Category Archives: Uncategorized

Covid in the Courtrooms: an Unnecessary Risk

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Appellate Squawk

What’s the riskiest place in NYC for Covid infection? Bars? Frat parties? Mass gatherings to celebrate “Reopening New York”? Nope. It’s the criminal courts. Working for a public defender outfit, we’ve been hearing daily reports from our so-called Covid Task … Continue reading →

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“Planet of the Humans”

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Appellate Squawk

You feel great about buying that energy-saving, environmentally responsible refrigerator to replace your old energy-wasting global-warming monster. Except that you don’t replace it. You exile it to the basement for storing beer. Absurdly imagining you can reduce energy consumption with … Continue reading →

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The NYC arraignment scandal: part 2

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Appellate Squawk

A friend wrote yesterday in The Daily News: “I am a lawyer on the front lines of the COVID-19 epidemic. I defend people in NYC who cannot afford an attorney in their criminal cases. While I am used to feeling dispensable … Continue reading →

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NYC courtrooms: the arraignment scandal

Posted on March 19, 2020 by Appellate Squawk

One of the upsides of getting arrested in NYC is that unlike in some countries where you can moulder in jail for weeks or months before you know why, here you have to be arraigned within 24 hours. You’re given … Continue reading →

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Happy Lunar New Year 2020: Year of the Rat

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Appellate Squawk

The rat is first in the Chinese Zodiac because, according to legend, he was the first to arrive at the Jade Emperor’s party (and probably the last to leave). Despite pervasive negative stereotypes, rats have many admirable qualities.  They’re clever and sociable, … Continue reading →

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Maestro James Levine (somewhat) rehabilitated

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Appellate Squawk

No matter what people say, you don’t have to be a toffee-nose in a mink stole to enjoy opera.  Especially when you can spend the last week of summer watching it on HD on a giant screen outdoors in front … Continue reading →

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Being fair to Fairstein

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Appellate Squawk

   Last week the Mystery Writers of America proclaimed Linda Fairstein the recipient of their 2019 Grand Master Award. Two days later, the MWA took it back after another mystery writer tweeted that Fairstein was “almost singlehandedly responsible for the wrongful incarceration of … Continue reading →

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The Presumption of Innocence, “Sleeping on One’s Rights” and Fundamental Fairness

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Appellate Squawk

One of our finest moments in court was hearing a tearful prosecutor whine, “Judge, I know he did it, I just don’t have proof.” Too bad, so sad. No proof, no foul. So we were shocked to discover during the … Continue reading →

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Exiled statues find asylum in Green-Wood Cemetery

Posted on May 6, 2018 by Appellate Squawk

When our dad, over his strenuous objections, died at age 89, we buried his ashes in Brooklyn’s beautiful, historic Green-Wood Cemetery. His stone bears the epitaph, “‘Tis not too late to seek a newer world,” a line from his beloved … Continue reading →

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Valentine’s day card from Capital One

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Appellate Squawk

From our friendly Union Plus credit card company. We especially look forward to their “personal visits” “at any time” with “any frequency.” If this is what they send people who pay their bills, imagine what they send to deadbeats!

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Squawk takes a breather

Posted on March 9, 2012 by Appellate Squawk

This gallery contains 27 photos.

We’re taking a break to nourish the inner Squawk. Back in 3 weeks. Here’s a sample of our priors:                                           … Continue reading →

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Guest post: Boycott Wisconsin

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Appellate Squawk

TIME TO BOYCOTT WISCONSIN by Mike Taglieri Most of the progressive media are whining about how unfair the Republicans in Wisconsin are for taking away the collective-bargaining rights of state employees and promising we’ll take back the legislature there someday. … Continue reading →

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Decision of the Day

Posted on December 19, 2010 by Appellate Squawk

Defendant appeals from a judgment of the Supreme Court of Overpopulated County (Budweiser, J.) convicting him of the felony of failure to report a suspicious package on the subway and keeping it to himself, for which he has been designated … Continue reading →

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Appeals with Attitude

Posted on December 16, 2010 by Appellate Squawk
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