"Drama likely as Scardino, Siegler face off in retrial"
So reads today's headline in The Houston Chronicle as it reignites the personal smear campaign on one of the most talented prosecutors in Harris County history and the death penalty generally.
The Houston Chronicle begins it's assault with:
"Two experienced attorneys, one a former Harris County star prosecutor known for theatrics and the other a skilled defense attorney, will face each other in the retrial of Anthony Graves, whose capital murder conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court."
The obvious implication is that Siegler is merely a very good experienced "actor" while Scardino, on the other hand, is a very good experienced trial lawyer. Not too subtle.
The Chronicle goes on to say:
"Kelly Siegler — once a feared Harris County assistant district attorney — has been hired by Washington-Burleson County District attorney Bill Parham as special prosecutor in the Graves case."
Feared-- not respected, not fair, not a good trial lawyer, but simply feared.
The Chronicle then concludes:
".....Attorney Nicole Casarez, a journalism professor at St. Thomas University whose students found evidence they say shows that Graves is innocent, and Amarillo attorney David Mullin are working on the case for free because they believe in Graves' innocence."
Well there we have it! The defendant is obviously innocent so why even bother with a trial.
"Siegler, who declined to comment, has faced Scardino and Phillips in previous trials."
Well why did Siegler not comment? She must have something to hide, right?
OR perhaps Siegler prefers to work up the case and have the requisite familiarity with the actual facts BEFORE making a comment. For all we know Siegler may, after factual review, concur with the Texas Court of Appeals. Maybe justice at all costs is more important than winning or losing at all costs for someone of her caliber.
Oddly the results of who prevailed at the referenced "face-offs" between Siegler and Scardino/Phillips are not mentioned; I am willing to bet that Siegler crushed the pair of defense attorneys at each "face-off".
Oddly the results of who prevailed at the referenced "face-offs" between Siegler and Scardino/Phillips are not mentioned; I am willing to bet that Siegler crushed the pair of defense attorneys at each "face-off".
"...Scardino's toughness and Siegler's flair for the dramatic..."
Puh...leeze!
"....Parham said he hired Siegler because he only has three assistant district attorneys, two of them inexperienced. “I have a small office and I need the extra help,” Parham said.
This is not the first time that Siegler has been hired to help a district attorney in a small county. Wharton County District Attorney Josh McCown hired Siegler in 2008 to help prosecute the county's first death penalty trial in 29 years."
Perhaps staff writer Harvey needs to tell the rest of the story.....The Wharton County defendant was convicted and sentenced to death for executing a Texas game warden.
It is my opinion that at The Houston Chronicle:
The anti death penalty agenda has clouded their objectivity.
Editorializing has supplanted journalistic integrity.
Personal vendettas have eroded balanced reporting and trust.
It is no wonder readership is so dismal at the once venerable publication......
19 comments:
Those lawyers will get crushed by Kelly Siegler. Why would the Chronicle write and article about this case well before it is going to trial. Seems suspicious to me.
Anon 2:17,
Deja vu baby...
Kelly is one of the best to ever come out of the DA's office. I am at a loss to see why she draws such animus just by showing up. Don't know if it's the Chronicles dislike of Kelly or the Death Penalty that is coming through in the article. Probably both! That's not to deminish Katherine and Jimmmy's abilities. They are both very capable trial lawyers. This was a non-story.
If the Chronicle wants to get personal, why don't they mention that Scardino and Phillips shack up together? Siegler has crushed Scardino before just like she's crushed Racehorse Haynes and Little Prick DeGuerin. We'll never get a fair story from the Chronicle because they are in Lykos' corner. What a shame.
Jigmeister,
You could not have said it any better.
This is a non-story. The only option was a special prosecutor in this case, from what I understood. I think there is lingering anti-Kelly bias in the Chron.
Jimmy and Katherine are not the types to feed this sort of media nonsense, so don't blame them.
The accused will be well represented, as will the state.
Fishing Musician:
How then do you think the Comical got the info?
Who needs a stinkin' trial in the first place when we have St. Thomas kids out there to decide the issue of guilt or innocence?!
What is it that you people don't get? If Kelly had tried OJ Simpson's evil twin in Harris County he'd be in line for the needle and the Chronicle and Judge Patsy would hold a joint news conference condemning her as a corrupt win at all costs racist prosecutor. Get over it. Who cares about victims? Plea out your docket or dismiss your cases but above all stay under the radar...rock star performances are for idealistic idiots.
Fishing Musician, no worries Katherine's secret will be safe under Judge Pat's Shield Law
Has anybody talked to Lykos about getting Siegler to try the death cases in Harris County? I told you earlier that I was concerned that we are not using the death penalty appopriately. Is that because of Lykos' connection to the Chronicle. This seems to be an example.
I am sure Lykos would want somebody like Kelly Siegler handling her trials.
APC,
You are a difficult fellow to understand. You say crazy shit one minute and then seem to figure out a small piece of what's going on but can never put it all together correctly. You supported Lykos before you didn't support her and have no idea why Kelly Siegler would never associate with someone like Lykos. How can someone as politically clueless as you be a precinct chair?
Since the 5th Circuit reversed this one Dick Deguerin can join the pro bono group and finally win a case against Kelly before heading to the old folks home.
Doubtful, but WTF.
All the years I have known Little Dicky, he has never taken a pro-bono case. Maybe the Branch Dividian was pro-bono, but I doubt it.
Anon 12:15 aka Nit Wit,
I worked hard for a long time to be able to have the money I do now and not have to work. I am active in my community and my people know that I care. Maybe if you spent some time working rather than insulting and waiting for the government to do something for you, you would understand why I am a precinct chair. Action versus inaction- laziness epitomizes the Democratic party. Look at their candidates, not one court is a solid two deep.
I may be wrong about the source, but I think we can all agree the Chronicle blows chunks regularly.
And I'm quite sure KS is not going to work this one for free, either.
Screw the Chronicle and congratulations to Kelly. I'm glad she doesn't have the stomach for criminal defense work. Besides, she'd kick all our butts at the HCDAO if she did. You go girl!
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