Attorney: Martha Stewart Will Plead Innocent if Indicted

Reuters ^ | June 3, 2003 | staff report

[ewing]

Domestic style setter Matha Stewart intends to declare her innocence and proceed top trail if indicted, her attorney said on Tuesday.

Attorney Robert Morvillo disclosed Stwarts intentions in a brief statement.

Earlier Stewarts company, Martha Stewart Living, said Federal Prosecutors intended to seek a grand jury indictment against her.

The company said it was also informed that a civil complaint by the Security and Exchange Commission was expected.

[ewing]

The Scott Peterson trial's 15 minutes appear to be up..

[Ed_in_NJ]

Wonder if they'll allow her to decorate the courtroom before the trial -- so "it's a good thing!"

[glock rocks]

yah... I miss the shark attack alerts, myself.

[ewing]

David Boies or Lawrence Tribe?

[ewing]

What is the rule about televising Federal trials in NYC?

[MrNeutron1962]

"Martha Stewart intends to declare her innocence "

I know it goes without saying, but in the immortal slang of todays teens , "Well, Duh!!".

[Pistolshot]

[goldstategop]

Martha Stewart will create a lot of attention. The feds best chance of winning over a jury will come if they can portray her as another latter day Leona Helmsley type figure who believes the rules meant for the "little folks" don't apply to her. We'll see.

[ewing]

oh man, this is going to be the Gore v. Bush 2000 Supreme Court trial we never had on TV...or the House Managers v. the Toon before the Senate clamed down on witnesses

[ewing]

Juries in NYC tend to be extremely liberal..

[lawdude]

It would amount to malpractice to allow a defendant to plead guilty at an initial court appearance. In fact if a lawyer did so, the Judge would require a showing that it was knowingly and intelligently entered.

If so, it would have to be such a good plea offer that it would constitute nearly an invalid plea, if, indeed, it was a valid plea. The Judge would have to look very carefully to ensure that there was no trickery involved.

It costs little for a defense attorney to receive the states case discovery and ascertain if there is a hole in the case. Besides, the offer might just get better.

Standard criminal procedure. Have you ever heard of a major case where the defendant plead guilty at the initial hearing?

[Ed_in_NJ]

Makes me wonder who Kmart uses -- she might get them to foot the bill, since they've got so much invested in her -- or whether she'll go for a celebrity type.

[Dog Gone]

Domestic style setter Matha Stewart intends to declare her innocence

No shock there. She's lied from the start.

[Xenalyte]

Wow. I've never been able to plead "innocent" to any infraction. Rank hath its privileges, I guess.

[mabelkitty]

People eventually get exactly what they deserve.

[Ed_in_NJ]

Does that mean my ship is still going to come in?

And will I be at the airport when it does?

[ewing]

I always plead 'no contest' to a traffic ticket, until I heard in some jurisdictions you can enter into a diversion agreement and keep it off your insurance record.

[Xenalyte]

I've been given the option of "guilty," "not guilty," and "no contest."

If I say I'm innocent, they'll write down that I entered a plea of "not guilty."

(This "pleading innocent" error is a peeve of mine. I know it's nitpicky, but that's what makes me a superb editor.)

[ewing]

Sometimes if you call the office the folks will tell you how to get the ticket diverted (usually it is more than double the ticket price)

But I saved more on the insurance back end..

[ReleaseTheHounds]

No shock there. She's lied from the start.

I have found it rather amazing that so many people (including conservatives like Larry Kudlow) seem so ready to cut Martha some slack... "Oh, it was a petty thing..." "Nobody would ever press this kind of case if it wasn't a big name like Martha Stewart...."

All of this sympathizing and rationalizing is the same cr*p that went on during the countless Clinton scandals -- and they were never held to account. Not only did Martha use insider trading to save herself a measly what, $40K? $80K? For this Billionairess?!!!!

And Larry: where's your sympathy for the young guy at Merrill Lynch who had his entire career in the securities industry taken away because he helped facilitate the trades (and then squealed on Martha)?

MS is another Leona Helmsley and she deserves the same treatment Leona got. We have to stop the winking and nodding at this kind of illegal behavior made so famous (and acceptable) by the Clintons. JMHO!