The Conscience of Abe’s Turn freedom of speech, defense, and life

Samuel Goldberg has a great trial story about two cops who perhaps should’ve taken their jobs a little more seriously.

Speaking of trials, I have also told you that, at times, police officers (like any witnesses) may not find it necessary to limit themselves to the truth.

How dare I?

Let me tell you a little “war story” from my 25 years of trial experience.

Ollie Under The Influence (no, not his real name), was on trial for his 4th drunk driving offense…

The two Commonwealth witnesses were two police officers, whom we will call “Sgt. Sarcasm” and “Police Officer Openminded.”

Sgt Sarcasm was the first witness to testify… He started to show his cockiness with answers like, “Yeah, you could say that.”, as he shrugged his shoulders.

Always watching!
-TimK

An anonymous commenter wrote (poorly):

I’m 48 and law enforcement subhumans have fucked with me all my life, and I don’t have a record I try to live a lawful life as best I can. I call them subhumans because to be a law enforcer you had to have been a bully as a child, why they know better to fuck with people that will harm them. When a law enforcer approaches you in there corrupt minds you are guilty of something, so even if your dead right and know it, you have to prove yourself innocent. So to save yourself money and time, just play along with yes em officer I be going home right now and will do what you say, then when they turn there back just say fuck em…

The law is on there side all of the time and on your side sometimes, remember you are guilty in the eyes of the law until you prove yourself innocent Not innocent till proven guilty as it is written.

“Subhumans…” Hmm… I might not have put it so colorfully—or maybe I would have. And I (hopefully) wouldn’t have made so many spelling errors. Regardless, there’s unfortunately a lot of truth in this tirade.

One of the blogs in my blogroll is the Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog, written by Samuel Goldberg, a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor. He’s always warning his readers:  read more »

Think that if you’re innocent, you have nothing to hide? Or that if you are suspected of a crime, you are still innocent until proven guilty? Think the Salem witch trials, the Japanese-American internment camps, the House Un-American Activities Committee, and Guantánamo Bay are all just historical aberrations that don’t apply to normal people?

Samuel B. Goldberg is a veteran criminal defense attorney. He says he’s seen prosecuted just about every crime there is. And here’s what he says in his Halloween post:

People believe that the police and prosecutors are simply trying to find the truth and “do Justice.” However, most criminal investigations these days, in my opinion, are backwards. The truth is decided and then the investigation to prove the facts really starts. I am not saying that this is intentional, but it happens. As a result, people’s actions, which can often be interpreted in many different ways, are interpreted in the way which fits “the case.”

(Click here for the entire blog post.)