Before we begin out paper parable, a suggestion not to miss David Ovalle's Herald obit on Louie Casuso. It was superbly written and captures the many sides of a unique Miami lawyer, character, and good and decent man. There's a pay wall, so either buy it or Google the names and you'll get to it.
A PROBLEM WITH PAPER
If you're like Rumpole, business is bouncing back and you may find yourself at DCJ or Metro West or TGK needing to see a client who needs you.
You already know that the list of things you cannot bring into the jail is longer than the judicial line at the open bar at an FACDL event. iPads, computers, books of any sort, keys, church keys, beepers, thermonuclear weapons, etc.
Add paper to the list.
Yes, in 2022 the Miami Jail system has BANNED PAPER.
Why?
Well, it seems some enterprising inmates and families and friends of inmates are treating paper products with clear liquid chemicals. THC, cocaine, meth, caffeine, you name it. That innocent looking blank sheet of paper, upon which we have written some of the world's greatest cross examination and closing argument notes in the history of western legal culture, can now be smoked or ingested, providing the consumer a high.
Imagine the scene: a traffic stop in Miami. The officer walks to the car and asks for the DL and insurance and registration. As he returns he espies something:
Officer: What is that on the floor sir?
Future client: Oh, nothing. Just a legal pad.
Officer (hand on firearm): I'll need you to get out of the car right now sir, and keep your hands where I can see them.
On St. Patrick's day, the bars are full. That makes sense.
And now we know why the stationary stores are crowded as well.
2 comments:
Yes,
They told me to leave the legal pad in the car and they would give me paper.
They also told me that people are sending letters and documents using fake legal letterhead and the stuff is laced with drugs so, lawyers are their paper targets.
Has it come to this?
It was 59 years ago today that the Supreme Court decided Gideon v. Wainwright, which started with a guy writing an appeal on a piece of paper.
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