The second day of the Senate trial for United States District Court Judge Thomas Porteous starts today. The witness list include Lori and Louis Marcotte . . .
Much of this testimony will center on Article II of the impeachment. I have attached our motions to dismiss Article Two and our general summary if you are following the case.
Judge G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.’sMotion to Dismiss Article II
Porteous Pre-Trial Statement
Porteous Pre-Trial Statement – Exhibits
I have missed most of today’s testimony. I trust in the regulars to point out salient points of interest as the evening progresses. I will try to play catch up as C-Span posts archives.
Elaine,
I managed to catch up on Amato’s testimony. You are correct. He appeared visibly in physical distress a couple of times. I found him a much more sympathetic witness than the angry Creely though. Anger, even when it’s justified and understood, simply plays to the trier (or a jury for that matter) differently than just about anything else. I never got that sense of anger from Amato.
tomdarch,
Thank you. I was, as usual pulling from memory…..
Regarding Bail Bondsmen and “the system,” NPR did a series of reports on the industry and how it interacts with the courts, among others:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122725849
This article is about how the Bondsmen’s lobbyists are working against “pretrial release” (for example using GPS tracking ankle bracelets) as an alternative to bonds.
If you scroll to the bottom of the page, there are links to several related stories on the industry.
My rule is: Ask if the industry only exists because of a government regulation? If yes, then there is probably a huge amount of “lobbying” and a fair chance of bribery. Similar examples include “defense contracting” and “liquor/beer distributors.”
Dear Prof,
Thus far today, in the words of the ambiguous Mr. Marcotte, “Thumbs up!”
Honestly, these characters just keep getting better and better.
“HuffPo! Good news aggregation, questionable editorial polices.”(Buddha) … gotta go with that one … she gives me the creeps.
BIL –
I stopped giving HuffPo clicks months ago & don’t feel any poorer because of it. The rare gem you might find there is inadequate compensation for the amount of horseshit you have to shovel through.
Late returning back to the Senate hearings.
No return as of 12:05 EDT
I missed the first part of Louis Marcotte when he testifyed,and I am seeing it now,this guy slept in his car waiting for someone to be arrested,WOW!
I am still kinda lost,I could possibly see that in a big city,but even then most people call the bondsman on the phone.
Buddha,
You are correct…
I like the Marcotte’s as witnesses. They each have a memory.
FFLEO,
Wuz? I submit, “still is”.
eniobob,
they wuz a humongous jambalaya-crawfish pie-filly gumbo cesspool of corruption down yunner in Lousyanna.
Just watching Louis Marcotte,and his sister testify,What was going on down there that they needed all of this “pull”?
Back at 11:40 EDT
eniobob,
You’ll notice on the thread HuffPo’s editorial bias though. They have posters called “Community Pundits” that get their posts featured running at the tops of multiple pages of the a thread. This is the current “Community Pundit” post.
“shirlyujest 13 hours ago (10:08 PM)
289 Fans
Hmmm. I understand that everyone is entitle to representation in a legal case. I’m just a little disappointed to see Turley as the defense attorney. I’ve always enjoyed his commentary when he’s appeared on Keith Olberman’s show. He seems to have a reasoned and level headed approach to the law that even a lay person such as myself can understand. I just don’t get why he would Read More… want to be involved in this mess. Maybe it’s just the $$$$$$ after all. How disappointing.”
Or maybe it’s that he saw a real problem in a plaintiff’s attorney entering into an agreement with a third attorney based upon the idea said third party could induce or otherwise influence the judge to recusal, Shirly. Or he saw there was a real problem with a large corporate client who insisted on an ethically questionable tactic who was catered to by their counsel instead of being told “that’s a tactical matter and my call, if you want to play like that, find other counsel”.
And yes, I am calling you Shirly.
HuffPo! Where it’s all good on comments unless you have something negative to say about one of Ariana’s buddies!
I guess we know the Prof isn’t one of Ariana’s buddies now. And that’s far from disappointing, but rather a further sign of JT’s excellent decision making skills.
HuffPo! Good news aggregation, questionable editorial polices.
“Turley Joins Porteous Defense as Co-Lead Counsel
Published 1, June 9, 2010 Congress , Constitutional Law , Courts , Criminal law , Justice , Politics , Society 19 Comments ”
It was interesting what the thoughts were then,what are they now that we are here?
einobob,
The Bail Bonding industry is different in many areas of the country. In the US you generally have a right to bond unless…fill in the particular state exception…but most generally capitol (after wall street it should be capital crimes as well) crimes, treason….etc….are not bond-able.
The industry because it deals with a lot of cash and I mean a shit load of cash lends itself to this very abuse. I remember a Federal Drug Case in the early 80’s the Judge set the bail at 1.5 million cash. A person walked out of the courtroom, made a call and before the “Defendant” could be taken back to lock up 2 guys walk in with two brief cases and posted his cash bond right there. I do not think that the Defendant was ever seen again…..
Some Jurisdictions because of the nature of the bonds and most people will appear at court decided to cut the bonding company’s out and you can post the 10% or what ever it is with the court and if you don’t show, well, they not only get to keep the cash but you are responsible for the remainder of the 90%…..
Expungement is a different beast altogether……
FFLEO,
I will offer to say, I would not want to become enemy’s with the Godfather of Bail……
What is an interesting read is this all started because they were going after another Jurist…..serendipity is the work…..is the word….
You juss gotta like Louis “Godfather” Marcotte…
AY:
I thought the bail bond industry was pretty cut and dry.I see in louisiana its not quite so.
I know here in Jersey.Expungement, the person must wait (7) seven years before they can apply for it.
I was wondering why these people are still alive….one may be an accident…two…maybe something there….but as many that I have read are involved…well…it seems that…no one would be left in NO…..so, this is kind of amazing….have there been any people that have come up missing…..?
“I know the difference between a gift and a bribe, and I’ve never tried to bribe anyone and I never will.”
— Louis Marcotte
Former President, Bail Bonds Unlimited
Their statements support assertions in an earlier FBI affidavit that Marcotte used cash, vacations, campaign contributions and, in one case, a Mercedes Benz, to curry favor with jailers and jurists. Prosecutors filed the affidavit Aug. 27, 2001, in an attempt to obtain a judge’s approval to tap the phones of indicted former Judge Ronald Bodenheimer, Marcotte and six others, according to sources who have seen the document.
This outta prove very interesting….
http://www.tulanelink.com/tulanelink/marcotte2_box.htm
Judge G. Thomas Porteous Faces Impeachment Trial In Congress
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/13/judge-g-thomas-porteous-impeachment-trial_n_715336.html
Just one comment from the above link.
“When I saw Jonathan Turley was the Judge’s lawyer I was chagrined. But then I remembered that Turley is a principled, intellectual man who has immense respect for the law and the way it works.
If the Judge escapes impeachment it will be because Congress did not prove its case, as Turley made sure they had to do if they wanted a “conviction.”
Jonathan Turley… that’s like Michael the Archangel having your back.
Well, he ain’t cheap so the Judge is gonna have to part with $1 to $2 million before this is over. LOL.”