Judge in Binion case chastises defense lawyer for memo

AP ^ | 1/27/5

[SmithL]

LAS VEGAS (AP) --

The judge in the Ted Binion murder case sharply criticized a lawyer representing Montana contractor Rick Tabish for writing a letter outlining questionable legal strategies.

"This is why the public hates lawyers, why lawyers have a bad rap," Bonaventure told lawyer Joseph Caramagno during a contentious hearing Wednesday. "It's because of tactics like this."

Bonaventure was enraged about a two-page note Caramagno wrote to Tabish's brother earlier this month, which was contained in a motion filed by co-counsel J. Tony Serra.

In the letter, Caramagno detailed a plan to hire a high-profile lawyer to goad Bonaventure into a shouting match when Tabish is sentenced for stealing Binion's silver.

"You passed the bar in 2003," Bonaventure told Caramagno. "You presume to know me? You know my 30-year career? You dare assume what I am going to think?"

Caramagno theorized in the letter that if Bonaventure made inflammatory statements about Tabish during sentencing, then Tabish could use the shouting match to appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

Bonaventure said Wednesday that Caramagno's strategy was based on deception, bad lawyering, and that such deception goes against lawyers' professional code of conduct.

"A lawyer is to advocate strongly for his client, not conjure up schemes to undercut our system," the judge said. "I'll leave this matter to our state bar to decide, without any involvement from me.

[SmithL]

It's the 99%.

[rellimpank]

--yeah,but Bonaventure goes for the camera like a congressman.

He should be judging cabbages at the county fair instead of cases that affect lives---