Jury selections started on Monday, May 22 in the criminal case of Bill Cosby. Cosby is charged with aggravated indecent sexual assault in the case of alleged victim Andrea Constand. Constand alleges that in either January or February of 2004 that Cosby drugged her and then sexually assaulted her. The State’s Attorney filed charges within days before the statute of limitations tolled or ended any possible charges being filed. Since then, Cosby has become a pariah with most persons including his former celebrity friends shunning him and judging him guilty of Constand’s assault and those of 60 other alleged victims. On June 5, 2017, Cosby will only face the charges of Constand. The other alleged victims’ cases statute of limitations expired. So those women mostly place their hopes in Constand that justice will be served in her case—thus vindicating the others who can’t press charges. Constand’s case is far from a slam dunk. In reality, it faces many uphill climbs … [Read more...] about Bill Cosby Goes to Trial and Just Might Win
Archives for May 2017
Blacks Go to Jail for Killing Dogs; Whites Stay Out of Jail for Killing Blacks
I was on Twitter last night when I found out that Tulsa Police Officer Betty Shelby had been acquitted for killing Terence Crutcher, an unarmed Black man. There have been so many police killings of unarmed Blacks with so few charges brought or guilty verdicts that I have become numb. But yesterday’s verdict of Tulsa police officer Betty Shelby struck a raw nerve. As a former prosecutor, I respect law abiding police; I detest those officers who lack the temperament, skills and self-control to wear a police uniform. Terence Crutcher is just the latest unarmed Black victim in a decades long string of Black victims killed at the hands of police without justice. On September 16, 2016, Betty Shelby stated she fired her gun killing Terence Crutcher out of fear. That is the standard response by police officers used in these cases. It’s as if it’s in their police training manual of what to say when you shoot and kill a Black person. Nine white jurors and three Blacks evidently … [Read more...] about Blacks Go to Jail for Killing Dogs; Whites Stay Out of Jail for Killing Blacks
Time to Begin the Process to Pull the Plug on Trump
The latest news surrounding Donald Trump has some persons calling for impeachment, removal or resignation of Trump as president. In a memo made by then FBI Director James Comey, Trump allegedly asked Comey if he would end the investigation of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. It was allegedly made the day after Flynn resigned. Comey declined. The issue is whether this request, if proven to be true, should be considered obstruction of justice and if so, what remedies exist. Obstruction of justice is a federal statute that makes it unlawful to corruptly obstruct, influence or impede an official proceeding. There are several key elements to proving the crime. First, there must be an intent on the part of the person to specifically obstruct, influence or impede. The party must be aware that an investigation or proceeding exists. And the action must be one that attempts to obstruct, influence or impede. In looking at the totality of the … [Read more...] about Time to Begin the Process to Pull the Plug on Trump
Comey, Trump and Our Constitutional Crisis
Comey’s Firing and the Lingering Constitutional Crisis Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey for what might appear to be Comey’s reluctance to end the Trump Russian collusion investigation and/or pledge loyalty to the President. Before being fired, Comey had asked for additional funds to investigate any Russian collusion with the 2016 presidential election. Instead of more funds, he was fired. The reasons keep changing as to the reasons for the firing. At first, Trump stated he relied on the letters and memorandum of Attorney General Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Nominee Rod Rosenstein which discussed Comey’s performance and duties. Attorney General Sessions, as many may recall, stated that he recused himself from the Russian collusion investigation over one month ago, due to his conflict of interest. Yet, he re-entered the investigation to weigh in on Comey’s performance into Russiangate. It’s as if the Trump administration violates its own rules whenever it deems … [Read more...] about Comey, Trump and Our Constitutional Crisis