Motorist found guilty of 2nd degree murder in death of Long Beach girl (I was on the jury)

Long Beach Press Telegram ^

[wardaddy]

A drunk driver and a parent jaywalking with her children

article says they were in crosswalk...sounds like a tragedy and justice served according to law

[wardaddy]

I have lived in countries like that.

You hit something...even just a dog...you better keep going unless you want to be beaten to death

I’m not against vigilantism per se but it’s best more selective

[Gena Bukin]

Everyone deserves a defense thanks to the 6th Amendment. In some situations there is no defense, like this one. That does not mean that the Attorney should not give one.

Yep. Every defense attorney is obligated by professional conduct to provide a defense, even one that's totally absurd. If they don't defend their client, any guilty verdict could be thrown out for ineffective counsel. Nobody wants a retrial (except, perhaps, the defendant). In this way, a competent defense attorney actually aids the prosecution in reaching a verdict that will stand up under appeal. This is why the defense attorney will throw everything against the wall and see what sticks, no matter how ridiculous.

From the outside it looks like a mockery of justice but there's good reason for it. Most of the time it works. A good prosecutor will do his job and prove a truly guilty defendant guilty and because the defendant was adequately represented, this verdict has a better chance to remain in place.

[Lazlo in PA]

Good point. I forgot about the fact of a poor defense can lead in a dismissal or retrial.