Mike Ventrella
Paragon
Anyone ever heard of this show? Judge Lopez is apparently a Judge Judy knock-off...
http://www.judgemarialopez.com/
Anyway, I just happened to hear about her and I fell to the floor. I used to practice in front of her when I was a public defender in Boston, but I moved in 92 and didn't keep up with the story...
She was the boss in the court, let me tell you. Very liberal, and the DAs hated her...
She apparently moved up in power in Massachusetts until she was brought before the disciplinary board and forced to resign! And now she's a TV star!
My favorite Lopez story:
One time I was assigned a case where my client had been caught by this neanderthal cop for making out on the beach with another man. It was late at night, no one was around, and the cop was just looking for someone to arrest apparently.
Anyway, he charged them both with all sorts of ancient laws about indecent conduct and public morals and so on, some of which specifically made these acts illegal if done between people of the same sex but not of heterosexuals.
"Now's my chance to make my name," I thought. I had actually lobbied in favor of MA's gay rights law (the 2nd in the nation at the time) and wanted to both show that these people were being discriminated against (I'm sure the cop wouldn't have even charged a straight couple but would have given them a "break it up" order) and also wanted to challenge the constitutionality of the law.
So I show up for the preliminary hearing all ready. Judge Lopez calls the next case, looks at the charges, and says to the DA "Let me see the affidavit." The DA walks to the bench, she reads it for a minute or so, and then tosses it aside and says "Dismissed. Don't waste my time with this crap."
http://www.judgemarialopez.com/
Anyway, I just happened to hear about her and I fell to the floor. I used to practice in front of her when I was a public defender in Boston, but I moved in 92 and didn't keep up with the story...
She was the boss in the court, let me tell you. Very liberal, and the DAs hated her...
She apparently moved up in power in Massachusetts until she was brought before the disciplinary board and forced to resign! And now she's a TV star!
My favorite Lopez story:
One time I was assigned a case where my client had been caught by this neanderthal cop for making out on the beach with another man. It was late at night, no one was around, and the cop was just looking for someone to arrest apparently.
Anyway, he charged them both with all sorts of ancient laws about indecent conduct and public morals and so on, some of which specifically made these acts illegal if done between people of the same sex but not of heterosexuals.
"Now's my chance to make my name," I thought. I had actually lobbied in favor of MA's gay rights law (the 2nd in the nation at the time) and wanted to both show that these people were being discriminated against (I'm sure the cop wouldn't have even charged a straight couple but would have given them a "break it up" order) and also wanted to challenge the constitutionality of the law.
So I show up for the preliminary hearing all ready. Judge Lopez calls the next case, looks at the charges, and says to the DA "Let me see the affidavit." The DA walks to the bench, she reads it for a minute or so, and then tosses it aside and says "Dismissed. Don't waste my time with this crap."
