As I've said before, my primary advice to clients, prospective clients, and people at cocktail parties is to just. shut. up. This is intended as advice for people facing interactions with law enforcement, but it's actually, in my experience, useful advice in nearly every situation (as Brian's last post below demonstrates).

However, even people who practice criminal law for a living sometime need reminding. Hence this cautionary tale at Western Justice:

….normally, people mitigate their offense and cop to a lesser crime ("Oh, it's not that much marijuana"). This DA was not so smart. He told the officer (obviously not verbatim), "Oh, um, the marijuana? Ha ha . . . . eh . . . it's not mine!!! Yeah, that's it, it's not mine! It's for my wife. She's sick, and I'm bringing it home to her."

The poor fellow just copped to a higher charge–distribution of marijuana, a felony.

Really, just shut up. Oh, why won't you shut up?

Last 5 posts by Ken

• Citizen Incredulity And Law Enforcement Reality - May 2nd, 2012
• Regarding The Obvious Dangers Of Anal Artillery - May 1st, 2012
• Debate Is Fine. Even Ridicule Is Fine. Threats Are Unacceptable. - April 27th, 2012
• Occasionally My Timing Is Less Than Optimal - April 26th, 2012
• How Not To Draft A Probable Cause Affidavit - April 13th, 2012