Courts are interested in resolution, not justice. If you find yourself caught up in the legal system it will cost you. The police do their job and the courts do theirs. If you engage in violence, you are bound to get caught in the middle. It’s expensive, time-consuming, and fraught with peril. Think about that the next time you’re in the mood to hit someone.
A tribute to slain Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Cox. Deputy Cox was gunned down on December 2nd, 2006, by a convicted felon who was on active supervision by the state Department of Corrections at the time of the shooting.
Be Wary of the Press
Dealing with the press is dangerous. You may be excited to do an interview or get in front of the cameras, but it is very important to look before you leap into headlines. Never forget that your fifteen minutes of fame could easily be used against you in a court of law. Much as you’d like to have a moment in the spotlight, it is critical that you check with your attorney before accepting any interviews. Be prepared to have him or her either coach you or handle questions in your stead.
Hardly anyone is truly fair and balanced. Almost all humans have biases, even reporters. In fact, there is an ongoing debate in the United States about the liberal/conservative bias of the media. Whatever side of the line you fall on, if you get cross-wise with a member of the press you may not be treated fairly. This is important because any interviews you may provide to the press could be taken out of context in a manner that can adversely affect your case.
For example, a Rabbi we know accidentally struck and killed a pedestrian while driving his daughter to school. Since he was talking on a cell phone at the time, he was charged with a crime and eventually tasked to perform community service, a light sentence that caused a lot of anger and even some anti-Semitic incidents. The local news media focused on this man’s poor driving record; he’d been in fender-benders before, but the media did not fully explain the circumstances surrounding the accident that took place that morning. The person he hit was wearing dark clothing, listening to an iPod, and stepped out into the crosswalk directly in front of him without looking. Even though he was traveling just under the speed limit, neither the Rabbi nor anyone in his vehicle (or even the car behind him for that matter) saw the victim in the early morning darkness. All these facts came out in the trial where he was acquitted of 15 of the 16 charges against him.
While what was reported was not factually incorrect, it was not the whole story either. This man and his family were devastated not only because he accidentally killed someone but also because the incomplete reporting turned the community against him. His life will never be the same.
It is prudent to consider that if you speak with a reporter about a violent incident you were involved with, you may well be dealing with a hostile audience. We all know that reporters should be completely objective, of course, but that does not necessarily mean that they always are. It is important to understand what angle a story is likely to take. If the reporter is evasive, tread lightly. It may be useful to pull up copies of other stories the person has written or produced to get a feel for how you might be treated.
It is generally considered taboo for a reporter to send you a copy of a story to review or approve, so do not expect to be able to do that regardless of how much you may want the opportunity to do so. Always get the reporter’s contact information and find out when and where the piece will appear so that you can view the end result however.
You may be excited to do an interview or get in front of the cameras, but it is very important to look before you leap into headlines. Never forget that your fifteen minutes of fame could easily be used against you in a court of law. Avoid talking to reporters unless specifically advised by your attorney that it will help your case to do so.
On- and off-camera interviews should be handled a bit differently. Here’s some advice:
• For on-camera interviews, ask for some warm-up questions so that you can compose yourself before you speak. If you can get a hold of the questions you will be asked ahead of time, you will have some time to think of answers that are meaningful and hard to be misinterpreted or taken out of context.
• If it is an off-camera interview, take your time to answer, and then say what you feel. Be sure to check in with the reporter and understand whether he or she understood your message. If the person repeats back your quotes and paraphrases his understanding, you will have a chance to clear up any confusion.
Dealing with the press is dangerous. You may be excited to do an interview or get in front of the cameras, but never forget that your fifteen minutes of fame could easily be used against you in a court of law later on.
Once the interview is published or the story is aired, you can call or e-mail the writer or editor and request a correction if you were misquoted or there is an egregious error. Better still, avoid talking to reporters altogether, unless specifically advised by your attorney that it will help your case to do so. Be wary of the press.
Beware the “Friday Night Special”
At first, then, exhibit the coyness of a maiden, until the enemy gives you an opening; afterwards emulate the rapidity of a running hare, and it will be too late for the enemy to oppose you.
Or, in single combat, start by making a show of being slow, then suddenly attack strongly. Without allowing him space for breath to recover from the fluctuation of spirit, you must grasp the opportunity to win. Get the feel of this.
Dispute the presumption of innocence in most jurisprudence, as a man you are almost always assumed guilty when it comes to domestic violence. Domestic violence can be very serious so courts tend to err on the side of caution. Consequently, when the police arrive for a domestic violence call, someone has to be arrested and taken to jail. If you are it, as guys almost always are, you will have the expensive proposition of proving that you are innocent.
Various states and municipalities have different laws governing how domestic violence is governed, yet the following is a general overview of what you can expect. This scenario is what some attorneys call the “Friday Night Special.”
Let’s pretend for a moment that you and your spouse (or girlfriend) have been having some troubles lately. Not too unrealistic a starting point, right? After all what relationship doesn’t have a few rough spots? So you come home on a Friday night after a long day at work or school, have a beer, and get into a spat with your significant other. She dials 9-1-1 and reports you for domestic violence.[32]
Maybe something happened and maybe it did not. Maybe you were the one who got shoved or hit or perhaps
