Comments on: Law, Like Politics, Defies Satire http://www.popehat.com/2009/06/22/law-like-politics-defies-satire/ A Group Complaint about Law, Liberty, and Leisure Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:39:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Zoe Brain http://www.popehat.com/2009/06/22/law-like-politics-defies-satire/comment-page-1/#comment-37588 Zoe Brain Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:59:30 +0000 http://www.popehat.com/?p=4809#comment-37588 In the last 4 murders of transsexual people, the "trans panic" defence has been used in 3 of them. In one it had no effect, as the prosecution was able to show that the killer had known of the victim's status for some considerable time. In the other two, one involving 64 stabwounds to the victim and then dumping the body in a river and fleeing the country resulted in a conviction for <i>attempted</i> manslaughter. In the other, a drive-by shooting to the victim's side and back as she was running away (the shooter's car failed to re-start) led to a voluntary manslaughter conviction, time served and probation. The Trans panic defence does not usually enable the defendant to completely escape punishment, but reduces the chance of conviction so much that prosecutors will accept plea bargains of extraordinary leniency. In the last 4 murders of transsexual people, the "trans panic" defence has been used in 3 of them. In one it had no effect, as the prosecution was able to show that the killer had known of the victim's status for some considerable time.

In the other two, one involving 64 stabwounds to the victim and then dumping the body in a river and fleeing the country resulted in a conviction for attempted manslaughter. In the other, a drive-by shooting to the victim's side and back as she was running away (the shooter's car failed to re-start) led to a voluntary manslaughter conviction, time served and probation.

The Trans panic defence does not usually enable the defendant to completely escape punishment, but reduces the chance of conviction so much that prosecutors will accept plea bargains of extraordinary leniency.

]]> By: August 3 roundup http://www.popehat.com/2009/06/22/law-like-politics-defies-satire/comment-page-1/#comment-37479 August 3 roundup Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:23:23 +0000 http://www.popehat.com/?p=4809#comment-37479 [...] “The 7 Most Baffling Criminal Defenses (That Sort of Worked)” [Cracked via Popehat] [...] [...] "The 7 Most Baffling Criminal Defenses (That Sort of Worked)" [Cracked via Popehat] [...]

]]> By: Lawyer Blames BMW for Speeding Ticket | Solicitr http://www.popehat.com/2009/06/22/law-like-politics-defies-satire/comment-page-1/#comment-33400 Lawyer Blames BMW for Speeding Ticket | Solicitr Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:52:55 +0000 http://www.popehat.com/?p=4809#comment-33400 [...] one US blogger (Popehat ) explained - as a rule, you will not find traffic court judges sympathetic to the defense “Your [...] [...] one US blogger (Popehat ) explained – as a rule, you will not find traffic court judges sympathetic to the defense “Your [...]

]]> By: “Lawyer blames his BMW for speeding and loses” http://www.popehat.com/2009/06/22/law-like-politics-defies-satire/comment-page-1/#comment-33230 “Lawyer blames his BMW for speeding and loses” Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:53:28 +0000 http://www.popehat.com/?p=4809#comment-33230 [...] Ken at Popehat: “Legal realism note: as a rule, you will not find traffic court judges sympathetic to the [...] [...] Ken at Popehat: "Legal realism note: as a rule, you will not find traffic court judges sympathetic to the [...]

]]> By: Transplanted Lawyer http://www.popehat.com/2009/06/22/law-like-politics-defies-satire/comment-page-1/#comment-33190 Transplanted Lawyer Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:35:44 +0000 http://www.popehat.com/?p=4809#comment-33190 In fact, the BMW is as superbly-engineered a car as Mr. Blitz claims, and if you've never driven one before it can indeed get you in a lot of trouble. When I was young and cocky, I got one and took it out on the 405. I can clearly recall thinking, "Yeah, I'm cool, and hey, why is everybody else driving so slowly, is there a cop up ahead?" and looking down at the speedometer to exclaim "Holy #@%&!!! How the hell did I get up to <b><i>ninety-five miles an hour?</b></i>" This is not a defense to a speeding ticket, of course, and it takes nothing away from the utter crassness of Blitz's defense. But I understand how he got the ticket. In fact, the BMW is as superbly-engineered a car as Mr. Blitz claims, and if you've never driven one before it can indeed get you in a lot of trouble. When I was young and cocky, I got one and took it out on the 405. I can clearly recall thinking, "Yeah, I'm cool, and hey, why is everybody else driving so slowly, is there a cop up ahead?" and looking down at the speedometer to exclaim "Holy #@%&!!! How the hell did I get up to ninety-five miles an hour?"

This is not a defense to a speeding ticket, of course, and it takes nothing away from the utter crassness of Blitz's defense. But I understand how he got the ticket.

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