A Judge Supreme…Will Sotomayor Make History AGAIN

Today the President nominated Sonia Sotomayor, 54, to serve on the United States Supreme Court.  In her acceptance she said she is “bursting with gratitude.”

Her experience makes her an ideal candidate to many, but most importantly, to President Barack Obama.  Two of the other contenders are already members of his Administration: Solicitor General Elena Kagan; and, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano.  Sotomayor also brings personal experience that embodies what many perceive as the American dream, and parallels BO’s upbringing as well. She was born to Puerto Rican parents in the South Bronx in 1954.  Her father was a manual laborer, illiterate in English, who died a year after Sotomayor was diagnosed with diabetes at 8 years old.   She was raised by her single mother in public housing and went on to lead a very impressive legal career.

Sotomayor is no stranger to the Senate confirmation process - she has been through it twice already.  She was first appointed by President George H. W. Bush for New York’s Southern District in 1992, becoming the first hispanic federal judge in the state, and later in 1998, by President Bill Clinton to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.  Though there will be some tough questioning during the confirmation process, most likely, she made history again today as the first Hispanic ever named to the U.S. Supreme Court.

May 26th, 2009

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Life With-Drew

Based on his connection with the death of his wife, Kathleen Savio, former Illinois police sergeant Drew Peterson is biding his time in jail while his legal team is asking for a reduction in his bail amount due to financial hardship. Peterson is attempting to raise several children on a small pension. A hearing is set for today to review a request by the prosecution for removal of Judge Richard Schoenstedt.

Meanwhile, a decomposing body exhumed Thursday from a lake 20 miles from Peterson’s residence could very well be that of his missing 4th wife, Stacey.

May 21st, 2009

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Read Our Lips: No New Taxes!

Californians are sick and tired of government fondling their pockets.  Amidst a $21.3 billion dollar deficit, California voters resoundingly rejected 5 of 6 propositions aimed to “temporarily fix” the state’s financial crisis.  In Los Angeles County approximately 17% of the registered voters actually voted.  Is this lack of voter turn out perhaps a sign of frustration with government.  If these measures passed, then Californians would have been levied higher taxes to balance the crippled budget.

Not surprisingly, the approved measure blocks state legislators and other elected officials from receiving pay hikes in deficit years.  Grassroots reform groups such as California Forward are attempting to provide solutions in the wake of abject failure among government to combat this ever-widening gap.  Is there perhaps a revolution brewing in the wild, wild west…

May 20th, 2009

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Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

Last night, I was at my stove preparing some hard boiled eggs for the week. I turned my back for a few seconds and heard the pot rattle. For a moment, I wondered how the water could’ve come to a boil that quickly. As soon as I realized the sudden jolt was an earthquake, it was over…and I breathed a sigh of relief no damage had occurred. A dear friend of mine whose car was stopped at a traffic light close to the temblor’s epicenter had quite an experience. He felt a similar jolt and a rolling sensation lasting 10 seconds, while hearing the unsettling sound of windows shattering from a shopping mall across the street. I bring these slices of life to your attention for a reason: unlike other natural disasters, earthquakes occur with no notice. Last night’s shaker caused minimal damage, but many southland residents in February 1971 and January 1994 were not as fortunate. Scientists tell us another massive quake is imminent, so I implore all of you to be prepared. Here is how you can get started: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/faq.php?categoryID=14

May 18th, 2009

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Three Ring Circus - Ringleader Howard K. Stern

UPDATE:  Today the three defendants, accompanied by almost a dozen attorneys, appeared before Los Angeles Superior Court, Commissioner Kristi Lousteau, to be arraigned on six felony charges each.  They each pled not guilty.  Defendant, Howard K. Stern, 40, was represented by three attorneys, J. Christopher Smith, Steven H. Sadow, and M. Krista Barth.  Sadow and Barth, interestingly, are NOT licensed California attorneys according to the State Bar’s website as of today, yet were practicing law by appearing before the court.  Isn’t that also a crime?  Were these foreign attorneys admitted pro hac vice in this case?  This reminds me of Barry Scheck who appeared in the O.J. Simpson trial without being licensed to practice law in California.  Defendant Kristine Eroshevich, 61, was represented by Adam H. Braun, and was also accompanied by John J. Nazarian, Private Investigator.  Defendant Doctor Sandeep A. Kapoor, 40, was represented by Ellyn S. Garofalo.  The case has been moved Department 102, with a hearing set for June 08, 2009, and the preliminary hearing alone is expected to last two weeks.

The Commissioner granted prosecutor Renee Rose’s motions: 1) handwriting exemplars from each defendant to determine, among other things, who ordered and filled the prescription drugs which killed Smith; and, 2) a protective order against dissemination of discovery (about 1,400 pages already) to protect privacy.

I was compelled by the spectacle outside the criminal courthouse. Stern’s attorney, Steven H. Sadow, was delivering another tired manifesto against Jerry Brown in an attempt to shift focus away from the serious nature of this case. Several media correspondents shouted, “Why can’t Stern speak for himself?” and “Is Howard gonna go to rehab?”  After Sadow finished, self-proclaimed former Smith hairstylist, Daniel DiCriscio, made heartfelt comments about her demise to anyone within earshot, while attorney and HKS companion, Ronald Alan Rale, acted seemingly chummy with a couple of media outlets. It should be noted that Rale is named second in ANS’s will as executor of her estate. As such, he is entitled to 6% of its worth, should HKS be deemed unavailable to assume executorial duties while he is incarcerated.

Quite disconcerting was the lighthearted demeanor of HKS, this circus’ ringleader, in the moments just before the Commissioner called the case to order. Is such demeanor appropriate for someone accused of facilitating the death of one’s ceremonial wife?  Kapoor, by comparison, looked serious and concerned while seated next to his attorney, Ellyn S. Garofalo. Perhaps he has a prophetic inkling of what Lady Justice has in store for these three defendants.

May 13th, 2009

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