Liberally Lean From The Land Of Dairy Queen

11.05.2009

Allow Me To Rant

Here's how it works. A person gets arrested (whether it be for a first degree felony or an outstanding traffic ticket) and then are taken to the Wise County Jail. From there, they are told the Justice of the Peace will be there tomorrow morning to set his or her bond. And they aren't getting out of the hoosegow until they post bond. The problem is that at least one of our JPs has a hard time showing up at a reasonable time. Case in point was today. Something stupid happened in Runaway Bay yesterday that caused a 17 year old to go to jail (for swearing) at around 5:00 p.m. The charge is a Class C misdemeanor of Disorderly Conduct punishable by a maximum fine of $500 (it's like a traffic ticket.) His non-Wise-County-living parents, obviously, were frantic last night about having a teenaged son arrested but were told that "the judge will be in here in the morning." This even prompted two lawyers to contact me last night to see if there was anything I could do. Nope. Nothing. So this kid gets to hang out with a bunch of meth heads last night. Does the judge show up at 8:00 a.m.? Nope. 9:00? Nope. 10:00? Nope. 11:00? Nope. 12:00? Yep. (To be fair, it was shortly before 12.) I've known a JP to show up in the afternoon to set bonds. Do you know how many people this tardiness inconveniences? You might not care about a 17 year old or anyone else arrested, but misdemeanor arrests can lead to job loses if people don't get released. There are also concerned family members who are inconveniencing jail staff members by trying to determine if a bond has been set. They are either bugging those sweet ladies in the reception area, or another receptionist is answering the phone and then transferring the call to the jail area where another gal has to answer the question of "Has a bond been set on xxxxx" for the millionth time. And when a bond is set around noon, you have the mass bond writing process and bookout procedure occurring at the same time the jail staff is trying to feed over 100 inmates. Which JPs are guilty of this? Not all. I have an idea of the worst offender(s) but don't have any personal knowledge of this. Those that are part of the process might have some insight.

Thursday (Yep, Thursday) Afternoon Pick Me Up

(Kate Hudson)

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

The TABC raid of the gay friendly Rainbow Lounge in Fort Worth has lead to a ton of knee jerk reactions. How far has it gone? A city-sponsored diversity task force recommended yesterday that city insurance cover sex-change operations.
Our Sheriff had a 5 pound 14 ounce bundle of joy yesterday. Well, his wife had the baby.
The Yankees win the world series with nine players who make over $10 million a year and a total payroll over $200 million. And this is supposed to be a competitive sport? You baseball fans are crazy.
The serial killer I mentioned yesterday now has a body count up to 11.
I'm looking forward to Sarah Palin's book tour. There's no way she won't say something crazy.
In my endless journey to attend football stadiums, I thought about seeing an Arkansas game in Fayetteville this weekend. Except there is no easy way to get to Fayetteville.
And the fact that the Decatur County Court at Law scheduled hearings for late Friday afternoon didn't help my planning schedule.
Whataburger in Decatur now has some drive through traffic go to the outside lane where an employee will come out, deliver your food, take your money, go back inside, and come back with change. That beats me down and makes me feel compelled to tip.
Motorcycle death yesterday. Cooler weather = more bikers = more of these stories.
Saw a lawyer at a driver's license hearing in Fort Worth yesterday who had no idea what he was doing. And I see him in Decatur from time to time.
Huge Wise County employer Devon had a tough third quarter: They saw net income fall to half a billion dollars. Did I say half a billion? Yes. Yes, I did.
Two actresses I love that haven't had any fun girl roles lately: Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson.
Runaway Bay officers arrested a 17 year old yesterday for cussing. Yep, cussing. He spent the night in the Wise County Jail.
In 2002, Troy Aikman was called during halftime of a game he was broadcasting and offered the job of quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles. Really.

11.04.2009

Thursday Afternoon Pick Me Up

This Thing Is All Over Decatur Today

Limited Interest

This isn't all that exciting, but since I know my lawyer buddies and a ton of folks from law enforcement check in here from time to time, I thought I'd point out that Denny Crane has a pretty remarkable video posted of a deputy removing a document from a defense lawyer's file during a hearing.

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts

A mass murderer flying under the media radar: 10 bodies have been found in and around a sex offender's home within the last week. I may a couple of references to Jeffrey Dahmer and look what happens.
Man, Fox News was giddy last night about a spare Republican winning a spare Governor's race in Virginia saying it was an indicator that "America was rejecting Obama's policies." Puhleeze. It's Virginia.
And the GOP did lose a Congressional seat in New York. That might be a little more important.
Dirk had 29 points in the 4th quarter last night. Don't care.
Matthew McConaughey is 40 today. Hear that ladies? 40.
I'm pretty sure this most boring trial in the history of ever is going on in the District Court in Decatur right now. Something about whether a bridge is public or private and whether the county should be responsible for maintaining it.
I just look at the lawyers involved in that case and wonder if that's what they envisioned for their lives.
Not much noise about the Bridgeport/Decatur game this year.
Still not sure about the new Fox 4 Good Day girl.
When the news reports that constitutional amendments "passed with flying colors" what exactly does "with flying colors" mean?
There are always wet/dry alcohol elections to legalize the sale of the stuff, but is there ever an election to convert a wet city to a dry city?
Weird: Three college softball players go star gazing and end up drowned in a pond in their vehicle.
Awkward moment when a little kid decided to run beside me in a park two days ago while I jogged. What should be a refreshing and cute moment was ruined as I feared his parents were watching him with concern because he was running alongside a stranger. Cute kid though. Looked like a little Forrest Gump whose leg braces had just fallen off.
More on the death of plaintiff's lawyer John O'Quinn who died in a traffic accident after missing a flight: "O’Quinn called . . . at around 7 a.m. to say he was on his way [to the airport] and to ask [fellow Plaintiff's lawyer] Christian to see if Southwest Airlines would hold the flight for him." Really? Hold a flight because you are running late?
The Jacksboro Sheriff's Office have a "Search and Seizure Sergeant"? Not so sure about that.
A jury in Fort Worth is struggling in the guilt/not guilt phase of a capital murder trial. Used to be, if the State wanted the death penalty they would get it. Now they struggle with even getting a conviction.
Junior Miller on The Ticket yesterday described his running of the New York City marathon on Sunday. Man, that sounds like a great experience.

11.03.2009

Bonds. School Bonds.

The Messenger will have the election results here for Decatur and Bridgeport ISDs. (Edit: Sheesh. Look under the voting results. It looks like a paid political ad "For" the bond proposals.) I'm guessing both pass. The early voting locations, catering to those who most certainly will for "For", will simply be too much to overcome. And since the Early Voting numbers will be released first, we'll get a chance to validate my theory. Edit: Early voting indicates I'm a genius about Bridgeport and an idiot about Decatur.

Edit: At around 8:00 p.m., the Messenger's web site's wheels fell off. Edit: Wheels back on at 8:29. Edit: We have a Final. Split decision in Bridgeport (and the early voting is the only reason one passed). Decatur bond issue defeated with a TKO.

Post Halloween Pick Me Up

That crazy Kim Kardashian didn't disappoint.

You're All Out Of Order!

[Video Should Be Embedded Here. But since it's not working, here's the link.] Since I'm pretty much an expert on justice (little known fact), I got distracted by the crazy facts behind this Assault In The Courtroom '09 video. A girl is dead because she went out with friends, drank to the point of alcohol poisoning, and also froze in a parked car. And the two ladies that go out with her are being charged with a crime for that? Say what? All you take-personal-responsibility-right-wingers have got to be with me on this one, right? I mean, the family suing the bar, or the alcohol companies, or her clothing manufacturer would make perfect sense, but for the State to charge these girls criminally? Get out. (And, as the video points out, there are two defendants. The defendant that was not attacked by momma was the momma's other daughter.)

What The Heck Is That Thing For?

I don't understand all the utilities around the City of Decatur. The pic above is outside my office which is beginning to look like Beirut circa 1985. We have this Main Street renovation project come through which tore up the curbs and replaced them with nice new ones. And they also installed a couple of fancy light poles (background) although one is perilously close to a low hanging power line. But now a city crew comes in and installs the "High Voltage" box and also installs a short and stubby telephone pole to attach it upon. What the heck is it for? And is there any better place to install it then next to the street in a sidewalk?

Local Halloween Flavor

Above pic from Bridgeport. Taken by Joe Duty who also has a slideshow on his blog from the generic Halloween Ball at the Decatur Civic Center. (Which looks like quite a production but I'm not sure about attendance.)

There's A Naked Pumpkin Run?

Link. (Thanks, Lori.)

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

Foreigner (that's a band from the World War II era) was on Fox's 4 Good Day this morning. I saw them the only time I was outside of the Today Show studio one morning in New York. Amazingly, not that bad.
The story from last week about the clerk who stole the $1 million lottery ticket from the man keeps getting stranger. But I didn't know the victim's name was "Willis Willis."
I power down when I hear someone do a Forrest Gump impersonation.
Update on the Florida player that was trying to gouge the other player's eyes out that I posted yesterday: He has been suspended by the coach for 1/2 of the next game against Vanderbilt.
This is my favorite time of year to run outside. Great weather. Trees changing. Girlfriend in my closet.
I'm told the World Series is going on, and I'm told the Phillies have won two games when they have started pitcher Cliff Lee. Do you know who the Rangers shelled in the first game of the year for seven runs in five innings? Yep, Cliff Lee. (h/t Richie Whitt)
It'll be interesting to see if this actually turns into a controversy: A hawt Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader goes to a Halloween Party as Lil' Wayne complete with black face. (Although she looks more like she got stuck in a tanning bed.) Edit: Better pics.
I always forget about The Comedy Channel.
I represented someone yesterday who accepted a plea bargain for six years in the pen after he had been free while on bond. There's nothing worse than seeing a client taken into custody. (He wasn't eligible for probation and faced a maximum of 20 years).