This is Why Lawyers Say the Courtroom is Too Real for Reality

courtrooms too real for realityPeople who work in the criminal field, whether as law enforcement or in the courtroom end of things, always say, “You couldn’t make a reality show about this stuff–it’s too real!”

The endless turning of human behavior is so unusual, it’s sometimes unbelievable. For people who work in the criminal field, we know it’s not a TV show, …

Stupid Mistakes Made by Criminals

In many years as a defense lawyer, I’ve seen some stupid mistakes made by criminals.  Like all of us they screw up.  Unlike most of us, stupid mistakes made by criminalsthey also commit crimes.  Here are some of them from real life:

1.  A burglar named Bob broke into a suburban house through the sliding door on the patio.  Dressed in black, …

Self Defense or Murder??

Question:  What if I come to the rescue of a robbery victim and I chase the attacker to try to get back the victim’s purse.  When I catch-up withself defense him he pulls a gun on me.  Is it okay for me to shoot and kill him?

Is this self defense or murder?

This situation really happened in Minneapolis …

Murder and Your Brain

murder and your brainThere have been lots of studies about the effects on the human mind when people kill others.  There are the effects on soldiers in war. Or, the guards in Nazi concentration camps.  Here is a great study about the effects of murder on your brain—if you’re a criminal!  The study is kind of technical, but I found it …

Is Law Enforcement Profiling Bad??

law enforcement profilingThe Attorney General of the United States, Eric Holder, stated recently that “We’re going to stop law enforcement from profiling once and for all!”

What is profiling?  Is it really bad?  Here are four thoughts from all the years I’ve worked as both a prosecutor and Public Defender.

Profiling means that citizens are stopped by law enforcement—not because …

More Stupid Mistakes Made by Criminals

I posted some of the stupid mistakes made by criminals that I know from my own practice.  People seemed to really like the stories.  Here are some more dumb mistakes.  Luckily, many criminals are stupid—and get caught.  It’s the smart ones who get away that worry me . . .stupid mistakes made by criminals

1.  Jody sat before the judge during his …

Amygdala Hijack

I’m writing a new mystery book called, The Amygdala Hijack.  It refers to a psychological condition. Some legal scholars think it should be used in the mental illness insanity defense.  What the heck is an amygdala hijack?Amygdala hijack

For 150 years, courts have recognized that people who have a significant mental illness may be found not guilty of a …