Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers Association

2008-2009 LCDLA Officers: Standing (left-to-right) are Vice-president for Education Mark Snodgrass, Director Pat Metze, Vice-president for Membership Trey McClendon, and Director Donnell Yandell. Seated (left-to-right) are Secretary-Treasurer Anne Hazlewood, President Laurie Key, and Vice-President for Court Liaison Philip Wischkeamper. Not pictured is Director Natalio Hernandez.

Michael Montoya & Raymond Shackleford won a DWI in CCL#2. The Jury was out one hour.

No FST and no BT. Defense team attempted to qualify David Haggler, former Narcotic officer, as an expert on Police training and tactics when a suspect refuses tests. But to no avail. Prosecutor was Jacob, it was his first jury trial. He apparently did a good job.

In closing, Michael argued the cop was picking on the suspect just like the current war on tech kids. The suspect is a masters student at Tech and teaches history at the University. The prosecutor objected, arguing outside the record, but Drue overruled.

Good job guys! Keep giving them hell!!!

Mark Hall is looking for some assistance on some Municipal Court “Party Patrol” cases. Those interested should contact Mark at 744-9211. See the Member’s Only section for details.

Congratulations to Shannon Geihsler! The Seventh Court of Appeals ruled yesterday in Crumley v. State that the trial court erred in denying Shannon’s motion to suppress evidence in a meth case. Looks like her client will get a reprieve from his 15-year sentence. The case was tried in the 140th District Court, and the opinion by Justice Quinn is short and sweet:

http://www.7thcoa.courts.state.tx.us/opinions/HTMLopinion.asp?OpinionID=12412

Shannon wanted to thank Rick Wardroup for his help at the trial level, and David Guinn for his help at oral argument.
Good job, lady gladiator!

Congratulations to LCDLA member Anna Ricker of Levelland. Wednesday, she got a not guilty verdict in 286th District Court, Hockley County, on an indecency with a child/contact. The jury was out 32 minutes. Assisting was baby lawyer Anna McSpadden, who attended the LCDLA Prairie Dog Lawyers Seminar this year. (Someone needs to sign her up as an LCDLA member.) Both Annas wanted to thank Donnie Yandell for helping on an evidence question that popped up during the heat of battle. Good job, lady gladiators!

Also on Tuesday, Bill Wischkaemper won an acquittal for his client on a DWI in CCAL#2. Female college kid did very poorly on the FST’s, per Bill. Wisely, he visited the scene of the arrest, finding that the FST surface was quite uneven, and took some photos. The cop steadfastly refused to admit that the FST’s were in any way compromised by the uneven surface. The jury was out an hour and a half. Good job, aged gladiator!

Laurie Key has lined up a great program for the February 21 LCDLA meeting. Richard Anderson, Chief Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of Texas, and his appellate section chief, Jason Hawkins, will travel from Dallas to give us a program on “The How’s and Why’s of the Recent Retroactive Amendments to the Federal Crack Guidelines.” The program will qualify for a half hour of FREE CLE.

I hope to see all of you February 21, at The Blue Light, 5:30 p.m.

The Lubbock Criminal Defense Lawyers Association will hold officer/director elections at the February 21 meeting, and nominations for officers/director will be taken from the floor. The Nominating Committee has recommended the following slate of officers/director, and each has agreed to serve:

President: Laurie Key
Secretary-Treasurer: Anne Hazlewood
Vice-President for Education: Mark Snodgrass
Vice-President for Membership: Trey McClendon
Vice-President for Court Liaison: Philip Wishkaemper
Director, Place 2 (2008-2011): Donnie Yandell

Director, Place 1 (2007-2010), Natalio Hernandez, has two years remaining on his current term. Director, Place 3 (2006-2009), Patrick Metze, has one year remaining on his current term.

Texas Young Lawyers Association is hosting the regional mock trial competition in Lubbock at the Courthouse on February 7-9, 2008, with every major law school competing. TYLA is in need of 143 people to act as witnesses during the competition. If you could spare a little time to role play, TYLA and our local students at TTU would greatly appreciate any help. Witnesses can be any age, gender etc. So, get the kids involved. The rounds will be held in the Lubbock County Court house. The statement can be found on the TYLA website. Listed under the link “Regional Problem REVISED” http://www.tyla.org/advocacy_ntc.html.

Anyone who is interested from the local bar, or knows someone who can help, contact Ashley Smith at ashley.e.smith@ttu.edu.