- Quickdraw McLaw
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Attorney Stephen Stubbs found himself in the headlines again Friday after getting arrested for obstructing an officer while trying to represent a biker client who had been stopped for a traffic infraction. Stubbs, who is a tax lawyer, also represents several members of biker groups (like the Mongols) and was in the news earlier this year after a biker rally in Boulder City when he filed suit on their behalf against Metro. (He is also one of the parties in a Nevada Supreme Court opinion, Stubbs v. Strickland, from earlier this year on Anti-SLAPP filings.) The comments section to the article includes a video of his arrest.
So, what brilliant legal analysis do you have to offer? Was he within his legal rights? Does the procedure for handling your right to counsel differ when the attorney happens to be standing right there? Are the results different if he hadn’t filed suit against Metro earlier this year?
Obstructing an officer is a bullshit charge 99.999% of the time, but especially when the basis of the obstruction is an attorney's refusal to allow the police to talk with the client outside of the counsel's presence.
Steven Stubbs is a total tool. He is a perfect example of someone who does not know what they are doing practicing criminal law. Interfering in a traffic stop is so bush league and idiotic. And obstructing is not a bogus charge 99 percent of the time. Sometimes officers overuse it but if Stubbs was being himself I am sure it was legit.
Regardless of his personality, if you get stopped by police and your attorney happens to be standing right there–is there precedent for obstruction charges?
The video doesn't show him interfering with the traffic stop of the citation – it shows him refusing to allow the police to question the bikers. Because since when does Metro's Gang Task Force unit hand out traffic citations as their primary mission?
Stephen Stubbs has a real Wayne Unser feel about him.
Heard a rumor that Standish is leaving Jolley Urga Wirth Woodbury & Standish to start his own operation.
I guess Jolly Urga, et. al. grew some ethical standards. Standish is a disgrace.
I heard Stubbs was totally out of his muni court element when he attempted a foray into federal Court. He tried to represent the entire group of biker defendants and addressed the court from the gallery. He was clueless on federal detention hearing process.
I've had to deal with a non-criminal law attorney at a scene before. The guy was an embarrassment. He didn't know simple arrest procedure. He was way out of his depth.
It appears Stubbs is riding with his clients, a biker gang. Is he their consigliere? Are they going to say he is acting as a participant in the gang and not as an attorney?
No more than any other attorney will be saddled with a client's alleged behavior because they play golf together or attend the same parties. Also there is a little thing about freedom of association, otherwise every wanna be RUB Rolex rider at Sturgis or Laconia would be subject to co-conspirator liability if they were seen with, talked to or frequented the booth of any 1% club.
I think we are missing the real issue. Why in the hell do the Mongols allow Stubbs to ride with them? What do they get out of him – a tax attorney masquerading as a criminal attorney? Have our societal norms and mores vanished to the point where the Mongols ride with "Bowtie?" What will we do without class division and the fear of a good biker club riding down the street?
This guy is a worm. That little office of his has a very odd feel to it, and the little Mormon wife truly has the run of it. His advertisement says tax office, yet you walk in and find business cards advertising his traffic ticket enterprise.
Converse with Stubby and you'll find that he really enjoys that he is suing several municipalities for money he'll never see, yet the goofy little wifey has the last word in everything, hiring, clients, etc.
Sounds like you used to work there. Are you bitter?
Everything Stephen Stubbs does is staged. He doesn't file anything unless he can get media coverage or post it on a blog. His Facebook is a big commercial.
Here is the video with closed captioning. The police admitted twice that the client had the 5th Amendment right to counsel, but said "That doesn't mean [the attorney] gets to stand by him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDwwct_a5zQ