More on bail

After my last post, someone posted a comment on my old criminal injustice post. The comment was:However, if the case you cited is a Felony, CPL 530.20 requires the people to be heard on bail before a decision is made.By PML, A local JudgeAs I mentioned in a follow-up comment on that post, the comment by the Hon. PML is not correct. CPL 530.20 states, in pertinent part,(b) No local criminal court

Bail - Its true purpose and how it is subverted

Some time ago I had a brief rant about criminal injustice and I mentioned bail at that time. The bail issue came up recently on a couple of my cases so it's in my head again.First, the true purpose of bail -- to make sure the defendant shows up for Court. See People ex rel. Lobell v. McDonnell 296 N.Y. 109, 71 N.E.2d 423, 1947. It is particularly important where the defendant is perceived as a

Judges, policies, and the law

[Note: I did a new post about the Pringle Hearing in DWI cases.]One of the irritating things I've been noticing more and more lately is when a judge has a policy. The way I've seen it most is where there's this notion of "quality of life" offenses. One local judge I know had a policy where offenders had to do community service on such violations. I also know of a couple judges who have policies

Following Too Close (Tailgating) - The traffic law that should be enforced.

If you were ticketed for following too close, please check out our New York Traffic Lawyer page.I've complained off and on about the excessive focus on speeding and the excessive punishments for DWI. Despite what some might think of me, I do think some laws should be enforced, and in some cases more vigorously.The biggest one that stands out in my mind is "Following Too Close," a violation of

For all those who think I'm wonderful ...

In case you think I'm wonderful, there are those who disagree. Our recently fired paralegal has posted her thoughts on us on her MySpace blog. I'm the "asshole" in the story, by the way.Let's just say that I don't quite agree with everything she wrote, and in particular I didn't know a workplace was supposed to have a specific rule about being on time for work. My general sense is that when you