Monthly Archives: February 2010

Judge Kastrenakes biased against lying cop? – Florida Highway Patrol

See what a little gossip will do? After the story is told over and over to dozens of people, the facts always change. Veteran ASA Ellen Roberts claims that Judge Kastrenakes is biased against FHP based a ticket he received. Ellen heard about it through rumor/gossip from troopers. Here’s the motion, affidavit, tickets and FHP [...]

Posted in biased, Florida Highway Patrol, Judge Kastrenakes, tickets

DUI Breath tests in Palm Beach county thrown out?

The en masse hearings will end today re: whether the DUI breath tests are admissible. The Palm Beach Post article fails to mention other grounds for suppression. Generally, they are: 1. The intoxylyzer 8000 is not an approved machine. When you get your DL, you impliedly consent to a breath test. However, you consent only [...]

Posted in DUI breath, DUI breath tests, suppression of breath results

The positive power of negative preparation and focus groups

In preparing for trial, I exercise the positive power of negative preparation. That simply means that I put on my prosecutor’s hat and think of all the arguments to convince a jury to convict. Then, I wipe my ass with the prosecution’s strongest points. Many things that are said can be explained given the proper [...]

Posted in Focus groups, Mock juries, Positive power of negative preparation, trial preparation

Veteran Homicide PD goes to State Attorney’s Office

Veteran homicide assistant public defender Adrienne Ellis is going to the State Attorney’s Office. That’s right. She’s switching sides. A great lawyer can argue both sides convincingly. She put her name in for judge via the JNC. Maybe she thinks it will help her chances next time around. Maybe she is tired of the grind, [...]

Posted in Adrienne Ellis, switching to State Attorney