Just Shoot Me In The Head

It has been almost a month since I have Blawged. It has been a very busy time. I have been to the beach with other criminal defense attorneys. This was a very good time. I learned many useful things. I learned or re-learned techniques that will help me to be an even better lawyer. I guess I really need a refresher. Two of my clients were found guilty before I left. The reason... I allowed them to persuade me to let them testify. They both were terrible witnesses. The first told way too much and admitted way more than he had to. He just volunteered information that he thought would be helpful for him. It was not. The other was a very smart person. This person (Probably the smartest person that I have represented.) thought that the jury could not detect an obvious lie. I guess thinking you are the smartest best liar in the world does not help you win your case. I had told them both, "Just tell the truth. Do not volunteer any info. Answer the questions truthfully."
I’ve been trying another case this week. The Judge asked me if I were going to put the defendant on the stand. I told the Judge, "If I ever let a defendant talk me in to putting them on the stand again PLEASE JUST SHOOT ME IN THE HEAD." It was a lesson well learned. The jury took about 40 minutes to return a not guilty verdict.