CCA Review - Introduction

Okay, on a previous incarnation of this blog, I summarized, explained, and (often) critiqued rulings issued by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA).

In Texas, there is no "Supreme Court" for criminal cases. The Texas Supreme Court is the highest Texas court when it comes to civil cases. It does not hear criminal cases. The CCA is the highest Texas court for criminal cases. You think that is weird? In New York the "Supreme Court" is the trial level court. Now that's weird.

So now that I've restarted the blog, I'm getting back on top of these CCA opinions. They generally come out once a week; I'll try to get to them as quickly as possible. Of course sometimes I'll be busy with trial or on vacation et cetera, but I'll get them out. Also, I'll be writing these for a lay audience. I imagine I'll get lawyers reading these posts, but I'm pretty sure the bulk of my audience will be non-lawyer. I'll write accordingly by not assuming you already know legal procedure and terminology. I won't write about every single case that comes down, just the ones that I deem interesting for legal or social reasons.

Enjoy!

Hi, My Name Is....

So this isn't the first time around the block for this blog; this is a reincarnation. Back in the first go 'round, I wrote the Wretched of the Earth as a public defender. I wrote the blog anonymously because, as a PD, it isn't safe to blog out in the open. It's not smart office politics, local politics, and can be bad for courthouse politics. I was outed by a well-meaning Dallas Observer reporter and things went down from there. Eventually I was encouraged not to blog anymore by friends who were looking out for me (and some non-friends) and that was it. I walked away from blogging and a whole bunch of wonderful regular readers (sorry guys!). Then back on September 1, 2008 I resigned from the Dallas County Public Defender's Office over the ridiculous workload foisted upon us.

But now after a long hiatus, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things. This time I don't have the constraints: I'm not a public defender and don't work in an office where I have to watch my tongue (I'm my own boss, so my boss is pretty cool).

So here are the rules for this here blog. I'll post as regularly as a busy criminal and family caseload will allow. I will do so out in the open, under my name. I won't ever break client confidentiality. I won't insult or otherwise talk trash about judges, prosecutors, other attorneys, court staff, or clients by name. I will, however, write unflinchingly about my work. Feel free to post comments but please, don't comment just to insult me or another commenter. Have something constructive or interesting to say. Other than that, it's all fair game.