Farese and Ballin *say* they're working for free. LOL, they didn't even bother to call it "pro bono" as if it's "for the good of the public" or something. Just "FREE."
If you ask Farese, or even if you don't, he'll tell you he's made somebody's Top Ten Lawyers in the US list every year for 10 years. He and Ballin have both represented many of the major defendants in the "area" (TN/MS/AR) in the more highly publicized criminal cases in recent years - but they may not have received much, if any, national publicity - and this case may give them that extra boost.
Unless there is a plea bargain to be offered tomorrow, then it's all moot. No need to look up his credentials - the Winkler case will go in the "closed" file and we may never know what drove the preacher's wife to murder, unless she plans to pen a tell-all from the pen.
I am saying this as an attorney...I am always skeptical of attorneys that represent defendant's for free. Don't believe for a minute their attestations that they are offering their help for free because they see a person in need. If Mary had been changed with DUI, Burglary, Drug possession, shoplifting, they wouldn't even think about her case without a huge retainer. They are in this for the media attention. No lawyer who had his/her client's best interests at heart would keep going on Nancy Grace or whatever show and talk on and on about the case. And they are probably hurting their chances for a change of venue for pre-trial publicity when they are the ones that keep creating the publicity. These guys are just media whores wanting the exposure so they can charge other poor saps huge, huge fees. If they were really in this for "poor Mary"...they would refuse comment, refrain from appearing on any show, and they wouldn't talk to the Media about Mary and the case.
And I'm angered that the Judge hasn't slapped a gag order on Farese. It needs to be done.