March 18, 2004

Bloodsuckers

Today, I was asked by the local judge to represent a charming 31-year-old gentleman at public expense. On his indigency affidavit and financial disclosure form, which is a public record, one of the clerks took some notes while interviewing him and wrote: Lives w/ girlfriend who pays for everything. Is not actively looking for job (hasn't worked for 1 year -- "getting life back together").

I'm sure he will have a good excuse for not actively looking for a job. One excuse I've commonly heard is that jobs don't pay enough -- that the 6-buck-an-hour job with health insurance doesn't pay enough. I suppose that makes some sense to someone out there, not me. Unless, of course, the job was at Domino's Pizza. Then I understand.

And I see where Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia required 21 pages to explain that he is impartial in a case involving V-P Dick Cheney, even though they are good friends and went duck-hunting recently at taxpayer expense, even though he didn't spend any time in a duck blind alone with Cheney. 21 pages. Methinks thou doth protest too much.

Posted by Bill at March 18, 2004 02:23 PM
Comments

And his girlfriend is still with him?

Posted by: Michelle at March 18, 2004 02:51 PM

I'm assuming he doesn't have to put three children in full time daycare... because THEN maybe $6 and health insurance isn't enough. It's hard to justify it when you are working and daycare costs $75 more a week than you get GROSS.

-d

Posted by: -d at March 18, 2004 02:57 PM

i was waiting for you to blast scalia. apparently the freakin' supreme court justices have less ethical constraints than you "regular lawyers." i thought it was about the appearance of impropriety and not about whether the cases have, indeed, been discussed.

Posted by: stacey at March 18, 2004 03:44 PM

Oh, and that duck hunt? Seems it was a "special" hunt, where the shooting field is "seeded" with live game. Caged ducks released just in time for the big white hunter to shoot. At least, that is what I understood. Hmm, I wonder if we could do that with politicians? Cage 'em and release them just in time for the vote.

Posted by: Cowtown Pattie at March 18, 2004 04:05 PM