Witless For The Prosecution

Mickey Kaus, son of a California Supreme Court Justice, continues to demonstrate his special and far-reaching ignorance of the law. Exhibit "A":

"Dumb hire of the month: Scott Peterson's reported decision to retain talking-head attorney Mark Geragos, who represented a) Susan McDougal, b) Gary Condit, and c) Winona Ryder. Geragos went to trial in the Ryder case and his defense was ... what? I don't remember one. The other two celebrity clients may actually have been innocent! That's justice, not lawyering! What kind of credential is that? ..."

Mick's proof of Geragos's incompetence as attorney? Mick can't remember what Geragos's defense was. I suppose if Mick forgets where he left his pants, the California State Bar should begin disbarment proceedings against Geragos.

But wait, there's more!

Mick says the acquittal of Susan McDougal was result of "justice, not lawyering" because McDougal "may have been innocent." Let's see. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office spent tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars prosecuting a 10 week trial, designed to send McDougal to prison for years for theft, fraud and embezzlement. The D.A. argued to the jury that McDougal was "con woman." Undoubtedly the prosecution did not present any evidence clearing McDougal of the charges. Part of the defense was that Metha hid exculpatory financial records until weeks before the trial. And yet Mick -- who certainly knows nothing of the case other than through media reports of the evidence presented at trial -- claims that the jury reached a not guilty verdict because of "justice," and not lawyering.

In Mick's world, the innocent do not need counsel because justice will prevail regardless of the efforts of counsel. It therefore follows that there are no innocent people in prison, because "justice" did not set them free.

I can't vouch for Geragos's trial skills, but if Mick hates him, he must be doing something right.