Martha Stewart's First Amendment Defense

The McLaughlin Group ^ | Mar. 7, 2004 | Lawrence O'Donnell

[an amused spectator]

Instead of one semester of government class in high school, two semesters of how to deal with your government, and two semesters in college. :-)

[185JHP]

Not when it bites a hog like Stewart.

[an amused spectator]

Some FR lawyers may want to comment

I believe that Poohbah was in legal in the military, and I think he might actually be a lawyer. His experience with the law allows him to make snarky little comments like "Wow. There are some real knuckleheads out there."

Of course, he didn't mention that to anyone, did he? ;-)

[TheLion]

The Jurors said that the most damning evidence was by her personal secretary or assistant?, who said Martha changed the log of the message from her broker. The secretary broke down in tears in court because she didn't want to have to hurt Martha. Martha had previously told the feds that she didn't recall the message. The jurors thought that statement made little sense because she was so detail oriented. The feds probably got to the assistant, big time!

There was also another person close to Martha that provided damning evidence.

Most all of the jurors took exception with the celebrity visits to the court room, as if she was trying to sway their opinion. Only one pointed out that he thought they were just friends showing their support.

From their point of view it was pretty convincing that Martha lied and obstructed justice. They convinced me of her guilt! That is all they were asked to do, unfortunately for Martha.

I guess the next step is to determine what punishment this merits....a big decision for the judge.

I would be very interested to hear what kind of punishment the jurors think she deserves.

[Poohbah]

Awfully bold move for a lawyer, Poohbah. What about the rest of us lesser mortals? Hmmmmmmmm?

I'm not a lawyer.

[Poohbah]

I believe that Poohbah was in legal in the military, and I think he might actually be a lawyer.

As I've pointed out, your beliefs and the facts are not congruent. I was in the military; I was not in legal.

His experience with the law allows him to make snarky little comments like "Wow. There are some real knuckleheads out there."

If you're dumb enough to believe that you're ever "off the record" during a sworn deposition, you're a knucklehead.

[an amused spectator]

I was in the military; I was not in legal.

Do you have any experience in the legal system?

[Poohbah]

Do you have any experience in the legal system?

Witness in two courts-martial (one for prosecution, one for defense), prosecution witness in a shoplifting case, and defense witness in a civil suit (got deposed by plaintiff and defense--plaintiff's attorney was a real Clymer, BTW). Also laughed in the face of an SEC investigator on a fishing expedition and slammed door.

[an amused spectator]

As I've pointed out, your beliefs and the facts are not congruent. I was in the military; I was not in legal.

I stand corrected.

If you're dumb enough to believe that you're ever "off the record" during a sworn deposition, you're a knucklehead.

**shrug** It's easy to overawe some of the people with the aura of "authority". The "authorities" do it all the time.