Andrew Q Gordon

As always Louis you are too kind - only one were/where issue? No I'm sure there were many but thanks for 'missing' those . If the chapter was all you said, I have to say thank you to Nephy and Antya. Having two such talented writers to help me sure does make me look better. You should see all the 'red' ink they both used up fixing my work. One thing I will add - the character all - except Rankin who I'm totally making up - remind me of people I know or work with. Having such a vivid image of them makes it easy to project them onto 'paper' [Well Jason and Peter I don't 'know' but after 300K words I feel like Know them ] Thanks again Louis, you are as I said - too kind.

Dave you are so right. Some of the things the jury doesn't get to see can be the best evidence. I've seen cases where we - the office - agonize over what to do because we know the stuff that would be the best evidence won't get to the jury and without it, the case is probably not a winner. That and the things you mention are all factors. I've lost cases I didn't put enough work into and gotten out lawyered - the only defense I have is I chose wrong - chose the wrong case to focus on and the one I did pled out and the one I didn't went to trial. SO yeah, it is amazing the system works so well. Glad you are enjoying it. Hopefully you'll be happy through the end. -- -- Andy

I've been told one of my better skills as a trial lawyer is cross examination - basically thinking on my feet - so I can say that it is definitely a skill I've worked at. Knowing when to object and when not to is half skill half luck. Recently I objected to a question and the judge overruled me. The answer crushed the defendant - I mean was make people's eyes wide brutal. At that point the defense is screwed, they asked the question and got the answer. So yeah it can be hard. Glad you are enjoying this one - it's coming close to the end, but it's been fun to write for me.

Thanks, hope you like the rest. Feel free [begs a bit maybe ] to leave a few comments along the way

Even when there is a clear right and wrong there is no clear right and wrong. Well, the defense is paid to get a not guilty. How they do it doesn't really matter to them - well within the real of ethics. [No comments on legal ethics being an oxymoron.] In this case, it's all about the eye witnesses. Rankin is trying to give reasons for the Jury to doubt each witness - the Cop, he was out of position, Peter - he was too injuried to remember clearly, Jason - he hates Jordan for outing him and his bf was hurt, the cooperator - he's getting a good deal. Then when he puts on his case, clearly the defense is - Jordan didn't do it- he can say, there are reasons to doubt the government. Will it succeed? That's what the last chapter will tell us -- -- -- thanks for reading and commenting Wayne.

Dan scanned his notes, then checked with Martin. At the eye contact, Martin gave him a brief head shake, and Dan looked up. "No further questions, Your Honor." Unbuttoning his coat, he picked up his pen and sat down. Rankin stood, eying Jason like a lion would fresh meat. "Mr. Tellerman, you and Jordan were once friends, isn't that true?" "Yes, sir." "Best friends even." "No, sir, I don't think that's true." "So you never told people you and he were best friends?" Jas

No commnet, seriously, just no comment . . . . okay Sorry couldn't resist.

hellish figure? closet nudist lifestyle? Is it just me or do those two things NOT go together No worries Nathan, my retinas didn't burn looking at your 'hellish figure.'

I suppose this might be what you want, but I'm lost. Oh I get the players and stuff and that there is this tangled web you weave, but WTF is going on here??? Okay fine, I'll wait, but I'm not promising to wait forever you know . . . well I'll wait a polite amount of time before I bug I suppose

Uff - that was like two or three chapters in one. Being a lazy sod, I won't rehash things I thought that others said, but I think I left more confused that before I read this - and not because of your writing, Marc. I thought I had Davina's plans figured out but then, I read the other reviews and well now I'm more like this As for Gatling, well he kind of reminds me of Winkler, someone George probably ought not be messing with - there too much like family. Clearly Mr. Gatling wanted a piece of his Commanding officer but still. That said, Granger and Gatling seemed less randy than I expected and more I don't know - nice? I was gonna say sweet but well, I don't think that's right either. Now what happens if Mr. Roberts returns, hmm what will Gatling do? Shade of Travers and Sir Evelyn when George was with Travers but pleasing the Captain. Gatling at least has good role models LOL.

Thanks George, hope the trip was good. The direct was much longer, I ended the scene with Martin saying, let's talk about your prior encounters. As for cross, I struggled with this. I agree and disagree with that it would be longer - though more of me agrees. I remember one trial I had - kidnapping case - where I didn't ask more than 10 questions of the defendant - and I know that is different than being the defense lawyer cross examining the victim. But after about 5 questions, I realized the defendant was very well coached and I wasn't going to get that 'ah ha' moment from him so I sat down. I think the art of cross is knowing whether or not you can get the witness to break or you have something you can use against him if you can pin him down. Sometimes you can't and you're better off stopping - which limits redirect as well. BUT you're assessment is probably right on - in real life 'Rankin' would have done more, maybe a lot more. But then again, maybe that doesn't fit his defense theory. Not that I know what's gonna happen later mind you.

Jan, What you describe is what happened when Isabella came through in Aug/Sept 2005. The ground was super soaked and trees toppled. That in turned played havoc with the power lines. Frankly that is what I am most worried about - seems whenever we get some wind, we lose power. Fortunately, we live at the top of a hill so I am not too concerned about flooding. Depending on what I see, the path looks like it will be well east of DC, Baltimore and to a lesser extent Philly. As for you KC, you're even further west then I am so I suspect you'll be fine - wet but fine. That's my hope at least. Now watch it moves west and my house ends up in Kansas - or Oz - same difference.

Yeah, I think so, unless you're thinking NY/NJ guido faux italian accents, then I'd agree with you. But real Italians, oh my yes - that's amore

Thanks for the review P. As for the bit you cited, I have to say, I'm not so sure it is relevant. It adds context for sure, but how does it make an element of the crime more or less clear? I think a Judge would let it in for context and that it is not being offered for the truth, but testimony has to be relevant to the elements charged. NOW if they were a couple it might be more relevant, but I had Rankin object because it was an iffy point, one where he could legitimately make an objection that even if denied, disrupted Martin's flow AND it got the Jury thinking that was an important point = or at least maybe they would, so much so they might miss something more important in the next couple questions. But you were pretty much dead on - Rankin did it to hear himself talk and to disrupt the Prosecutor. Probably way too much for what you asked - sorry.

Autumn hands down. Cool weather, low humidity, colorful foliage, the World Series, football- college of course - and to all that I'll get to add the birth of my daughter

Well, I was in my office on the 11th floor. At first it felt like a really big something was jumping up and down. The floor started to warble. I was talking to a narcotics detective about a trial tomorrow and I said, I think were having an earth quake. He laughed and told me to enjoy it. Then the bigger jolt hit and the entire building swayed. People started screaming, getting their stuff and telling people to get out. I stayed for a bit, got a call from the hubby who couldn't believe they were evacuating the building. [i could hear the sirens going off and the PA was blaring everyone leave the building.] We hung around, people were being stupid and freaking out because no one could get cell service because EVERYONE was trying to use their cell phones to call someone. My boss was frantic, looking for her girlfriend and finally I just said, I'm going to get coffee, anyone want to go? My best friend and fellow member of the office gay brigade said yes and we left. Before we could return, an email arrived saying the office was closed for the rest of the day. I had all my stuff, Justin left with nothing. I went home, he had to wait a couple hours to get back in to get his stuff because there weren't enough building inspectors to look at the building to certify it safe. Also I heard they wouldn't let folks use the elevators at first so I have no idea how some folks were going to make it up 10 - 11 flights to our offices. Me personally, I thought it was wicked cool, until they evacuated us, but I guess I'm not right in the head because most people thought it was scary. The thought that the building was going to collapse never crossed my mind and it didn't sway THAT much. It kinda sucked because I had a free afternoon today and was planning to use it to prepare for my September trials

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN!!! Make it fun and do something note worthy Then make sure to post the pictures so we can all see what a sloppy drunk Kevin acts like

Dave, understand one thing, I very much appreciated your comments. If there are problems and no one says so I'm the naked emperor and no one's telling me the truth. So I hope you knew I wasn't be defensive. Now, with this review - I see better what you were saying was lacking in chapter 1. I think to the extent it lacked wow details, it further got bogged down in the wrangling between judge and defense counsel. Hopefully the remaining chapters are more like chapter 2 than 1 - and I will say that I am looking at 3-6 again with your other comments and these in mind. I want to make sure I keep the right balance. So thanks as always - I appreciate them. -- -- Andy

Thanks Charlie, Each story is it's own so hopefully they aren't all the same though it's hard not to bring things from one to the other. Glad you're enjoying it so far. And I'll do my best to make the rest as entertaining as this one.

Freddy's wife must really be needing some money bad, she going to blackmail him or more precisely Caroline to bankrupt her wealthy brother in law. Just goes to show you that treat you people well and their loyalty is worth more than you can buy. One wonders if people would be so quick to help George if he weren't the type of Captain he is, fair and competent. Interesting to see what happens next Mark.

Hey Dave, it's hard to balance what to put in and what not to. Reciting all the testimony would be boring - truly boring. The idea was, if you read Second Shot, this is a short story companion case, the basics of the attack were discussed there. If I tried to go over all the testimony it would take probably close to 300 pages or more. I'm guess that based on transcripts I've reviewed. Those are just question answer. If I tossed in any description, beats, pacing, emotions etc, off the record stuff, I'd be running 500 pages. So I'm trying to balance things. -- -- as for jury feedback, It's impossible to determine in any great depth. I've had juries I was sure hated my case that I've won and juries that seemed so with me the defense thought I'd won and they weren't at the end. SO jury reaction is minimal in most cases. Last, as I mention above, most of the devastating evidence is already known to the reader so I've skipped over stuff and focused on the dynamics from the prosecutor's POV. You haven't seen all the evidence so who's to say it wasn't withering? PM me or post in the forum if you care to, yours is the first feedback to suggest problems and I am interested in hearing more. -- Andy

Yeah, I used this to flesh out that night a bit. Bryce wouldn't be much of a best friend if he wasn't the one Peter turned to when he needed to talk, would he?? - - - Don't worry, what happened after 'Now' get's addressed. Remember, he can't take Peter down and throw up the cooperating witness, then put Peter back. It would certainly be easier to present a case like that, then have defense call them all back on cross, but that's not how it's done. -- -- -- As for twisting, um yeah, it takes a certain touch to do that with ease. One does want a certain spin on things doesn't one??

Thanks Conner, I think Jason will be fine - but what do I know - - As for his mom, well she and Amanda have become good friends, the kind that stay friends if the kids don't stay together - [not saying they won't just using it as an analogy.] That and Barbara has a new target to vent her venom on - Rebecca - the Mouth That Gossiped' Colmar - nuff said.

Don't forget what Dan told Martin, there is a little surprise packet of info courtesy of one Hurricane Barbara and her husband's accounting prowess waiting to be unwrapped. But yeah, the Colmar's are not the world's favorite peeps.

In my experience, if you only present one side of things, i.e. I've done nothing wrong, jurors tend to wonder. Telling the good, bad, and ugly, gives them more of a sense you are being honest and they should credit your testimony. Hopefully it all works out in the end.