Blog - Patrol - August 2007

I understand full well the temptation to administer a little street justice. But while you may be able to rationalize Avenging Angels actions to yourself, you'll have a devil of a time defending it in court.

Humane issues not withstanding, the situation was a no-brainer: The deer had to be put out of its misery before it caused a traffic accident.

Ours is a profession that places emphasis on saying what we mean and meaning what we say. However, what we say and what we mean can be wildly divergent in the minds of our audience. What follows are some cautionary tales about using ambiguous wording.

We all know the feeling. You catch the bad guy, book all of your evidence, and put together a great case. Now you're in court, sitting on the stand answering the district attorney's questions when he or she finally says, "no further questions." The judge looks over at the defense attorney and says, "Defense, cross examine." The defense attorney looks at you and smiles, and you hope your case is as airtight as you think it is.

Example Three: Cops ask a resident if she minds if they search a bedroom.
“No problem,” she says.
The search is conducted and evidence seized, only to be suppressed at trial. The reason? The person that granted permission had no legal standing to do so.