Flesh-and-blood in federal court
July 16, 2008
Washington Monthly has a great piece about four Baltimore men in federal court on murder and drug charges. These four men, who are black, are using a tactic that has been called “the flesh-and-blood defense,” usually associated with white supremacist anti-government folks.
From the story:
Judge Davis ordered the three defendants to be removed from the court, and turned to Gardner, who had, until then, remained quiet. But Gardner, too, intoned the same strange speech. “I am Shawn Earl Gardner, live man, flesh and blood,” he proclaimed. Every time the judge referred to him as “the defendant” or “Mr. Gardner,” Gardner automatically interrupted: “My name is Shawn Earl Gardner, sir.”
Davis tried to explain to Gardner that his behavior was putting his chances of acquittal or leniency at risk. “Don’t throw your life away,” Davis pleaded. But Gardner wouldn’t stop. Judge Davis concluded the hearing, determined to find out what was going on.
It’s a pretty lengthy piece but definitely worth a read for all you law wonks.
CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer
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What’s a “law wonk?”
Law wonk would probably be a lawyer who aggressively follows new law developments, considering the importance of changes and trying to predict the net effects in practice, where the rubber meets the road so to speak, Some lawyers are not law wonks, Maybe a few law wonks are not lawyers. I hate the word ‘wonk.’