"A federal judge in Texas declared a mistrial on Tuesday after a defense lawyer wore a shirt in court with images from the civil rights movement, delaying a closely watched case in which the Trump administration is accusing a group of protesters of being terrorists and says they are part of a "North-Texas antifa cell"....Pittman claimed the shirt sent a political message that could bias jurors."
"Pittman also argued that the defense lawyers would be outraged if prosecutors were to wear shirts that showed pro-ICE or pro-Trump imagery in front of a jury. Even if the shirt didn't sway the jurors - one interviewed juror didn't even notice the shirt and another saw it, but didn't think it would cloud their judgement, an ounce of prevention and all that."
"Of all the reasons to complain about lawyers, their fashion choices are on the lower end of the list. It is still on the list though - the popularity of the " Look at my lawyer, dog, I'm going to jail" meme attests to that. Diverting from an off-the-rack suit and some Allen Edmonds shoes isn't usually a cause for concern, but a defense attorney's t-shirt so moved a federal judge that he declared the case a mistrial."
A federal judge in Texas declared a mistrial after a defense lawyer wore a shirt featuring images from the civil rights movement. The case involved the Trump administration accusing a group of protesters of being terrorists and alleging a "North-Texas antifa cell." Prosecutor Pittman argued the shirt could send a political message that might bias jurors and likened the defendants' actions to the civil rights movement. Pittman said defense counsel would object if prosecutors displayed pro-ICE or pro-Trump imagery. Juror interviews revealed mixed awareness of the shirt, and calls for neutral courtroom attire were suggested to avoid similar issues.
Read at Above the Law
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]