Submitted by RoaneBooster on April 29, 2008 - 10:49am.
I don't blame the judge at all. I've seen LOTS and LOTS of jailhouse lawyers. Some of 'em pretty good. Rocky is likely one of the smartest. But I don't care how smart a jailhouse lawyer thinks he is, he's not smart enough to handle his own capital case. Hey - a REAL, trained lawyer is not smart enough to handle his own capital case. Much less a lay lawyer. Period. His Honor's ruling is for the good of 1) the defendant, 2) the trial itself, 3) preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system. In a case with so much at stake, it is incumbent on the one managing the case (i.e. the presiding judge) to do all in his power to see to it nothing falls through the cracks. He did the right thing.
I don't blame the judge at all. I've seen LOTS and LOTS of jailhouse lawyers. Some of 'em pretty good. Rocky is likely one of the smartest. But I don't care how smart a jailhouse lawyer thinks he is, he's not smart enough to handle his own capital case. Hey - a REAL, trained lawyer is not smart enough to handle his own capital case. Much less a lay lawyer. Period. His Honor's ruling is for the good of 1) the defendant, 2) the trial itself, 3) preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system. In a case with so much at stake, it is incumbent on the one managing the case (i.e. the presiding judge) to do all in his power to see to it nothing falls through the cracks. He did the right thing.
RB