Attorney Find Blog

Today’s Christian Science Monitor today reviews two new books about the United States Supreme Court that go beyond the decisions rendered by the court to the politics and planning that led to each of the modern appointments to the court (Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court, by Jan Crawford Greenburg) and to a study of the impact of the temperments, personalities, and pairings of justices on the fabric of the court (The Supreme Court: The Personalities and Rivalries that Defined America, by Jeffrey Rosen).

Litigation regarding defense requests for the source code for the Intoxilyzer 5000 stalled hundreds of Florida DUI cases last year, but the complications stemming from that case aren’t over–at least for one lawyer in the state’s attorney’s office. Don Hartery was misdemeanor chief for Manatee last year when he reportedly sent a letter to Judge Mark Singer attempting to influence the judge to hold a hearing that might benefit the state’s position.

Attorneys and parties involved in pending cases are not allowed to communicate with the judge about the case except under specific circumstances: in court, in written documents also provided to opposing counsel, or in conferences where both sides are present.

The Florida Bar has referred an ethics complaint to the state Supreme Court.