15.May.2012 Debtor’s Prison Is Back
The modern incarnation of debtor’s prison is this: it’s not the debt that lands you in jail… it’s the unpaid cost of the creditor’s lawsuits that land you there.
07.May.2012 Next for Gun-Happy Vitter: Approve Gay Marriage?
In the tradition of The Clear Skies Act, Senators David Vitter, R-La., and John Thune, R-S.D, have introduced legislation that appears to have little or nothing in common with its title. The “Respecting States’ Rights and Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act” intends to allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons from state to state. This is [...]
24.Apr.2012 A Shocking Fact About New Orleans
Fact: The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Source Fact: Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States. Source Fact: New Orleans has the highest incarceration rate in Louisiana. Source The NOPD regales us with programs and statistics making plausible connections between bicycle theft and murder. They have told [...]
28.Mar.2012 Murder by Any Other Name: Trayvon Martin and the Law that Killed Him
Does it sometimes seem that as a society we’ve given up? That we’ve given up on the idea of the law, due process, and justice? Given in to fear and anger, and decided to institutionalize vigilante justice? The state of Florida seems to have abdicated its authority and bestowed upon its citizenry the right to [...]
23.Mar.2012 Should NOLA.com Ban Anonymous Comments?
“Mencken1951…” “campstblue…” “legacyusa…” and “dramatis personae…” Will the real Sal Perricone please stand up? We’ve all been riveted by the unfolding drama surrounding federal prosecutor Sal Perricone, who resigned this week from his post with the U.S. Attorney’s office. Perricone has publicly admitted that he is Mencken195, notorious and lofty commenter who has regularly blasted [...]
14.Mar.2012 Shocker: Football is a Hitting Sport
Is the NFL too violent? If you asked the fans who follow the sport and consider it a wholesome, all-American family activity, they would answer, “No.”
05.Mar.2012 Adult in Every Way…
When you turn 18 you are expected to grow up. You are turned out into the adult world and you are expected to make your own way…. You have many choices. Get a job — join the workforce and become a contributing member of society. Or go to college — higher education is calling. Or [...]
09.Feb.2012 Mardi Gras Donts
Courtesy of NOLA Defender. As New Orleans gets ready to open the Mardi Gras Mainline down St. Charles Ave. on Friday, Mayor Mitch gathered city officials and the press today to remind everyone that there will be police officers everywhere during Mardi Gras, that it is possible to be rude to others on the parade [...]
08.Feb.2012 There Is No Cure For Dumb
Last week was a heavy one at NOLA Criminal Law. The posts were all about murder and rampant crime in New Orleans. But a “life of crime” shouldn’t always have to be so serious. I felt like lightening it up a bit this week, and showing that crime sometimes can be just plain…. well, dumb. [...]
24.Jan.2012 Investing in Convicted Felons
Tulane criminologist Peter Scharf is collecting data that suggests that increased services to convicted felons is good for society at large. Specifically, he is talking about increased mental health services, to accommodate the needs of the nearly 40% of the prison population that suffers from mental health issues. “Typically, guys are medicated while they’re in [...]
I am a New Orleans Criminal defense lawyer, and the managing attorney of NOLA Criminal Law. I am a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, with over 17 years of experience as a criminal defense attorney in New Orleans, Louisiana. Please visit my website for more.
