tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post4753778027033002575..comments2023-12-23T03:49:20.907-08:00Comments on watchpaul: Serious question.Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-84866069135367785632010-07-06T23:28:03.628-07:002010-07-06T23:28:03.628-07:00People care, Ben. More than you know.People care, Ben. More than you know.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-24846689864082956622010-07-06T23:14:31.341-07:002010-07-06T23:14:31.341-07:00He was the first friend I had here. Friends are ha...He was the first friend I had here. Friends are hard to come by.Ben McLaughlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-25931643898265684062010-07-06T22:46:11.150-07:002010-07-06T22:46:11.150-07:00It's beautiful, Ben. Thank you.It's beautiful, Ben. Thank you.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-22240594402832629812010-07-06T22:42:31.088-07:002010-07-06T22:42:31.088-07:00Maybe we can all agree on this. For Ben Nord, on ...Maybe we can all agree on this. For Ben Nord, on the anniversary of his death:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkLXOWimMY8<br /><br />I really miss him.Ben McLaughlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-70317971729594111502010-07-06T21:59:05.802-07:002010-07-06T21:59:05.802-07:00Look, I've been a prosecutor for 4.5 years--a ...Look, I've been a prosecutor for 4.5 years--a lawyer for 10 (civil/transactional). I'm not stupid. But, I'm obviously not yet of the same caliber--as a prosecutor--as Dikeman (who could be) or Issac. I don't know Mr. Wade, so I cannot opine. Ms. Jackon was a prosecutor for 10 years, more than 5 years longer than myself. <br /><br />All I can say, in my defense, is that I've tried nearly 40 felony cases in 4.5 years, several of which were 8 weeks, or more. My conviction rate, at trial, is very good. <br /><br />I feel bad for calling the person who criticized me (7/3 @9:30) a "coward." If he/she is in LE, then he/she is obvoiusly not that. I get defensive and take stuff personally, which I shouldn't. You can call me many things, but a liar is not among them; nor can you say I'm not responsive. That's why I called BS. <br /><br />My co-workers are also a source of pride. Paul gets attacked for (1) plea deals and (2) not attracting good prosecutors to the office. I just think that's wrong. Say what you will, but we have good DDA's. They care; most work through lunch and don't back down. <br /><br />And, I really have an issue with the plea deal argument. Say each felony DDA gets 200 new cases a year (a guess, just for example), beyond those cases they have to maintain (PRH, restitution, MDO, etc.)... If 10% of those went to trial, it would be a disaster. <br /><br />If a felony trial takes, on the average, 2 weeks, that's 40 weeks in trial. I did 36 of my first 52 weeks in this office in trial, and I can say that I got almost nothing else done. <br /><br />The three trials I had recently, convictions. I'd be lying if I said I didn't offer plea deals. The defendants, in those cases, declined the offers. Had they accepted, am I a weak prosecutor? That's the part I don't get...<br /><br />PBMBen McLaughlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-6357258072887331222010-07-06T17:20:48.537-07:002010-07-06T17:20:48.537-07:00To make money, private lawyers pick and choose the...<i>To make money, private lawyers pick and choose their cases, even dump clients after taking them on.</i><br /><br />In terms of ethic, it's a little more complicated than that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-13847688919504603172010-07-05T10:32:41.058-07:002010-07-05T10:32:41.058-07:00Just like has been written and talked about, chaos...Just like has been written and talked about, chaos with no leadership. <br /><br />As for Ben, he ought to stop blogging it just embarrassing to read.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-27602631719562457612010-07-05T08:08:28.379-07:002010-07-05T08:08:28.379-07:00Take it easy on Ben. He's not a bad guy, and h...Take it easy on Ben. He's not a bad guy, and he's paddling like mad to stay afloat after agreeing to the dismissal motion in the Gunderson case. PVG wasn't best pleased by that,s because Ben did it on his own without checking with the elected, so Ben's in warm water. Which is pretty funny when you look at the overall picture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-10218517623345281972010-07-04T15:36:02.895-07:002010-07-04T15:36:02.895-07:00With all due respect to Mr. McLaughlin, he is not ...With all due respect to Mr. McLaughlin, he is not a replacement for prosecutors the caliber of Dikeman, Isaac, Wade, or indeed Jackson. He may have the potential to be, but that will take time and experience. The only thing between the DA's office and chaos is Wes Keat. He has run the office from day 1. Gallegos is a loose cannon. Look at the decisions we know are his - the PL suit, the Douglas/Zanotti case, Gunderson, his plagerized "My Words"... I could go on - half-ass disasters, all of them. He did not know what he was doing in 2002, and he does not know what he is doing now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-62410237987061777522010-07-04T10:41:44.918-07:002010-07-04T10:41:44.918-07:00Ok Ben, lets talk about victims. Find me
three vi...Ok Ben, lets talk about victims. Find me <br />three victims families who complained, publicly, before, during and after resolution of their case, about Allison Jackson. <br />Lets talk about expert witnesses. Find me one expert that Paul has disqualified <br />before the jury ever heard about him.<br />Before you start scratching your head, ask around about Lee Coleman. The office should still have the transcript, and you should have read it, if you want to know about how to rip a defense expert apart. Now, there's a question. Have you read that transcript? Do you know what to what I am referring? If you haven't that's a pity. AGJ's demolition of Lee Coleman is a classic, and is used by other offices. How many Gallegos transcripts are?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-3277547726883602972010-07-04T09:59:08.284-07:002010-07-04T09:59:08.284-07:00Well, posting those letters was an exercise in fru...Well, posting those letters was an exercise in frustration. Bloggers gives me error messages that it did not post because it was too long, then it turns out it did post, every time. Anyway. I have deleted the duplicates, with one overlapping paragraph.<br /><br />At any rate, Ben, perhaps you will understand my point.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-90512408779328567052010-07-04T09:50:19.913-07:002010-07-04T09:50:19.913-07:00They tried to tell you
Because - whether you l...<a href="http://watchpaul.blogspot.com/2006/09/they-tried-to-tell-you.html" rel="nofollow">They tried to tell you</a> <br /><br />Because - whether you like Terry Farmer or not - he had assembled a strong team of prosecutors - and they had seen Paul Gallegos in action. They knew him for what he was. They knew his level of competence. They knew his reputation. They knew about his exploits in Pelican Bay.<br /><br />But - DA is an elected position, and who holds that position is subject to the whims of the voters. That time, the voters decided it was time for a change.<br /><br />Voters don't even need a reason to vote a DA out.<br /><br />This time, they have a good reason.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-29928351363326800372010-07-04T09:46:47.924-07:002010-07-04T09:46:47.924-07:00Bring back the boss
We are the attorneys and inve...Bring back the boss<br /><br />We are the attorneys and investigators in the District Attorney's Office. We write to urge the reelection of District Attorney Terry Farmer.<br /><br />We are proud of what we do and the reputation that we have. It didn't happen overnight and it didn't happen without Terry Farmer. Terry's opponent has no prosecutorial or administrative background. Despite this, he aspires to go from being one-half of a two-person office to head of the largest law firm in Humboldt County supervising those who experience dwarfs his own.<br /><br />The enforcement of our criminal law is a serious business. Platitudes and sound bites are no substitute for results. Terry Farmer gets results. He is an innovative leader who has earned our respect and support. We urge you to vote for him on March 5.<br /><br />Max Cardoza, Worth Dikeman, Rob Wade, Elizabeth Norton, Maggie Fleming, Jim Kucharek, Allen Woodworth, John Wright, Peter Martin, Gloria Albin, Allison Jackson, Eamon Fitzgerald, Wes Keat, Andrew Isaac, Nandor Vadas, Heather Gimie, Murat Ozgur, Frank Dunnick, Stacey Johnson, Paul Hagen, Jim Dawson, Eric Olson, Kathy Philp, Mike Losey, Chris Cook, Paul Blake, Scott Smith, Chris Andrews, Dave Rybarczyk, Dave Walker, Mike Stone<br /><br />Humboldt County District Attorney's Office<br />Eureka<br /><br />(Anyone care to count how many of them are left? Probably on the fingers of one hand.)Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-71353355443249922202010-07-04T09:46:31.550-07:002010-07-04T09:46:31.550-07:00To make money, private lawyers pick and choose the...To make money, private lawyers pick and choose their cases, even dump clients after taking them on. The District Attorney has a broader responsibility to the community. In the public interest we must take and keep cases even when our witnesses and victims may be unsavory, or hard to understand, or unwilling to assist us. We can't just walk away when things get difficult, or expensive.<br /><br />Mr.Gallegos has done just that, as described in the Eye. After taking the case, Mr. Gallegos had second thoughts about how tough it might be. Rather than carry the case, he decided the client should pay expenses. She could not, so he dropped her. That is not thinking like a public servant, even when the "public" is just one person.<br /><br />The time will come for a new District Attorney. When it does, vote for one who knows the whole job, knows the County, knows the State. Pick one with the judgment, experience, and credibility to represent the County at all levels: in the office, in court, with local police, government, and business, with Sacramento, with the Federal government. Right now, that's Terry Farmer.<br /><br />Andrew Isaac<br />ArcataRosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-54318994296065325862010-07-04T09:46:15.836-07:002010-07-04T09:46:15.836-07:00The opponent claims he can "lead" the cu...The opponent claims he can "lead" the current deputies. He admits we are good at what we do, he says he respects us, he says we deserve civil service recognition, but he does not hear us when we endorse Mr. Farmer in this race. Most of the attorneys in the office have far more experience than the opponent does, in some cases as much as twice or even three times as much. One of us, Worth Dikeman, was chosen Prosecutor of the Year by the state's leading legal publication not long ago. Maggie Fleming was convicting killers of little girls when the opponent was barely out of law school. The office has specialized prosecutors for methamphetamine, domestic violence, juvenile justice, violence against women, child abuse, welfare fraud, to name a few. How can the opponent tell us how do to a job he has never done? Will he ask our advice? He is not listening to us now – is he supposed to be a better listener if he becomes our boss?Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-73854754317398833362010-07-04T09:46:03.717-07:002010-07-04T09:46:03.717-07:00Five years ago I started here as a Deputy DA level...Five years ago I started here as a Deputy DA level one (out of four, four being the highest). When I did I already had 18 years experience as a trial lawyer – seven as a prosecutor, including four as a homicide prosecutor investigating and prosecuting from the death scene, the autopsy, through trial, and then to arguing appeals in the state Supreme Court and ultimately in Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal. Then I spent 11 years as a defense lawyer and plaintiff's civil rights lawyer, doing mostly police misconduct cases. I have worked both sides of the street, and I can tell you there is a big difference. Another experienced lawyer was hired by Mr. Farmer a year after I was. He had 20 years experience, 10 as a deputy D.A.. in San Francisco, 10 as an assistant U. S. Attorney prosecuting drug cases. He too started at the bottom here. Everyone does. The opponent wants to start at the top. That's wrong, and it's not good for the people of this County.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-59104083570310847472010-07-04T09:45:49.514-07:002010-07-04T09:45:49.514-07:00Five years ago I started here as a Deputy DA level...Five years ago I started here as a Deputy DA level one (out of four, four being the highest). When I did I already had 18 years experience as a trial lawyer – seven as a prosecutor, including four as a homicide prosecutor investigating and prosecuting from the death scene, the autopsy, through trial, and then to arguing appeals in the state Supreme Court and ultimately in Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal. Then I spent 11 years as a defense lawyer and plaintiff's civil rights lawyer, doing mostly police misconduct cases. I have worked both sides of the street, and I can tell you there is a big difference. Another experienced lawyer was hired by Mr. Farmer a year after I was. He had 20 years experience, 10 as a deputy D.A.. in San Francisco, 10 as an assistant U. S. Attorney prosecuting drug cases. He too started at the bottom here. Everyone does. The opponent wants to start at the top. That's wrong, and it's not good for the people of this County.<br /><br />The opponent claims he can "lead" the current deputies. He admits we are good at what we do, he says he respects us, he says we deserve civil service recognition, but he does not hear us when we endorse Mr. Farmer in this race. Most of the attorneys in the office have far more experience than the opponent does, in some cases as much as twice or even three times as much. One of us, Worth Dikeman, was chosen Prosecutor of the Year by the state's leading legal publication not long ago. Maggie Fleming was convicting killers of little girls when the opponent was barely out of law school. The office has specialized prosecutors for methamphetamine, domestic violence, juvenile justice, violence against women, child abuse, welfare fraud, to name a few. How can the opponent tell us how do to a job he has never done? Will he ask our advice? He is not listening to us now – is he supposed to be a better listener if he becomes our boss?Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-51647092914671624282010-07-04T09:45:34.840-07:002010-07-04T09:45:34.840-07:00Another thing – a 215 card is not a license to dri...Another thing – a 215 card is not a license to drive stoned, especially with kids in the car. Nor does it allow one to carry a little meth and a syringe. Or cash bad checks. Or shoplift. People who care about medical marijuana know that. Many of them, like the Humboldt Patient Resource Center, endorse Terry Farmer.<br /><br />One of the public defenders buttonholed me in the courthouse hall and asked me what I thought of the race, and we discussed it:<br /><br />• Paul's only criminal experience is as a defender, yes? Yes.<br /><br />• If Paul is qualified at all then, it is as a defense lawyer, certainly more than as a prosecutor, yes? Yes.<br /><br />• Would you hire Paul to be your boss, to be The Public Defender? (VERY STRONG NEGATIVE RESPONSE.)<br /><br />• OK then, don't send him to be my boss since he's not even ready to be yours. (The defender in question is supporting Mr. Farmer.)<br /><br />It is nice that the opponent wants to "give back" to his community. But it is bold for him to assert that he should start at the top. Even the boss's kid is supposed to start in the mail room and learn the business. Where the D.A. is concerned, that's good for Humboldt County.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-81459005257972478432010-07-04T09:36:39.733-07:002010-07-04T09:36:39.733-07:00Ben, NO ONE is questioning YOUR competence. YOU ha...Ben, NO ONE is questioning YOUR competence. YOU have a good reputation, as do others you work with.<br /><br />NO ONE is saying Terry Farmer was perfect, or that anyone should be deified.<br /><br />The Deputy DA's are not running for election - but since you feel compelled to speak out perhaps you will have some compassion for those in your position who spoke out years ago: <br /><br />This one ran as a letter to the editor, from the Arcata Eye, 2001<br /><br />Gallegos is a phony<br /><br />I am a Deputy District Attorney in the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office. I prosecute crimes against children. The views expressed below are my private ones, but obviously my role as a deputy d.a. is relevant here.<br /><br />Terry Farmer has the whole-hearted support of every person in the District Attorney's office. He is physically, mentally and emotionally more than equal to the job, and his experience as well as judgment eclipse that of his young opponent.<br /><br />The opponent's suggestion that the elected District Attorney should try cases shows that he does not understand the job, or how complex the office is. Do you hire Seiji Ozawa or Leonard Bernstein to conduct, or to play first violin? Anyone immersed a trial has no time to manage the office, and vice versa. It is impossible to do a good job as a trial lawyer and simultaneously run a complex office, and anyone serious about the job should know that.<br /><br />Terry does a great job dealing with local, state and federal agencies, and in running the people who work here. And when he needs to, he does go to court. In fact, he goes farther afield than that. Recently he traveled to Vacaville Prison, attending a so-called "lifer" hearing, ensuring that the killer of a two year old girl stayed where he belonged.<br /><br />The opponent has never been to a homicide scene and then watched the autopsy, drafted the search warrant, conducted a grand jury investigation, or attended weekly meetings with the police agencies of Humboldt County. He has never managed a budget as big as the District Attorney's Office budget. He has no understanding of how the office is funded, what grants we apply for, get and maintain to pay for people, technology and training. He has no relationship or experience with the numerous state, federal and local agencies the District Attorney works with, that support us and that we support. These are just a few of the things that go into the job of District Attorney, and this is the kind of experience Mr. Farmer has. The opponent does not.<br /><br />The opponent's claim that he would go easy on marijuana growers is not thoughtful, and is not a promise he can keep. Remember the line from the Glenn Frye song – "You got to carry weapons, ‘cause you always carry cash"? Drug dealing means drug ripoffs. We had at least one such homicide last year. Juries are full of smart people, and when they see large amounts of cash, packaging materials, scales, records of who paid what, who owes what, and guns, they quickly figure out that it's not medical marijuana we go after-it's drug-dealing. Every dealer has a 215 card – they would be crazy not to; cards are easy to get; everyone knows that.<br /><br />Whether they admit it or not, drug dealers put their neighbors at risk. Drug dealing kills, directly and indirectly. Cases are winnowed; many requests from police agencies are not prosecuted. But when the facts suggest dealing, even when the dealer tries to hide behind medical marijuana, the case goes to a jury. Of course, a lot of dealers plead guilty before trial.<br /><br />Another thing – a 215 card is not a license to drive stoned, especially with kids in the car. Nor does it allow one to carry a little meth and a syringe. Or cash bad checks. Or shoplift. People who care about medical marijuana know that. Many of them, like the Humboldt Patient Resource Center, endorse Terry Farmer....Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14023852057418281003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-89838979947361792372010-07-04T02:53:56.712-07:002010-07-04T02:53:56.712-07:00"I beg to differ Rose. There are several reas..."I beg to differ Rose. There are several reasons to attack Mark but I will refrain.<br /><br />But I seriously doubt he (Mark or mresquan)has talked to "cops" that think Gallegos does a good job. To be nice I would say Mark is pulling our leg on that one or maybe say he is phibbing or taking literary license or who knows. I just don't believe him on that point.<br /><br />I can't imagine Mark has heard more from a cop than "press hard there are three copies".<br /><br />Aside from the comments about Gallegos maybe learning from his previous blunders he is still an ineffective DA and a bad manager! I would submit that crime is up because of his mis-management. Voting for him is just throwing away your vote and wasting taxpayer money. <br /><br />Gallegos tried and he has failed.<br /><br />And to Ben, when Allison Jackson becomes DA she won't fire you just because she can. She will do what she can to make you a better prosecutor. Actually Ben I think you would like and respect Jackson if you got to know her and worked with her."<br /><br />I think I'm a good prosecutor. I know Allison. I like her. It's not about that. I just don't like being thrown under the bus in the election season. <br /><br />I like Paul, and am loyal to him, because he hired me and Kelly. My posts aren't meant to be anti-Jackson, just that there should be a debate beyond "plea deals."Ben McLaughlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-56574165763990344382010-07-04T02:17:20.714-07:002010-07-04T02:17:20.714-07:00"I call Bullshit on you 9:17. As a member of ..."I call Bullshit on you 9:17. As a member of law enforcement for many years I am grateful for this blog. As for you McLaughlin start actually trying your cases, clean out your voicemail so we can reach you, return a call for a change and answer your damn emails for once. You are part of the problem. Now man up and quit apologizing for that train wreck of a "boss". There is a big reason why none of us is supporting Gallegos."<br /><br />Am I part of the problem? In the past three months, I've tried three felonies and put people in CDC for 23years. <br /><br />I respect LE very much, but you're a coward. I'll admit that my voicemail is full, but your email missive is incorrect. Email me now. We'll see if I don't respond. Coward. Anonymous. At least post with your name. I'm part of the problem, eh? <br /><br />In my 5 years as a prosecutor, I've had more trials than anyone you can name. Don't tell me my business. Call the POP police and ask how they feel about me. Call Cooper, Braud (both of them), Watson, Wilcox, Harpham, Starcher, Garey, Franco, Mowrey, Hass, and whomever. Get your shit together. <br /><br />All I was trying to say is that the "plea deal" thing is a hackneyed platflorm. Every challenger says that the incumbent is a loser. That's an easy argument. <br /><br />Anyhow, since you don't think I don't respond to my email, it's bmclaughlin@co.humboldt.ca.us. I look forward to hearing from you.Ben McLaughlinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-79234494898769398822010-07-03T21:20:18.113-07:002010-07-03T21:20:18.113-07:00The closest thing to law enforcement on Gallegos e...The closest thing to law enforcement on Gallegos endorsement list are DA Office employees, they really don't count for obvious reasons.<br /><br />I agree, you mresquan/mark made that up. It's apparent to anyone in the know and now it's obviously apparent to some that are not in the know.<br /><br />Have a pleasant 4th of July MM (mresquan/mark). Have a hot dog, some ribs, a burger, and maybe a beer. And thank God you live in the greastest county in the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-23622481080509984222010-07-03T17:40:03.215-07:002010-07-03T17:40:03.215-07:00Other than his staff no law enforcement do I see o...Other than his staff no law enforcement do I see on that site from humboldt. I don't see the folks in any of the categories you say konkler. Just admit you are making this shit up to justify your refusal to admit the truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-43866963873593938492010-07-03T16:43:55.229-07:002010-07-03T16:43:55.229-07:00Hey anon 1:00pm said there were none.And trust me,...Hey anon 1:00pm said there were none.And trust me,Paul's penchant to almost pander to local law enforcement agencies impresses me none,and is the prime reason that both the Kat Zimmerman and Sean Marsh cases became what they became.Take a gander over to Paul's endorsement list to find the connections you are looking for.I find quite a few names there of people whom I disagree with on many issues,some related to law enforcement.mresquanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00644535031615078618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25625654.post-92173080435072046302010-07-03T15:41:57.566-07:002010-07-03T15:41:57.566-07:00One. Wow. Where are the others Mark? The cops? A...One. Wow. Where are the others Mark? The cops? Advocates? Names Konkler and not bullshit. 1 in 7 years is pathetic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com