PROFESSIONALISM BRED BY STATE PD BOARD

CARRIED OUT BY CUCCIA AND LEMOINE

CREDS TO ED GREENLEE

It must be a rude awakening for the Prosecutor, Prem Burns to get a Life Sentence on Shawn Gillis, one of the most infamous, freaky defendants ever tried in Louisiana.  Burns had just tossed her hat into the DA's race, and no doubt this was her first bully pulpit.  She did not disappoint,  arguing unprofessionally that the defense, in presenting overwhelming expert testimony, was ". . . playing the crazy card . . . " , in fact she reportedly said ". . . we call it playing the crazy card . . . "! What a thirst for "justice", spelled "b - l - o - o - d"!   So used to having her way,  making the hate filled diatribes to dehumanize defendants,  she must be wondering how it could have finally failed this time,  in the heat of a spotlight almost unmatched.

Dear Prem, what has happened is that you met a prepared, funded and professional team of Counsel,  who weren't saddled with an impossible caseload, who weren't denied resources, and who jumped into the ring in what was almost a fair fight.  It became clear to some on that jury that Shawn Gillis was crazy, and that the State was just as insane for trying to create some kind of calculating, cartoon character villain out of a very sick human being. Judging from the press reports, the case was made with lay witnesses and experts, and it was solid.  Prem's personal attacks fell on deaf ears.  Her emotional diatribe bought tears: to the eyes of the defendant!  Gotta love the irony.  If you've read Prem's arguments,  you could appreciate that the whole approach is to get by the facts and make the jury want to choke the life out of the client themselves!  Mob mentality in the jury box.  Some courageous souls blocked that here.

All the credit to Cuccia and Lemoine, and it should be noted that Kerry is a veteran of the OPD, that infamous "Orleans Public Defender" which some have derided: it was always in fact a crucible of trial lawyer learning.  Many of those lawyers have been denied the respect they deserve, and its time to acknowledge skill and excellent trial work.  There were issues between counsel in this case,  but who wouldn't have felt the incredible pressure in a case where your client cut off a victims hands.  What made that compelling for life was the story of Gillis polishing the fingernails on the severed hands: the ". . . crazy card . . . "?  How outrageous!  After hearing what this man has done, how could anybody claim he was a normal fellow, plotting his defense?

A well deserved rebuke for "Dr. Hoppe",  who has become a fledgling Dr. Death,  taking the stand to opine in this case that  he couldn't imagine how Gillis could get up in the morning he had so many diagnoses.  The same Dr. Hoppe shown to be less psychologist and more hit man in PCR on other death cases. 

A final note on how these Regional Capital Programs came to life: it was Ed Greenlee's initial goal to get these started.  Whatever has happened under the 307 Board, it may be worth remembering that getting things done is not always the flash and dash.  Sometimes its just hard work and supporting the lawyers in the trenches. Given that the regional programs were created under Ed's watch,  the maturity and effectiveness of these offices is on his resume.

This was a sad case for Louisiana and for the victims and families on all sides.  It is only a source of pride because we know that it was almost a fair trial, except that the kind of demonizing of lawyers undertaken here should be shut down.  Prosecutors should be required to respect the law, including the law that might embarrass them by rejecting their demands for revenge.  Professional, funded lawyers on both sides!  What a shocking turn of events!  Politics submissive to justice! Amazing!

G Paul

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