An angry Alan Dershowitz who has gone toe to toe with Angela Corey in the past via the Christian Fernandez case now says she should be disbarred.
http://www.isthatbaloney.com/liberal-law-professor-alan-dershowitz-zimmerman-prosecutor-should-be-disbarred
Quoteprosecutor Angela Cory must be a real winner if liberal professor and former lawyer Alan Dershowitz says she should be disbarred.
Not only is Dershowitz saying Corey should be disbarred, he saying she should be investigated for purposely withholding evidence from the judge who ended up bringing this case to be heard in front of a jury. The main contention is that she never turned over the pictures of Zimmerman's bloody and broken nose and blood on the back of his head to the judge that decides whether or not there is enough evidence for a trial.
Read more of Dershowitz's interview transcript from Read Clear Politics below:
MIKE HUCKABEE: You have said that you thought the prosecutor ought to be disbarred, that's a pretty serious type of violation to get a person disbarred. It is that serious to you?
ALAN DERSHOWITZ: Right, it is. She submitted an affidavit that was, if not perjurious, completely misleading. She violated all kinds of rules of the profession, and her conduct bordered on criminal conduct. She, by the way, has a horrible reputation in Florida. She's known for overcharging, she's known for being highly political. And in this case, of course she overcharged. Halfway through the trial she realized she wasn't going to get a second degree murder verdict, so she asked for a compromised verdict, for manslaughter. And then, she went even further and said that she was going to charge him with child abuse and felony murder. That was such a stretch that it goes beyond anything professionally responsible. She was among the most irresponsible prosecutors I've seen in 50 years of litigating cases, and believe me, I've seen good prosecutors, bad prosecutors, but rarely have I seen one as bad as this prosecutor, [Angela] Cory. (Huckabee, July 14, 2013)[/quote
Yeah he's been saying this since early last year I believe; due to the same claim of withholding evidence.
Dershowitz isn't the only one pointing the finger at Corey but perhaps he is the most vocal.
I think that taking a look at how the charges were brought and why is relevant. Honestly, I am not sure there ever was enough evidence to support a Murder 2 charge.
I have heard the conspiratorial opinion that, since charges were only brought after public pressure, Gov. Scott - who selected her to prosecute - got a big charge in 2nd degree murder. This calmed the public outrage at the time, especially in the black community - an electorate he is woefully lacking. A Second Degree Murder charge was unsustainable from the start. Now, since the 2nd Degree Murder could not be proved, Zimmerman was acquitted. And it is the court system that let him go. Not Scott. Not Cory. They can even express outrage at the verdict.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on July 15, 2013, 06:03:05 PM
I have heard the conspiratorial opinion that, since charges were only brought after public pressure, Gov. Scott - who selected her to prosecute - got a big charge in 2nd degree murder. This calmed the public outrage at the time, especially in the black community - an electorate he is woefully lacking. A Second Degree Murder charge was unsustainable from the start. Now, since the 2nd Degree Murder could not be proved, Zimmerman was acquitted. And it is the court system that let him go. Not Scott. Not Cory. They can even express outrage at the verdict.
I have no doubt that politics played heavily into this situation.
Looks like a lot of high profile folks are not singing Corey's praises. Some are very pointed in their criticism.
Below a part of the commentary. Click the link for the complete story.
Quote
A six-member jury found Zimmerman not guilty on counts of second-degree murder and lesser charges Saturday, setting off widespread outrage.
The acquittal is a rare high-profile failure for Corey, and she will struggle will the perceptions this case generated, said former 4th Circuit Public Defender Bill White.
"She doesn't take criticism well, and there's going to be a lot of second guessing," White said. "But Angela will have her difficulties and she'll have to deal with it."
Corey, a conservative Republican, is in the odd situation of being blasted nationally by right-wing talk show hosts and columnists who say the decision to charge Zimmerman was politically motivated.
"In the hall of shame goes Angela Corey, the prosecutor brought in to get an indictment," wrote conservative Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin. "She proceeded to overcharge, grandstand and personify abuse of prosecutorial discretion."
Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz called for Corey to be disbarred, saying she submitted affidavits that bordered on perjury and violated all kinds of rules of the profession
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-07-15/story/state-attorney-corey-scrutinized-nationally-over-handling-trayvon#ixzz2ZA2RoPU3
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-07-15/story/state-attorney-corey-scrutinized-nationally-over-handling-trayvon
She's taking a lot of heat for this case, and rightfully so, but what you don't realize is that this is how she operates her office on a day to day basis. And when the defendant has a PD or a bad attorney, this kind of crap is passes.
I hoped this case would shine some national spotlight on her, and it has. Hopefully it can bring change in an election, but that is far off, and memories and national spotlight fade quickly.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on July 15, 2013, 06:03:05 PM
And it is the court system that let him go. Not Scott. Not Cory. They can even express outrage at the verdict.
I don't blame Corey one bit for the Zimmerman outcome. But, she withheld information from the defense and dragged this out. Did you see Don West and O'Mara at the press conference? They were furious. Two well seasoned and good lawyers said they've never been treated so bad the way the prosecution treated them. They saw things done by the prosecution that they've never seen or heard of being done in 30 years of practice. Don West was furious and rightfully so.
This is more than the Zim case. This is about fair trials for all and the rule of law.
Probably shouldn't be saying that here. She'll try to hunt me down, sue me, and try to get me fired.
Through Prisoners of Christ I have had the displeasure of working with both Angela Corey and her office and I will be very happy when she uses the fame this case has brought her to ride out of Jacksonville. I can say she micromanages everything and has that entire office in a chokehold. Unfortunately, we are beginning to see the effects of her work as those that were given extremely light sentences are now returning to the streets and committing crimes again. WJXT is currently working on the story, believe they are airing it on Thursday. Apparently the cage the media has been kept in by her office has been opened. I thought Ed Austin was a wonderful man and did a lot to help Jacksonville, but bringing on Ms Corey and raising her through the ranks was blemish on an otherwise wonderful political career.
Quote from: Bridges on July 15, 2013, 07:53:54 PM
Quote from: Charles Hunter on July 15, 2013, 06:03:05 PM
And it is the court system that let him go. Not Scott. Not Cory. They can even express outrage at the verdict.
I don't blame Corey one bit for the Zimmerman outcome. But, she withheld information from the defense and dragged this out. Did you see Don West and O'Mara at the press conference? They were furious. Two well seasoned and good lawyers said they've never been treated so bad the way the prosecution treated them. They saw things done by the prosecution that they've never seen or heard of being done in 30 years of practice. Don West was furious and rightfully so.
This is more than the Zim case. This is about fair trials for all and the rule of law.
Probably shouldn't be saying that here. She'll try to hunt me down, sue me, and try to get me fired.
She is taking fire from folks with public profiles that far exceed most of ours. I think she will be spending her time and energy on them.
Quote from: Bridges on July 15, 2013, 07:48:51 PM
She's taking a lot of heat for this case, and rightfully so, but what you don't realize is that this is how she operates her office on a day to day basis. And when the defendant has a PD or a bad attorney, this kind of crap is passes.
I hoped this case would shine some national spotlight on her, and it has. Hopefully it can bring change in an election, but that is far off, and memories and national spotlight fade quickly.
+10000000
Now we are getting down to the politics of Scott and his decision to step into the Zimmerman issue and appoint Angela Corey as special prosecutor.
QuoteProtestors filled Governor Rick Scott's office Tuesday to push for a special legislative session in the wake of Saturday's George Zimmerman verdict.
State Attorney Angela Corey, who Scott appointed as a special prosecutor, charged Zimmerman with second-degree murder after the shooting of Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old black male. Zimmerman was found not guilty, a verdict that has prompted protests across the country.
Two groups, Florida New Majority and Dream Defenders, want a special legislative session to pass what they are calling the "Trayvon Martin Civil Rights Act." Specific laws they want considered are Florida's "zero tolerance" laws and the now infamous "Stand Your Ground" law, which does not require a person to retreat if they feel there is "reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm."
Zimmerman, who claimed he shot Martin in self-defense, did not use the Stand Your Ground law as part of his defense, but was not arrested for two months after the Feb. 2012 shooting because of the law.
"Together we are united in ensuring Trayvon's unjust death was not for nothing," read a statement circulated to media and read inside Scott's office. "Our anger in the face of gross injustice has led us to take action but it is the love of our people and our community that pushes us forward."
Protesters, who spilled out into the hallway in front of Scott's office, said they wanted to speak directly speak to Scott, who is in New York.
"There is a war on youth every day in this country especially in this state," said Michael Sampson, an organizer with Dream Defenders. "Trayvon Martin happened on his [Scott's] watch...he needs to definitely address that."
Scott commissioned a 19-person panel led by former Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll to examine Florida's self-defense laws in the wake of the Martin shooting. In a February report, the panel recommended, among other things, not repealing the Stand Your Ground law.
Senate Minority Leader Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, urged Scott to re-consider the Stand Your Ground law after the Zimmerman verdict.
"The self-defense claims invoked by George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin once again highlighted the glaring shortcomings in our self-defense laws," he wrote in a statement.
In addition, state Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, has urged Scott to address the verdict, which he has so far not talked about publicly.
Protestors say they will remain in his office until they can speak with Scott directly. Law enforcement said as long as the group does not interfere with state business, they will not be asked to leave.
"We will close these doors into the governor's suite, and they will be allowed to remain here," said Rick Swearingen, director of Capitol Police.
Matt Dixon: (352) 233-0777
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/2013-07-16/story/groups-flood-rick-scotts-office-demanding-special-session-wake-zimmerman#ixzz2ZF3am1UG
Keep the pressure on. When NRO is siding with Dershowitz, something is seriously up.
There are at least 3 articles on NRO about Corey.
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/353633/angela-coreys-checkered-past-ian-tuttle/page/0/1 (http://www.nationalreview.com/article/353633/angela-coreys-checkered-past-ian-tuttle/page/0/1)
QuoteShortly after Dershowitz's criticisms, Harvard Law School's dean's office received a phone call. When the dean refused to pick up, Angela Corey spent a half hour demanding of an office-of-communications employee that Dershowitz be fired. According to Dershowitz, Corey threatened to sue Harvard, to try to get him disbarred, and also to sue him for slander and libel. Corey also told the communications employee that she had assigned a state investigator — an employee of the State of Florida, that is — to investigate Dershowitz. "That's an abuse of office right there," Dershowitz says.
What happened in the weeks and months that followed was instructive. Dershowitz says that he was flooded with correspondence from people telling him that this is Corey's well-known M.O. He says numerous sources — lawyers who had sparred with Corey in the courtroom, lawyers who had worked with and for her, and even multiple judges — informed him that Corey has a history of vigorously attacking any and all who criticize her. But it's worse than that: Correspondents told him that Corey has a history of overcharging and withholding evidence.
The Zimmerman trial is a clear case of the former and a probable case of the latter. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder, also known as "depraved mind" murder. The case law for that charge, an attorney who has worked in criminal prosecution outside Florida tells me, is near-unanimous: It almost never applies to one-on-one encounters. Second-degree murder is the madman who fires indiscriminately into a crowd or unlocks the lions' cage at the zoo. "Nothing in the facts of this case approaches that." Which Angela Corey, a veteran prosecutor, should have known, and a grand jury would have told her. In fact, both the initial police investigation and the original state attorney in charge of the case had determined exactly that: There was no evidence of any crime, much less second-degree murder
But that did not stop Corey from zealously overcharging and — the facts suggest — withholding evidence to ensure that that charge stuck.
Still, by the end of the case it was clear that the jury was unlikely to convict Zimmerman of second-degree murder; hence the prosecution's addition of a manslaughter charge — as well as its attempt to add a charge for third-degree murder by way of child abuse — after the trial had closed. "In 50 years of practice I've never seen anything like it," says Dershowitz. It's a permissible maneuver, but as a matter of professional ethics it's a low blow.
Corey's post-trial performance has been less than admirable as well. Asked in a prime-time interview with HLN how she would describe George Zimmerman, Corey responded, "Murderer." Attorneys who spoke with me called her refusal to acknowledge the validity of the jury's verdict everything from "disgusting" to "disgraceful."
But will Corey ever be disciplined for prosecutorial abuses? It's unlikely. State attorneys cannot be brought before the bar while they remain in office. Complaints can be filed against Corey, but they will be deferred until she is no longer state attorney. The governor can remove her from office, but otherwise her position — and her license — are safe.
Meanwhile, those who speak out against her continue to be mistreated. Ben Kruidbos (pronounced CRIED-boss), the IT director at Corey's state-attorney office, was fired last week — one month after testifying during the Zimmerman trial that Corey had withheld from defense attorneys evidence obtained from Trayvon Martin's cell phone. Corey's office contends that Kruidbos was fired for poor job performance and for leaking personnel records. The termination notice delivered to Kruidbos last Friday read: "You have proven to be completely untrustworthy. Because of your deliberate, wilful and unscrupulous actions, you can never again be trusted to step foot in this office." Less than two months before this letter, Kruidbos had received a raise for "meritorious performance."
The records in question — Kruidbos maintains he had nothing to do with leaking them — revealed that Corey used $235,000 in taxpayer money to upgrade her pension and that of her co-prosecutor in the Zimmerman case, Bernie de la Rionda. The upgrade was legal, but Harry Shorstein, Corey's predecessor, had said previously that using taxpayer funds to upgrade pensions was not "proper."
Meanwhile, while Kruidbos has been forced out of the state attorney's office, the managing director who wrote his termination letter — one Cheryl Peek — remains. In 1990 Peek was fired from the same state attorney's office by Harry Shorstein's predecessor, Ed Austin, for jury manipulation. Now, as managing director for that office, she trains lawyers in professional ethics.
Since her election, Corey seems to be determinedly purging from the ranks any who cross her and surrounding herself with inferiors whose ethical scruples appear to mirror her own. Meanwhile, those she chooses to victimize — most recently, George Zimmerman — far too often have little recourse.
"Make crime pay," Will Rogers once quipped: "Become a lawyer." Angela Corey seems to be less interested in making crime pay than in making her critics pay.
Quote from: Bridges on July 18, 2013, 09:47:24 AM
But will Corey ever be disciplined for prosecutorial abuses? It's unlikely. State attorneys cannot be brought before the bar while they remain in office. Complaints can be filed against Corey, but they will be deferred until she is no longer state attorney. The governor can remove her from office, but otherwise her position — and her license — are safe.
Wow that's shocking. So in the case of that position, they are legally above the law. Tsk tsk.
There is also this piece from T.U. This may be part of what Bridges was referring to above. But it is worth repeating. Corey has some serious ego, control, vendetta issues. She not only goes after media and high profile people but she has gone after private citizens with venom many times in the past. She has quite a chip on her shoulder, time the public, legal community and voters knock it off. Corey views all that comes before her through a narrow lens of ego backed by an aggressive anger. Not a good thing for the public or as a representation of Florida law and it's law community.
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2013-07-17/national-review-takes-angela-corey
QuoteAngela Corey, by all accounts, is no Atticus Finch. She is "one hell of a trial lawyer," says a Florida defense attorney who has known her for three decades — but the woman who has risen to national prominence as the "tough as nails" state attorney who prosecuted George Zimmerman is known for scorching the earth. And some of her prosecutorial conduct has been, well, troubling at best.
Corey, a Jacksonville native, took a degree in marketing from Florida State University before pursuing her J.D. at the University of Florida. She became a Florida prosecutor in 1981 and tried everything from homicides to juvenile cases in the ensuing 26 years. In 2008, Corey was elected state attorney for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circuit, taking over from Harry Shorstein — the five-term state attorney who had fired her from his office a year earlier, citing "long-term issues" regarding her supervisory performance.
When Corey came in, she cleaned house. Corey fired half of the office's investigators, two-fifths of its victim advocates, a quarter of its 35 paralegals, and 48 other support staff — more than one-fifth of the office. Then she sent a letter to Florida's senators demanding that they oppose Shorstein's pending nomination as a U.S. attorney. "I told them he should not hold a position of authority in his community again, because of his penchant for using the grand jury for personal vendettas," she wrote.
Corey knows about personal vendettas. They seem to be her specialty. When Ron Littlepage, a journalist for the Florida Times-Union, wrote a column criticizing her handling of the Christian Fernandez case — in which Corey chose to prosecute a twelve-year-old boy for first-degree murder, who wound up locked in solitary confinement in an adult jail prior to his court date — she "fired off a two-page, single-spaced letter on official state-attorney letterhead hinting at lawsuits for libel
And this:
Celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos calls State Attorney Angela Corey a 'menace' on CNN http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400563/gary-mills/2013-07-18/celebrity-lawyer-mark-geragos-calls-state-attorney-angela
Quote
Commenting on the Jacksonville "stand your ground" case of Marissa Alexander, celebrity lawyer and legal commentator Mark Geragos called State Attorney Angela Corey a 'menace' Wednesday evening on Anderson Cooper's CNN program, "AC360."
Geragos, part of a four-person legal panel on "AC360" said Corey's failure to use prosecutorial discretion in the case was cause for someone to "disbar or impeach or do whatever the need to do" to remove her, "a menace," from office, Geragos said.
Alexander is serving a mandatory 20-year sentence following her conviction for firing what she called a warning shot against an abusive husband. Her case has regained attention following last week's acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Geragos isn't the only one criticizing Corey in the aftermath of the case
Something tells me that the Times Union will be receiving a phone call and possibly some words written on fancy legal paper, claiming they are passing on slanderous and libel accusations and will be in deep trouble unless they stop all articles of such nature.
Maybe they feel freed by the outpouring of national disdain for Corey.
Quote from: Bridges on July 18, 2013, 12:44:43 PM
Something tells me that the Times Union will be receiving a phone call and possibly some words written on fancy legal paper, claiming they are passing on slanderous and libel accusations and will be in deep trouble unless they stop all articles of such nature.
Maybe they feel freed by the outpouring of national disdain for Corey.
You know it Bridges. lol I am sure plenty of harshly worded letters on SAO letterhead with undertones of libel action will be going out to a growing list of folks. Angela has a lot to keep her busy. lmao
Let the sanctions begin. While folks have been focused on the Zimmerman case and it has resulted in some backlash for Angela Corey, it is worth remembering that Corey has a legacy of outrageous behaviors to her credit. This is another case the public was likely unaware of. It speaks to a pattern of behavior on the part of the SAO4 that should concern everyone.
Angela Corey's Office Rebuked"
The office of State Attorney Angela Corey faces potential sanctions and will have to pay thousands of dollars in taxpayer money after failing to turn over all documents in a wrongful termination case filed by a former employee.
It prompted a scolding by U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan and follows similar criticisms in the failed prosecution of George Zimmerman.
Julie Lyncker, a former clerk in the Nassau County office, says she was fired after she complained about the way former Assistant State Attorney Wesley White treated her. Lyncker says her civil rights were violated and the firing was an illegal retaliation for reporting wrongdoing in the office. She is asking for undisclosed damages.
Monday, Corrigan agreed to delay the case after lawyers representing the State Attorney's Office admitted they didn't provide opposing attorneys key evidence until Saturday. A jury was scheduled to be picked Monday and the two sides were supposed to turn over all materials months ago.
The judge sent 40 potential jurors home and told Corey's attorneys that the office would have to recompense the court for the $2,500 it cost to bring the jurors in.
"This stuff hits the case where it lives," Corrigan said. "And it's hard to understand how this happens."
Corey also was accused of withholding key findings from Trayvon Martin's cellphone in the Zimmerman trial and faces potential sanctions there. Zimmerman was acquitted after claiming self-defense in Martin's death.
Leonard Hackett, a private attorney hired to defend the State Attorney's Office, confirmed he discovered emails discussing the firing of Lyncker between senior staff on Saturday while prepping a witness who was going to testify in the case.
He immediately turned them over to Joseph DeBelder, Lyncker's lead attorney. But DeBelder said he needed to depose Corey, former Chief Assistant State Attorney Dan McCarthy and several other employees again because of what the emails said.
In previous depositions Corey and McCarthy both said McCarthy decided to fire Lyncker, and Corey wasn't involved. But one of the emails turned over Saturday had McCarthy telling White that he gave the "Boss" an option to retain Lyncker and a second option that would fire her.
"Boss" could only be Corey, and the emails suggest that Corey made the final decision, DeBelder said.
White and McCarthy, who have both left the State Attorney's Office, declined to comment Monday. After the hearing, Hackett told the Times-Union that McCarthy made the final decision to fire Lyncker but declined to discuss the newly discovered emails.
Hackett said he couldn't guarantee there weren't other missing emails and Corrigan said that left him no choice but to delay the case.
"The thing about these emails is they are directly on point," Corrigan said
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-07-22/story/angela-coreys-office-rebuked-late-evidence-gaffe-wrongful-termination#ixzz2Zt8qwLLI
[/quote]
The National Review article was very eye-opening.
But I'm not saying anything bad about Angela Corey. Nope.
For all we know, one of her underlings could be perusing this forum.
:-X
Quote from: Jameson on July 23, 2013, 01:17:08 PM
The National Review article was very eye-opening.
But I'm not saying anything bad about Angela Corey. Nope.
For all we know, one of her underlings could be perusing this forum.
:-X
I am sure there are Jameson. I think Corey has bigger worries than forum posters right now however it appears the depth of her desire to strike out at those she feels have offended her apparently know little boundaries. With top attorneys calling her a hazard in office and officials rebuking her,the case for disbarment could be building. These public revelations of improper behavior along with her penchant for "pay back" aimed at anyone who dares question her behavior while in office is likely to create serious problems when she runs to retain her position. I predict she faces a serious challenge next election, if she remains in office.
Does anyone remember Harry Shorstein's warning about her during the campaign? Everyone should have listened. Harry was spot on. When she was elected, Harry went to her Campaign Headquarters to congratulate her and attempt to mend fences but was told Angela ordered him not to be allowed on the premises. She refuses to even communicate with the Times-Union since they ran articles critical of her. It's time for Angela to go
Things continue to go downhill for Angela Corey. Looks like the pandora's box is open and what is coming out is lots of ugly.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conscience-realist/2013/jul/24/lies-abuse-and-absolute-power-scary-story-angela-c/
Quote
Few people know Corey's legal methodology better than Harry Shorstein. The longtime state attorney for Metro Jacksonville, he fired her back in 2007 due to workplace-related behavioral issues.
Shorstein spoke about this and much more during an interview published yesterday.
Today, Corey's controversies from a time before George Zimmerman became a household name enter consideration. In 2011, 12-year-old Cristian Fernandez fatally shoved his brother, who was a toddler. Rather than bring about a more conventional charge, Corey decided to prosecute Fernandez for first-degree murder as an adult.
"This case again brought international disgrace and condemnation to her and our jurisdiction," Shorstein says. "Cristian was an abused 12 year old who was born to a 12 year old Mother. His father committed suicide in his presence. Corey proudly announced she had indicted the youngest ever here.
"She charged first degree murder punishable only by life with no parole. She had said she never wanted a long prison sentence. During plea negotiations she added another charge punishable by life. Later she said she never believed it was premeditated, though that is what was charged (read indictment). Ultimately the defense team pled to juvenile sanctions and probation on the added charge.
"The defense team comprised of outstanding lawyers working pro bono and even paying substantial amounts for experts did, I think, what we do every day here. They pled to very reduced charges to avoid any possibility he could be sent to prison for life.
"Lastly, when he was originally charged as an adult, Cristian was moved to the adult jail and kept in isolation. She objected to him being let out of isolation but the Chief Judge ruled against her. Had he not ruled for the defense it could irreparably damaged the child."
Another case is that of Marissa Alexander. When confronted by her abusive husband, she left the room to retrieve a firearm for which she was licensed to carry. Alexander then returned to her husband and fired a warning shot in the presence of his two children.
Nobody was harmed, but Corey prosecuted her harshly nonetheless. After Alexander refused to accept a plea bargain which would have resulted in three years' incarceration, she stood trial with the now-infamous "Stand Your Ground" defense.
Alexander was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years in prison.
"The legislature has passed draconian sanctions for all gun crimes, appropriate in many cases but clearly wrong in this case," Shorstein remarks.
As bad as all of this is, Corey's bail bonds policies bring things to an entirely different dimension.
She argues for very high bonds, resulting in our jail being overcrowded with poor people," Shorstein explains. "What usually happens in the indigent being allowed to plead to something in return for being allowed to be released.
"The judge actually sets the bond, however, the judge knows little or nothing about the case at the time bond is set, relying on the prosecutor."
In the unfortunate situation of Ben Kruidbos, Robert Zimmerman — George's younger brother and strong public supporter — has much to say. Until earlier this year, Kruidbos was the information technology director in Corey's office. He was allegedly fired because he revealed her team's unlawful evidence-sharing tactics during one of George's pre-trial hearings.
"Mrs. Corey has lashed out against her critics in the past. She did so to Professor Dershowitz, she did so to Harvard, and now it seems that Mr. Kruidbos, out of fear for his own future, did what he perceived to be the right thing, and I fear this might just be some kind of retaliation."
The Kruidbos firing strikes to the core of the following question: Did she actually break the law while prosecuting George? Her team neglected to hand over very important evidence to his defense, so the question does seem none too difficult.
Robert thinks that the matter is "worth a look. I think that either the Justice Department or, eventually, a special prosecutor appointed by the Governor should look into these matters. I know that the court decided to wait post-trial to conduct a judicial inquiry to determine if there was in fact criminal contempt as it relates to withholding evidence.
"Every defendant has the right to confront the evidence against them, and any suppression by a prosecutor, or prosecutors, of evidence may be unlawful and most certainly is inappropriate."
Whether or not Corey will ultimately be forced to resign remains unclear. Shorstein provides some information about the matter: "Only public opinion would force her to resign. The Governor can remove her but it is almost unheard of. The best chance is a recall. Which is very difficult."
It is certain, though, that if voters elected Corey as state attorney for their judicial circuit, then they can and should hold her accountable for her actions. A recall definitely would be fantastic.
The seemingly absolute level of power which she wields over her office could stand some sunshine
And this sad commentary.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conscience-realist/2013/jul/23/revenge-misconduct-and-injustice-sad-story-angela-/
Revenge, Misconduct and InjusticeQuote
"Yes, there are scores of people fired for, ethically, doing the right thing," he replies. "Her de facto #2 was fired for extremely unethical misconduct (cited by our appellate court) by my predecessor and Angela has cleaned out about half of the good employees."
The $340,000 or more is in reference to Corey's pension, which she padded under highly controversial circumstances. When Jacksonville's only daily newspaper, the Times-Union, reported on the matter, she had it removed from her press feed.
Shorstein states that Corey raised her pension "secretly, lied about the amount, said it was done for all, [and] said I should have done it (whether [this was] legal....I question, I nor any other SA who I knew would never had done it), [she] said I did the same thing, etc.
"Unlike her adding to her and Bernie's [pensions], I had earned some years ago and was allowed to pay back the $7,000 I had taken out. To pay back $7000, I paid back $40,000+ out of my [funds], not the taxpayers or her low paid employees' $340,000+ dollars."
Speaking of Corey's staff, the woman who wrote Kruidbos's termination letter, Cheryl Peek, was fired from the state attorney's office in the 1990s for illegally influencing a jury. What are Shorstein's views about the quality of personnel in Corey's office?
"One of the greatest responsibilities of the elected SA is to train the young lawyers," he tells. "All but the ones right out of law school must learn from the elected the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior.
"She gets good young lawyers but it seems as if, except for those who can't find outside employment, they leave."
Today, many Jacksonville-area lawyers are reported to be concerned that if they speak out against Corey's tactics, then her office might treat their clients in a negative manner.
Who can say that they don't have ample reason to fear Corey? Shorstein pointedly remarks that "(s)he is well known to be vindictive."
Robert Zimmerman, George's brother and strong public supporter, is also concerned about Corey. Specifically in terms of the Kruidbos firing, he says that "any state attorney can select the members of their staff, and that includes firing people who they think may have acted inappropriately.
"I do question the circumstances in this situation. I think Mr.
Kruidbos was diligent in hiring an attorney. The way I understand it,
he was afraid that he might face criminal liability if he was an
unwilling accomplice in a discovery violation.
"It's my understanding now that Mr. Kruidbos has filed suit.
Obviously, that means he disagrees with Mrs. Corey's decision. I'm
concerned that other people like him, now or in the future, who are
doing what they believe is ethical, might incur the wrath of
vengeance."
There is an old saying which goes that "revenge is a dish best served cold". Whatever the case, Corey can't seem to get enough of it. How this relates to being a competent, let alone good, prosecutor is beyond comprehension
And the heat keeps turning up. I hope Scott does take Corey off this case. She wants to prosecute it herself. Why one may ask? Because it is high profile and pretty much a slam dunk for any prosecution team. This defendant is going to lose and Corey would love to put herself in the position of appearing as if it was her skill as a prosecutor that made the difference. This once again is about her and not the victim. That in and of itself should be reason enough to remove her from this case.
Make sure to read the letter. Ouch!
QuoteThe Florida Civil Rights Association has issued a letter to Gov. Rick Scott requesting for State Attorney Angela Corey be removed, and that a special prosecutor be appointed in the shooting death of Jordan Davis on November 23, 2012.
The two page letter to Governor Scott states that a new Special Prosecutor is needed to "suppress racial tension created in the failed prosecution by Corey and her staff that led to a not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial of Trayvon Martin."
The letter continues to say that Ms. Corey created the appearance that she will, "not afford the Defendant a fair trail and will not afford the victim and the surviving case a fair opportunity to have their voices heard at trial."
J. Willie David, President of the Florida Civil Rights Association, continued the letter saying, "The Florida Civil Rights Association believes appointing a special prosecutor to replace State Attorney Angela Corey is the right thing to do for the victim, Jordan Davis, and the suspect, Michael David Dunn. The State and Federal constitutions demands public confidence in our criminal justice system with Corey and her staff has failed."
Channel 4 reached out to Angela Corey's office Wednesday night for comment on the Florida Civil Rights Association's letter. Her office simply responded with "no comment
Click link for story and to read letter.
http://www.news4jax.com/news/civil-rights-association-asks-gov-for-state-attorneys-removal-from-case/-/475880/21154450/-/3nqdxiz/-/index.html
I cannot wait to vote against her. I may even donate money and work for her opponent whoever that may be.
Quote from: Stephen on July 25, 2013, 06:46:12 AM
I cannot wait to vote against her. I may even donate money and work for her opponent whoever that may be.
Don't go holding your breath. She ran unopposed last time. And will probably be unopposed again. Her spite and vindictiveness aren't just for show, they have a very self-serving purpose.
Quote from: Bridges on July 25, 2013, 08:12:27 AM
Quote from: Stephen on July 25, 2013, 06:46:12 AM
I cannot wait to vote against her. I may even donate money and work for her opponent whoever that may be.
Don't go holding your breath. She ran unopposed last time. And will probably be unopposed again. Her spite and vindictiveness aren't just for show, they have a very self-serving purpose.
She will not run unopposed and stands a very good chance of getting defeated. She may decide not to run on her own. Things are not going to cool down for her, rather they will continue to heat up.
God I hope you're right.
Quote from: Bridges on July 25, 2013, 10:31:50 AM
God I hope you're right.
I am. There may even be more than one challenger.
Let me know who it is and I will donate money and even work for them.I'll even hold my nose and do the same if it is a Republican. This town needs to grow up, face the 21st Century and get rid of these neanderthals.
Quote from: Stephen on July 25, 2013, 11:57:02 AM
Let me know who it is and I will donate money and even work for them.I'll even hold my nose and do the same if it is a Republican. This town needs to grow up, face the 21st Century and get rid of these neanderthals.
Keep an eye on the forum and you will know. :)
Well, we learned two more things about Rick Scott in the past few days via his response to protests in his office and via letter from a Florida equal rights group.
First, he supports the "Stand Your Ground" laws as written.
Second, he will not remove Angela Corey from the Davis case.
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-07-25/story/governor-rejects-groups-request-angela-corey-be-removed-trial
Another straw on the camels back.
Angela Corey is being sued by her former IT Director for 5 million dollars. QuoteBy Larry Hannan
The former information technology director for State Attorney Angela Corey is suing for wrongful termination.
Ben Kruidbos sued Corey's office Thursday saying he was illegally fired in June after he testified that prosecutors did not turn over all information to George Zimmerman's defense team in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
He is asking for $5 million or more in damages and his job back.
The lawsuit states Kruidbos could not be fired for testifying in a judicial proceeding in response to a subpoena. It also argues that the firing was retaliation for his testimony in the Zimmerman case.
"It's important to understand that we're not just saying my client was wrongfully terminated," attorney Wesley White said. "We're also saying that the state attorney broke the law."
Florida law prohibits firing people for testifying in trials they've been subpoenaed to take part in, and that's what Corey did to Kruidbos, White said.
The lawsuit should also send a message to Corey that she has no right to fire dedicated employees who are trying to do the right thing, White said.
The letter firing Kruidbos said he did a poor job overseeing the information technology department, violated public records law for retaining documents and noted he was questioned in March when the office was trying to determine who had leaked personnel information obtained through a computer breach.
It also said Kruidbos was not a lawyer and didn't have the right to question the ethics and professionalism of the attorneys prosecuting the case.
"Your egregious lack of regard for the sensitive nature of the information handled by this office is completely abhorrent," the hand-delivered letter said. "You have proven to be completely untrustworthy. Because of your deliberate, wilful and unscrupulous actions, you can never again be trusted to step foot in this office."
Kruidbos used computer software technology to extract photographs and text messages from the source file in Martin's cellphone. He was able to recover more information than the Florida Department of Law Enforcement obtained previously.
Kruidbos said he became concerned that lead prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda might not have turned over Kruidbos' report to defense attorneys.
White then contacted one of Zimmerman's attorneys and learned the defense had not received the report generated by Kruidbos. The defense did receive the source file from the cellphone and used its own experts to extract data.
Before the trial began Zimmerman's attorneys subpoenaed both White and Kruidbos during a pretrial hearing on their motion seeking sanctions against prosecutors. Circuit Judge Debra Nelson deferred a decision on whether to sanction the prosecution and still hasn't made a ruling.
The State Attorney's Office said it has received a copy of the lawsuit but due to the pending litigation cannot comment further
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-08-01/story/former-it-director-sues-state-attorney-angela-corey-wrongful-termination#ixzz2aqPgJ1Cy
http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2013-08-01/story/former-it-director-sues-state-attorney-angela-corey-wrongful-termination
Ask police what they think of her. They love her b ecause she puts criminals in jail. She is not lenient and puts people in jail for crimes period. Good old Harry Shorestein had a "soft on crime" reputation that people did not like. The cops hated him for it. Corey is Shorestein's opposite. Do the crime and do the time.
Hmmm, what if you found your employer was withholding evidence in relation to a murder trial?
Would you just stand by?
Would you whistleblow?
Quote from: John P on August 02, 2013, 04:36:30 PM
Ask police what they think of her. They love her b ecause she puts criminals in jail. She is not lenient and puts people in jail for crimes period. Good old Harry Shorestein had a "soft on crime" reputation that people did not like. The cops hated him for it. Corey is Shorestein's opposite. Do the crime and do the time.
Well not when she loses at trial, which happens frequently.
Shorstein brought the cases he knew the law supported. I'm sorry having a reputation for charging a ham sandwich if she didn't like the flavor apparently buys her credibility in the eyes of law enforcement.
"In 2010-'11, Corey's office took 270 cases to jury trial, resulting in 27 acquittals or dismissals, 25 pleas and 218 convictions."
"We don't apologize for prosecuting violent or repeat offenders," she says. In a telephone interview, Corey said she's proud of her record as a zealous prosecutor in the three-county Fourth Judicial District (Clay, Duval and Nassau counties). She insists she isn't one to toot her own horn — "I don't hold a whole lot of press conferences. I just want to be left alone and do my job" — but points to a conviction rate of 91.6 percent in fiscal year 2010-'11. By comparison, figures provided by Corey's office show former State Attorney Harry Shorstein's conviction rates were mostly in percentages of low to mid-70s."
http://www.folioweekly.com/THE-PUNISHER,135
Those figures count ANY conviction at trial, NotNow. Take a DUI for example, if the defendant was stopped for speeding and charged with DUI and then takes it to trial and gets acquitted of DUI but found guilty of speeding, they still count it as a win, lol. If a defendant gets acquitted of 5 felonies but got a parking ticket at the courthouse, they'd probably call it a win. Their statistics also don't take into account reversals on appeal. Her real ratio is unknown, but the usual guess is it's probably somewhere around 50%, that's if you count by charge not just by defendant. The way they choose what counts and what doesn't skews the numbers horribly.
It gets even more absurd if you look at how many defendants are charged in total in this circuit vs. the number actually convicted, period. Once again, their figures don't take into account pretrial dismissals under 3.190 etc., they don't take into account pretrial nolle prosequis, no-files, discharges, or pretty much anything else, although anyone would recognize that's a loss.
Quote from: John P on August 02, 2013, 04:36:30 PM
Ask police what they think of her. They love her b ecause she puts criminals in jail. She is not lenient and puts people in jail for crimes period. Good old Harry Shorestein had a "soft on crime" reputation that people did not like. The cops hated him for it. Corey is Shorestein's opposite. Do the crime and do the time.
Umm this statement is VERY inaccurate. Actually, it is just a straight lie.
Oops my apologies.
Revised: Gee John P, could you explain what facts you base this opinion on?
Another one of Angela Corey's high profile cases has been taking much criticism. Now it appears that a judge has ordered a new trial.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=540631
Quote
New trial in Alexander case
Friday, September 27, 10:24 AM EDT
The News Service of Florida
The 1st District Court of Appeal on Thursday ordered a new trial for Marissa Alexander, a Jacksonville woman sentenced to 20 years in prison for a shot fired during a 2010 domestic dispute.
The appeals court found that a Duval County circuit judge erred in his jury instructions, though it supported the judge's ruling that Alexander could not plead immunity under Florida's "stand your ground" law.
State Attorney Angela Corey's office said in a statement that prosecutors are "gratified that the court affirmed the ... 'stand your ground' ruling. This means the defendant will not have another 'stand your ground' hearing."
Circuit Judge James H. Daniel instructed the jury that Alexander, now a 32-year-old mother of three, had to prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that she feared an aggravated assault at the hands of her husband, Rico Gray. The jury convicted her of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which carries a mandatory sentence of 20 years.
The appeals court ruled that Daniel's instructions put too much of a burden on Alexander.
Alexander testified that Gray had charged her "in a rage" and threatened to kill her. And Gray, 37, admitted in a deposition to beating and choking women, including Alexander.
Daniel was not persuaded that Alexander was in danger.
Alexander's attorneys said she was grateful for the decision and "expressed her continued confidence in the judicial system's ability to correct mistakes ... (and) her desire to be back with her children and family.