JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG

WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL RICHARD E GERSTEIN JUSTICE BUILDING BLOG. THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO JUSTICE BUILDING RUMOR, HUMOR, AND A DISCUSSION ABOUT AND BETWEEN THE JUDGES, LAWYERS AND THE DEDICATED SUPPORT STAFF, CLERKS, COURT REPORTERS, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS WHO LABOR IN THE WORLD OF MIAMI'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE. POST YOUR COMMENTS, OR SEND RUMPOLE A PRIVATE EMAIL AT HOWARDROARK21@GMAIL.COM. Winner of the prestigious Cushing Left Anterior Descending Artery Award.

Thursday, March 09, 2017

LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE

We were supposed to be out this week- and the Captain has a great post below on the Tally session and possible judicial term limits. Please read it. But some stories are too good to miss, even when returning from a stroll on the Champs d elysees.  This is a hot story.

When Judge Hanzman left the comfy confines of a successful civil practice, what did he imagine? Perhaps some brown bag lunches and dinners at his desk while he worked. Dealing with new and aggressive prosecutors and PDs? Probably.


A lawyer's pants catching on fire during closing argument in the defense of- we are not making this up- an ARSON CASE? Never.

David Ovalle and the Miami Herald have all the hot details here.

Meet Stephen Gutierrez.



He was arguing that his client's car "spontaneously burst into flames" when at that moment, according to Ovalle, Gutierrez's pants "burst into flames" and he bolted from the court.

Spectators were stunned.

Gutierrez returned a few moments later with a singed pocket, blaming a faulty E-cigarette. Anyone know a good lawyer?

Did the "Stunt" work?  Nope.
Claudy Charles was convicted of second degree arson.

A possible prosecutorial or judicial inquiry into whether this was an accident or not remains a possibility.

Rumpole notes: Some courtroom stunts work.
The widow who waited 11 minutes to call 911 after intruders shot her husband and is accused of conspiracy to commit murder?  Any good prosecutor will show a jury how long 11 minutes is by sitting silently for that time.
Hugh Rodham, brother of Hillary and a Miami PD, was famously caught with his pants down when trying to re-enact the crime of his client who was accused of  robbing a coin laundry mat  and stuffing fifty dollars in quarters into his pockets. As he demonstrated for the jury, he had a clothes malfunction and his pants hit the floor as he stood there before the jury in his skivvies.

The OJ Glove.

But this is a horse of a different color. If it was engineered, it caused a fire hazard. If it was a mistake, it was a golden opportunity at closing that shouldn't have been missed.

From Occupied America...Fight the Power!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rump, what about Millan hanging out with prosecutors and NOK on case that was previously mistried because of his misconduct forcing a recusal? Is that true?

Anonymous said...

Another ham & egger..

Anonymous said...

Is he cra cra?

Anonymous said...

Why the hell is a kid 2 years out of lawschool trying an arson case?

Anonymous said...

Also, how the hell was this not a mistrial?

Anonymous said...

Who is Judge Hangman?

Anonymous said...

Real PD says:

Was watching trial and couldn't believe Millan walked in spoke to prosecutors and then hung around with deceased's family. And that was before I found out what he did in prior trial. Poor judgment to say the least. Great trial great result for the privates.

Anonymous said...

No he didn't. More lies trying to disparage good judge.

Anonymous said...

Is Millan insane? Was his bailiff with him?

Anonymous said...

Gutierrez and Millan-idiots!

Anonymous said...

My guess is that this was a stunt gone bad. Something a 2 year lawyer would try in an attempt to make a name for himself.

Anonymous said...

Epic fail. I highly doubt this was an accident and a contempt finding and Bar inquiry is likely to soon follow.

Anonymous said...

I love it. To condemn this chance takng lawyer is absurd. If he obtained an acquittal , it would have been brilliant. Love people that go against the grain !

Anonymous said...

Item of interest regarding the efficacy/lack thereof of political violence in America. Would you punch a Nazi?


http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/07/from-mother-jones-to-middlebury-the-problem-and-promise-of-political-violence-in-trumps-america/

Anonymous said...

Have you seen this guy in action? Walking Rule 3.

Anonymous said...

11:48AM--yea so great!! He committed a crime in front of numerous witnesses. He almost set himself on fire and endangered the lives of everyone around him. Real brilliant.

Anonymous said...

It's refreshing to see a courthouse-related post among all the Trump crap.