For rufinia

[lumineaux]

Be careful out there!

Defendant Loses Right to a Lawyer After Allegedly Stabbing 3 of Them with Pencils or Pens in Court

Posted Nov 2, 2011 5:55 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/defendant_loses_right_to_a_lawyer_after_stabbing_three_of_them_with_pencils/?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email

Comments

[subdivisions.livejournal.com]

It's probably wrong that this statement made me laugh:

"Judge David Kurtz said Monson would have to defend himself without a lawyer and would be strapped to a special chair for the rest of the trial. Kurtz advised jurors to ignore the incident, the restraints and the lawyer's absence."

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

Somehow I see this as potential grounds for a successful appeal. Then again, I don't know all the rules. But I would have thought after the first time they might have done something a bit more effective to protect the defense counsel.

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

Well, the courts do try not to reward defendants for assaulting their attorneys by giving them free appeals.

[bds-duncan.livejournal.com]

That would be logical. However, given decisions the emanate from some benches around the country, the poor layman might be excused from wondering. :-)

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

I did know there's a point where you are so much of a problem you don't get a lawyer anymore, but I would think he'd learn that maybe stabbing people is a bad idea....

[lumineaux.livejournal.com]

I guy I used to work with got punched by one of his clients when he was a public defender in Philly. They really don't learn.