On Friday, 3 men pleaded guilty to first and second-degree murder of 3 children but, minutes later, told the judge they were innocent of the same crime. This unique and rare plea agreement, called an Alford plea, enables a defendant…
Blog Archives
Innocent but Guilty: “West Memphis 3” Alford Plea
Tagged with: Alford Plea, Criminal Law, From the Sidebar, Guilty Plea, Hayes Hunt, Innocenct, Justice, Malicious Prosecution, Parole, Plea Agreement, Prosecution, West Memphis 3
Posted in Prosecution & Defense
Posted in Prosecution & Defense
In Brief: 10 Qs to Jeff Friedman, Manager of Civic Innovation and Participation – Philadelphia
Interview with Jeff Friedman, Manager of Civic Innovation and Participation City of Philadelphia – Mayor’s Office 1. What is “Civic Innovation and Participation” for the City of Philadelphia? It’s what the City and its partners are doing at the intersection…
Tagged with: City of Philadelphia, Civic Innovation and Participation, Code for America, From the Sidebar, Hayes Hunt, Jeff Friedman, OpenAccessPhilly
Posted in Interviews
Posted in Interviews
Using Social Media to Track Juror’s Online Postings
By Thomas G. Wilkinson, Jr. and Lindsey E. Wilkinson Just as lawyers now routinely conduct due diligence on opposing parties’ social media pages (see our July 20 Sidebar post), some lawyers also are monitoring postings by jurors on social media…
Tagged with: Due Dillgence, Facebook, From the Sideabr, Hayes Hunt, Juror Misconduct, Jurors, Jury, Mistrial, Social Media, Social Media Law, Thomas Wilkinson, Trial, Trial Practice, Twitter law
Posted in Trial
Posted in Trial
The Usual Stipulations – Deposition Mythology
Every lawyer has heard the phrase “usual stipulations” at their first deposition. I swallowed a few four-letter words in my stomach the first time I heard the suggested “usual” stips.” Nothing was usual! This was my first deposition and although…
The “W” Words of Direct Examination
By Benjamin E. Zuckerman As any trial lawyer knows, direct exams are often more difficult than cross. During cross-examination you are in charge. You make the witness tell your story by asking her leading questions that let you control the…
10 Things a Lawyer Should Never Say in a Social Setting – Cocktail Party Chatter
Many lawyers have a tendency to brag about their work over cocktails with just about anybody who cares to listen. It is a combination of ego and selling. Recently, I was a faculty panel member at a PA Bar Institute program entitled “Cocktail…
Tagged with: attorney-client privilege, Chris Fallon, Cocktail Party, Confidentiality, From the Sidebar, Hayes Hunt, Rules of Professional Conduct
Posted in Privilege
Posted in Privilege
Search Warrant Protocol – What Every Company Should Do to Prepare
There are many ways by which the Government, federal or state, can appear at a company’s doorstep. The most disruptive and unnerving is when government agents show up in the company’s lobby to serve and execute a search warrant. Is…
Witness Preparation – Ask Your Questions. Get the Right Answer
Witness preparation is one of the most important components of trial and litigation practice. A simple but overlooked part of preparation is asking your witness your actual questions. You may have two or twenty essential questions that you must ask…
Tagged with: Coaching, Cozen O'Connor, Deposition, From the Sidebar, Hayes Hunt, Questions and Answers, Trial, Witness Preparation
Posted in Trial
Posted in Trial
Will, Kate and Royal Prenuptials
By Jennifer Brandt We all sat transfixed last week as Will and Kate finally tied the knot. The pageantry and revelry accompanying their wedding was a fairy tale brought to life. But, what went on between the couple in those…
Tagged with: Cozen O'Connor, Family Law, Hayes Hunt, Jennifer Brandt, Kate Middleton, Marriage, Prenuptial Agreement, Prince William, Royal Wedding
Posted in Litigation
Posted in Litigation
Are Judicial Rulings Based Only on Facts and Law? Justice, Wheaties and Timeouts.
Most judges, lawyers and anyone that watched an episode of Matlock would suggest that judicial rulings are based solely on law and facts. After all, Justice is blind, and an objective Judiciary must apply facts to the law and render an impartial…
Tagged with: Closing Arguments, Economist, Galleon Trial, Hayes Hunt, Impartial Judiciary, Jonathan Levav, Judges, Judiciary, Jury, Justice, Parole, Shai Danzinger, The Science of Justice
Posted in Prosecution & Defense
Posted in Prosecution & Defense
