The San Antonian

Li'l Susie Learns a New Word

Our word for the day is "Recuse". It was used by Susan Reed, who asked recently arrested district judge, Ray Angelini, to recuse himself from all his cases pending the adjudication of his charge.

I find this fascinating. I have to assume she didn't know what recuse meant, because she refused to recuse herself or her office from the Ruben Cantu investigation in the face of a far more clear conflict of interest than what Angelini faces.

Of course, this time, the request won't be heard by a pro-prosecution hack of a judge, who is thankfully, no longer on the bench.

Judge Dredd's Smokescreen

Judge Dredd is backpedaling faster than the DBs at the NFL Combine on this airline ticket issue. First she's adamant that she's done no wrong. But now, she's sent a letter (PDF) to the US Attorney for the Western District, Johnny Sutton. In this letter she offers to deputize anyone from Sutton's office to act as Bexar County ADAs and to investigate for prosecution ONLY in Bexar County and ONLY under state law.

So, what exactly is it she's offering? She knows that this was a FEDERAL investigation. She knows these were FEDERAL charges, but she offers to have FEDERAL prosecutors investigate for STATE charges and limit it only to her home county? This is a smokescreen.

If she had any inclination to have an independent investigation done she could simply appoint a special prosecutor. But doing it with the US Attorney she's passing the buck because there's no reason for Sutton to accept these "terms". The request to forward his "findings" to Texas AG Greg Abbott is hollow as well because she knows that Sutton won't accept. It's not even clear that he can.

And, this isn't the first time she's refused to have an independent investigation done as a result of a conflict of interest. Yeah, that worked out well.

When are the Bexar County Democrats going to sack up and run someone against her?

Prohibition Redux

A 0.01 Blood Alcohol Content will get you arrested in Washington, D.C. Someday it will get you arrested here in SA, too. MADD won't stop until we are try Prohibition again. This Article explains.

Judge Dredd: No more probation for child abusers

The SA-EN has a write-up about the Bexar DA's new policy of not allowing probation on certain child abuse cases.

This is an obvious and stated response to the E-N Sunday story about how many child abuse cases get plead out to probation.

In the article Reed was quoted as saying        "I think it is a big issue for our community, and I'm sensitive to        that."

In other words, "I'll satisfy any public outrage because that's my job".

So is this: "It shall be the primary duty of all prosecuting attorneys...not to convict, but to see that justice is done". Art. 2.01 Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Sometimes a probation plea bargain is justice. Locking someone up isn't always doing justice. But, then again, this isn't the first time that Susan Reed has decided what laws apply to her and her office.

Lopez resigns

Sheriff Ralph Lopez has resigned and appears to have made a deal with Susan "Judge Dredd" Reed's office. Read the resignation HERE (pops to PDF).

My guess is he fell on his sword to save his wife. Using spouses as leverage is a favorite tactic of prosecutors.

Perry commutes sentence of condemned SA man

Today, Governor Thirty-Nine Percent commuted the death sentence of Kenneth Foster who was convicted of the murder of Michael LaHood in 1996. The commutation came after the Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended it.

I have to admit I have mixed feelings. I'm not philosophically opposed to capital punishment. My opposition is based on the random, and often racist and class-based application of it. If we cannot or will not administer the death penalty fairly then we should stop.

And while there are plenty of reasons to oppose the death penalty here in Texas, I don't think this case is one of them. I, personally, don't have a problem with the law of parties being applied in capital cases. It just seems ludicrous to me that Foster didn't really know that Brown was going to shoot LaHood.  I don't think it's necessarily a big deal because it's not like Foster is going to get released. I'm just tired of hearing about how Foster is somehow a victim here. He's not. He's getting what he deserves.

My only real question is what is Rick Perry thinking? I have never assumed he is capable of doing "the right thing". Somehow, one way or another, Perry is working an angle that will benefit him. I just don't know how yet.

Guy robs store; prefers jail to wife

The E-N reports a guy robbed an Academy store because he was tired of his wife and preferred being incarcerated. Wow. Can't wait to meet her. Click HERE to read.

Man detained after videotaping SAPD headquarters

A man was arrested today after being detained for videotaping the SAPD headquarters downtown. What precisely is illegal about videotaping?

I realize the article states he was arrested for an active warrant which just makes him a dumbass. But why were they going to detain him in the first place? If you videotape the Alamo and get a cop in the view is that going to get you detained? It's a public place. Why do you not have the right to videotape in a public place?

Telling Judge Dredd off

Grits for Breakfast, a great blog I read daily, has a commentary on an open letter from Dave Maass of the SA Current to Bexar County DA Susan "Call me Judge" Reed.

If only the Democratic Party would get someone to run against her. We can't get rid of her if she keeps running unopposed.

Great SA Current Feature

Wow. What a great way to break out of the non-posting funk I've been in lately.

The SA Current has a great feature (click HERE) for inmate families and for those who are incarcerated. Find a place where the Current is and pick one up. Even if you don't have a loved one in TDCJ it would be a great read nonetheless. Dave Maass has appeared on The San Antonian before.

And on a personal note, having done a parole packet for an incarcerated friend recently, the parole packet feature is spot on. There are a lot of rip-off artists out there. You can do a parole packet yourself and do just as well for a small fraction of what a "parole lawyer" will charge you.

****UPDATED 8/5/2007****
Please click on the comments for a post from Dave Maass. If anyone wants to send a copy of this fantastic feature, let him know. Thanks, Dave, for providing this service and for checking out my blog. --tsa