Dorchester County District courts, also “badged” the cops:
“Give [...]

It’s Thursday, and R.W. Lynch Still Lies

Mark Bennett | January 28, 2009

Telephone message from Terry Fifer, Tel. 480-345-3324: “New case — an injury that I was involved in. Please call me.”
Since a) I don’t take injury cases; b) this is an out-of-town number; and c) the call went directly to my answering service (a listed number, but not one that I give out, so that the [...]

It’s Wednesday Morning, and DUI Hotline Network Still Sucks.

Mark Bennett | December 3, 2008

Just yesterday I wrote about DUI Hotline Network’s comment spam program, and the lawyers who are responsible for it.
Today I had three more spam comments either from sumit_2588@hotmail.com or from m.creativestrokes@yahoo.com with links to a “duihotline.com” website — in these instances, the website for New Jersey firm Levow and Associates:
Kevin
sumit_2588@hotmail.com | 59.178.51.167
Those people who are [...]

Somewhere Napoleon is Smiling

Mark Bennett | November 25, 2008

Over two years ago, shortly before the most recent election for the fifteen Harris County Criminal Court at Law (misdemeanor) benches, there was a brouhaha at the Harris County Criminal Justice Center about a politically incorrect email sent by CCCL6 Judge Larry Standley to other judges:
The issue: an e-mail [captioned, "What in the world is [...]

ADA: Advertising Makes the Man Edition

Mark Bennett | November 10, 2008

Spending lots of money on the web advertising yourself as a “DWI Lawyer” when you have taken only six criminal cases, only four of which were DWI cases (PDF) — and have never handled one to completion — in your home county in the three years you’ve been licensed is not quite enough, by itself, [...]

That Sharolyn Wood Is Such a Joker.

Mark Bennett | November 6, 2008

From this morning’s Chronicle story (by Mary Flood and Brian Rogers) on the ouster of the Republican judges:
Civil District Judge Sharolyn Wood, who lost the seat she’s had since 1985, lamented that voters have lost “about 250 years of judicial experience” in this sweep. She said Harris County’s judiciary has been kept stable by an [...]

Video Special: More of the Same

Mark Bennett | October 3, 2008

Like the man says, I have no sense of humor when it comes to totalitarianism, but maybe this was amusing the first time:

It was probably not as funny the second time:

And you’d hope this guy would have flat-out known better:

Badvertising Hall of Shame / ADA

Mark Bennett | June 30, 2008

From the website of Andy Nolen, who practices in the Harris County Criminal Justice Center:

RATED BY GOOGLE AND YAHOO AS ONE OF HOUSTON’S:
BEST CRIMINAL ATTORNEYS
BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
BEST CRIMINAL LAW FIRMS
BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE TRIAL LAWYERS

I suppose he would say that his name pops up in a search for “best criminal attorneys Houston” [...]

Diplomatic?

Mark Bennett | April 30, 2008

My lawyer informs me that, since I’m going to be HCCLA president next year (actually next week), I’m going to have to start being more “diplomatic”.
I’m not sure I can do that.
But I’ll try. . . . starting tomorrow.
Today’s Asshat of the Day Award (henceforth “ADA”) is shared by every 25-28 year old lawyer who [...]