» Entries tagged with "phoenix"
Our (Embarrassing) Contribution To The Dialogue
While the rest of the country protests the killing of unarmed black men by police, a group of conspicuously non-black demonstrators in Phoenix had themselves a little “pro-police rally.” The head boot licker organizer offered his enlightened opinion: He said cooperating with police would have prevented each of the incidents that protesters have been demonstrating about. “It’s simple. Don’t go out and commit crimes. Obey the laws,” he said. “If a cop tells you to stop, you do it. If a cop tells you to move to the side of the road, do it. Don’t strike an officer. Don’t get in a physical altercation with her. It’s going to end badly for you.” For those of you who don’t live here, now you know pretty much everything you need to know about … Read entire article »
Filed under: Government Rants
Watching The Watchers
Recent events in Ferguson, Missouri have drawn a great deal of attention to the issue of police brutality. One idea to address the problem involves equipping all police officers on patrol with body-worn cameras, which people apparently call BWCs. It is beyond me how people are even debating this. Study after study suggests that cops behave better when they wear BWCs. Compared to cops who wear BWCs, cops who do not wear BWCs are involved in many more use-of-force incidents and receive far more complaints. When two jurisdictions right here in Arizona, Mesa and Phoenix, had some of their officers wear BWCs, things were no different. In Mesa, there were 40 percent fewer total complaints and 75 percent fewer use of force complaints for officers with cameras. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Police
Technology Sure Is Grand
When the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office began using eDiscovery, “a web portal accessible from the World Wide Web that provides defense attorneys the ability to view/play and download case related discovery electronically,” I was almost enthusiastic. Anything apparently intended to make important information quickly and easily available to defense lawyers seems like a good idea to me. My first clue that it might not be so convenient came when I didn’t get to select my own user name. What they picked for me wasn’t bad, but it certainly wasn’t something easy to remember. My first password was a different story: Nz8+j0~H?f Got that? Didn’t think so. Here are the requirements for a password: When setting a password, make sure the password requirements are satisfied: – Must be a minimum … Read entire article »
Filed under: Prosecutors
Awareness
Over the past couple of years, I’ve become interested in auto sports. Not racing, really, but just taking a car around a road course. It’s a major niche market for the firm, which is why I started it and why I continue to do it, but it’s also a good time. I’m certainly no expert. However, I have learned quite a bit. As is often the case when learning something new, I’ve been continually surprised by how much there really is to learn. Driving once seemed so simple, but I now know that it really isn’t. How much braking power do you have? How much acceleration do you have? How does the road surface feel? How does your car feel? Do … Read entire article »
Filed under: Government Rants
Who Plans These Things?
Maricopa County Superior Court’s Downtown Regional Court Center, or “Downtown RCC” as they call it, may be the most irritating place in the state to handle a case. The Maricopa County regional court centers are where a lot of felony cases end up in their early stages. The cases I’ve had there are ones in which the county attorney has filed a complaint but probable cause has yet to be found for the charges by way of a grand jury indictment or preliminary hearing. When I’m at the Downtown RCC, I usually have to find out what the initial plea offer is and either affirm the preliminary hearing or request a continuance to see about getting a better offer or a dismissal. Downtown RCC is in the basement … Read entire article »
Filed under: Courts, Practice in General, Prosecutors
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