9.05.2007

Californication


I've barely kept up with the trial of record producer Phil Spector in California, but I did see this today in the news:

The nine-man, three-woman jury is expected to hear two days of closing arguments by both sides. Superior Court Judge Larry Paul Fidler said he expects the case to be submitted to them on Friday.

Two days? Two days of closing arguments? California is insane. In Texas, you would be lucky to get 30 minutes. Maybe an hour if you had an a very unusual judge.

And even with those restrictions, I can't recall a single time a judge has told me during closing argument that I was "out of time." I think the attention span of jurors is much like mine: very, very short. Say it - with passion - and then shut up. Quickly.