Criminal Defense



Will Perry Mason Defend Himself?

The Associated Press reported yesterday that Perry Mason had been charged with felony barratry in Texas, a crime that carries a penalty of up to ten years in jail.  "Barratry" is the dastardly crime committed when a non-attorney solicits clients for a…


Fly With Your Pants Down, Lose Your License, Judge Rules

An administrative-law judge has ruled that the FAA properly revoked the license of a man who allowed a sex act to be performed upon him as he flew a helicopter around San Diego.  The judge cited the pilot's likely inability…


UPDATE: Former SF Official Gets Maximum Despite Brain Claims

Former SF supervisor Ed Jew was sentenced today to 64 months in jail by a judge in SF federal court.  Judge Susan Illston apparently rejected the claim that the defendant had been afflicted by childhood head injuries that first manifested…




Court Rejects Unabomber’s Request to Get Unabombing Stuff Back

Good news — convicted "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski, now serving a life term for murder, will not be getting back any of the unabomb-making materials that the FBI seized from his cabin in 1996. Kaczynski's cabin. Defense experts argued that Kacyznski's skewed worldview was…


Bail Granted On Condition Defendant Wear Underwear

Ben Hana, a homeless resident of Wellington, New Zealand, is known locally (although not very creatively) as "Blanket Man" because he goes around wrapped in a blanket.  Hana was arrested on December 23 on allegations of cannabis possession and indecent…