The Ides of March

  • Law

  • Steven Myrhe named acting US Attorney for Nevada. [RJ]
  • Marc Randazza is representing Mormonleaks, a wikileaks type site, in a copyright dispute with the LDS Church. [Salt Lake Tribune; Gizmodo]
  • Immigration officials arrested 61 people in Nevada last week. [Las Vegas Sun]
  • It is unlikely War Machine will testify at trial. [Fox5Vegas]
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 4:01 pm

I am LDS. I have mixed feelings about Mormonleaks. On the one hand, every private institution has the absolute legal right to keep certain documents private. On the other hand, the Church is far too lacking in transparency. Until the mid 20th century, the Church would release its finances publicly. For the last fifty years or so, there has been near total secrecy. That secrecy can only create problems. I predict that some day very soon, the Church's finances will be leaked. It's unfortunate that the Brethren do not recognize this and simply get in front of it by resuming the old policy of releasing the finances publicly.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:01 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I think Jesus would call for full transparency. When you picture the LDS church in your mind, do you think of Jesus or do you picture it as a corporation? When the church built the multi-billion dollar shopping mall across from temple square, I then knew that it no longer needed my tithing money.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:11 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I don't think tithing is about the church needing the money….

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 22, 2017 12:21 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Sure, but the extra $4-7 Billion/year doesn't hurt.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 4:15 pm

With Myrhe in charge, expect everything coming out of the USAO to get dirtier and more nasty.

Lawyer Bird
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Lawyer Bird
March 15, 2017 4:52 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I'm not sure it's possible for that office to be nastier.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:02 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Or dirtier. I keep thinking at some point the Bench is going to call out the corruption in that office but maybe they are all afraid of getting Claiborne'd.

Lawyer Bird
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Lawyer Bird
March 15, 2017 5:05 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

The bench may as well be an extra prosecutor

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:22 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I had hoped with the addition of Gordon and Dorsey and move away from the all-LDS male bench that we would see some pushback against the slant but it just is not materializing. Boulware has shown a little bit of balls. But Navarro is a nightmare like no other in bending over for Myrhe and Minions.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 4:53 pm

Who you people? We people is Marc Randazza!

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:33 pm

LOOKS LIKE SANSON DID NOT PREVAIL AGAINST WILLICK

Veterans In Politics Veterans In Politics
@VIPISteveSanson
15h
. Levy is an outstanding jurist, although we didn’t win today’s battle. We will ultimately win the WAR! Hello Nevada Supreme Court.
View details ·
Veterans In Politics Veterans In Politics
@VIPISteveSanson
15h
Today; I was in court on our Ant-SLAPP hearing. I have to commend Anat Levy, she did an outstanding job representing the merits of the case
View details ·

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:40 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

What is the case number on this?

Steve Sanson is a bully. I hope he loses.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:44 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

A-17-750171-C
A-17-749318-C

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 6:26 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

03/14/2017 9:00 AM
– Defendants' Anti-Slapp Special Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to NRS 41.650 et. seq. … Plaintiffs' Opposition to Anti-Slapp Special Motion to Dismiss Pursuant to NRS 41.650 et. seq.; and Countermotion for Attorney's Fees and Costs Arguments by counsel. Court stated its Findings the statute does not apply in this instance and ORDERED, Defendants' Anti-Slapp Special Motion to Dismiss is DENIED. FURTHER ORDERED, Plaintiffs' Countermotion for Attorney's Fees and Costs is DENIED. Ms. Levy requested stay of proceedings to pursue an appeal to Supreme Court. Objection by Mr. Gilmore who requested counsel file a written motion. Court not inclined to address the oral request noting there are still matters pending which may have merit. Mr. Gilmore to prepare the order within 10 days and distribute a filed copy to all parties involved in this matter.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 6:45 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Interesting that Sanson is using Anat Levy on the Willick case but actually got McLetchie to represent him on the Abrams case, plus Cal Potter being involved. That one might get more interesting than the Willick one.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:40 pm

Can someone enlighten a non-criminal attorney as to why the War Machine case went to trial? Did the DA refuse to deal because it is a high profile slam dunk, or does the defense think there is a defense. It seems to me that he never had a chance. The defense of "she liked rough sex" seems like a loser.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 5:41 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

"War Machine" is a name even dumber than "Meta World Peace". What a freak.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 9:09 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I'm not a criminal attorney either, but I saw lots of these cases go when I clerked. Sometimes what you gain by entering a plea isn't that much when it comes to sentencing, so you might as well roll the dice at trial. Worst case scenario you do a few more months than you would have under the offered deal. But maybe you get an acquittal or a hung jury if you try it. Sometimes it seemed like prosecutors being tough on a particularly bad defendant. But sometimes it seemed like the prosecutor didn't really have an option to drop the charges much lower. Not saying that's what happened here.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 9:39 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Criminal attorney here, in cases like War Machine's, a standard offer is usually quite stiff something like 14 – 40 years, IF HE'S LUCKY, or something with a life tail, ie. 15 or 20 to life. I know War Machine and while he is educated, he is not the sharpest tool in the shed, so when he hears an offer like that he thinks he can beat it, no joke. Most guys in his position think that they'll be able to talk their way out of it, or that the judge will "hear their side" and have mercy on them. You couple that with his attorney Brandon Sua, who was newly barred in CA from a CA accredited school I believe, and you have a situation where the attorney is not savvy enough to talk some sense into Mr. Machine and it goes to trial. Now the main trial attorney is a guy from Ventura who appears to have come on just before trial. He has no incentive to deal it because he gets free publicity even though the case is a dog. The guy has his own wikipedia page, so I'm guessing he's a bit of a self promoter. I'm also guessing that he's banking on people remembering him representing a famous person and not what the ultimate result will be. And the DA's office, which has excellent attorneys handling the case, thinks War Machine is a piece of shit, so if you have to go to trial so he spends the rest of his life in jail, why not? Its a perfect storm of idiocy on the defense side and a win win on the prosecution side.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 10:20 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

2:39 has it exactly right. The prosecution offered him 16 – life and 18-40. http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2017/1/6/14193752/war-machine-jonathan-koppenhaver-plea-deal-christy-mack-assault-life-sentence-trial-update-mma-news Except that War Machine might not be the only educated, but dumb, voice on the defense:

"When the jury hears the testimony, when they fully understand the nature of the relationship, the request, the sexual rape fantasies, they will fully understand the true nature of the relationship. And with all the evidence I believe they will acquit Koppenhaver,” Sua said."

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 11:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

"When the jury understands the nature of the relationship…they will fully understand the true nature of the relationship" is like a Yogi Berra quote.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 16, 2017 9:56 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Or a donald trump quote.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 6:17 pm

Can someone explain to me who at the State Bar thought it was a good idea to start reposting court case stories from around the country with little snarky commentaries? It seems frivolous from the SBN.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 6:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

I should have added "on Facebook."

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 8:34 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Agree that it is so inappropriate

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 10:43 pm

Even assuming War Machine is telling the truth about his victim having a weird fantasy, he must not have been paying attention in sex ed class when they warned against indulging someone's rape fantasy, you know, because evidence.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 10:48 pm

Who has taken part in the Removal of Alessi & Koenig Cases to Bankruptcy Court Extravaganza that's been ongoing for the past several days?

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 15, 2017 11:18 pm
Reply to  Anonymous

Taken part of? No. Been subjected to? Yes.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 16, 2017 12:06 am

No I will not donate to the supreme court opening festivities. I would pay to get them to finish some opinions though.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 16, 2017 12:14 am
Reply to  Anonymous

The bar is asking for volunteers to serve drinks at the opening ceremony. No thanks, I'm not a damn waiter. Go hire some food service staff that understand food/drink service and sanitation.

Lawyer Bird
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Lawyer Bird
March 16, 2017 12:27 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Does anyone have a recommendation for low-cost / reasonably-priced / pro bono waiters? We have some friends who are in a really bad situation and need the help. It's a great cause (even though I wouldn't do it myself).

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 16, 2017 12:52 am
Reply to  Anonymous

Lawyer Bird wins the internet for today

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 16, 2017 12:56 am
Reply to  Anonymous

I pay outrageous bar dues for freaky obc and to be asked to volunteer as waiters..how about the Bogs step up.

Anonymous
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Anonymous
March 16, 2017 2:11 am
Reply to  Anonymous

What's wrong with the Court's clerks working pro-bono?