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Can we talk about the public flogging of Fani Willis…

Satchel

By Satchel
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Horn Dog

Horn Dog 9674

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10 hours ago, Reality Check said:

I never heard her say Cross was paid $250, but apparently that was the case. Floyd, however, was earning $150/hour. 

https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/fani-willis-investigation-attorney-ashleigh-merchant-subpoenaed-by-senate-committee

I do appreciate you acknowledging this error.  We can disagree about lots of things but I think it is important to make sure we are all using the same facts.  Yes, Floyd earned $150/hr.  Merchant also states that Mr. Floyd "billed very little" and "has not billed anything in a while" (3:18-3:50) indicating that he was really not very involved at all, so his pay rate doesn't really seem to be a good comparison to someone hired to be a "case manager".  

Again, I don't disagree with you on the premise that they should have been more forthcoming, although I can definitely see why most people are not completely  forthcoming about their love lives, especially while getting divorced.  I do disagree that Wade's pay was out of line for the job that was contracted(since it was the same rate at another outside prosecutor), that there is any evidence of preferential treatment with his hiring (since she tried to hire multiple firms before and was turned down), nor that Wade spending money on his girlfriend in ways that all men spend money on their girlfriends in any way leads to a "conflict of interest" that would lead to a unfair trial for the defendants.  Therefore, disqualifying her on that basis is ridiculous.  If Willis lied under oath about accepting  some dinners and trips from her boyfriend, or if this violated some clause of her employment, then let the ethics board deal with that (and realize that the rule is being violated my many many other government and non-government employees who date coworkers on a daily basis).  

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Reality Check

Reality Check 137

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By the time all of this is over, Terrence Bradley will be lucky if he can find a client who will hire him to help fight a parking ticket?

Quote

A new witness says she could testify that Fani Willis’ relationship with Nathan Wade dates back to 2019 — and that he even had a garage door opener for their alleged love nest, according to a new court filing. 

Willis and Wade “definitely” had a romantic relationship during the time Willis was running for DA in 2019 through 2020, Wade’s loose-lipped former business partner and one-time attorney Terrence Bradley spilled to lawyer Manny Arora.

Any idea why he would clam up on the stand after telling so many of his fellow attorneys what had happened? Surely he realized they would impeach his testimony.
 

If McAfee doesn’t disqualify them, what are the chances he signs off on a pre-trial appeal of his decision?

https://nypost.com/2024/03/05/us-news/evidence-mounts-against-fani-willis-as-new-witness-unearthed/

 

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scottsins

scottsins 1953

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Posted
By the time all of this is over, Terrence Bradley will be lucky if he can find a client who will hire him to help fight a parking ticket?

A new witness says she could testify that Fani Willis’ relationship with Nathan Wade dates back to 2019 — and that he even had a garage door opener for their alleged love nest, according to a new court filing. 

Willis and Wade “definitely” had a romantic relationship during the time Willis was running for DA in 2019 through 2020, Wade’s loose-lipped former business partner and one-time attorney Terrence Bradley spilled to lawyer Manny Arora.

Any idea why he would clam up on the stand after telling so many of his fellow attorneys what had happened? Surely he realized they would impeach his testimony.
 
If McAfee doesn’t disqualify them, what are the chances he signs off on a pre-trial appeal of his decision?
https://nypost.com/2024/03/05/us-news/evidence-mounts-against-fani-willis-as-new-witness-unearthed/
 

What do you mean by “signs off on a pre-trial appeal”?
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TwiceHorn

TwiceHorn 31300

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6 minutes ago, scottsins said:

Any idea why he would clam up on the stand after telling so many of his fellow attorneys what had happened? Surely he realized they would impeach his testimony.
 
If McAfee doesn’t disqualify them, what are the chances he signs off on a pre-trial appeal of his decision?
https://nypost.com/2024/03/05/us-news/evidence-mounts-against-fani-willis-as-new-witness-unearthed/
 

What do you mean by “signs off on a pre-trial appeal”?

I assume certifies the ruling for interlocutory appeal. 

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Reality Check

Reality Check 137

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1 minute ago, TwiceHorn said:

I assume certifies the ruling for interlocutory appeal. 

Yes... my layman's attempt at will the pretrial motions be on hold until the appeals court takes a stab at it or will it have to wait for the verdict to come in and get tacked on to the other bajillion issues for the appellate court. 

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Satchel

Satchel 6908

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The biggest takeaway from this sordid mess has to do with Trump. Somebody should prepare him. He may have gotten by so far, but he won’t get away. Night’s coming.

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TwiceHorn

TwiceHorn 31300

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Sounds about right. 

 

Brings to mind advice from my first mentor when it was popular to try to disqualify counsel in patent cases: be real careful when you do that, they may turn around and get somebody good. 

Not sure Wade is a big loss here, although Fani may have trouble getting a replacement given all her shenanigans. I don't even know why there is a special prosecutor, she's supposed to be the RICO whiz. 

Edited by TwiceHorn
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Dahobbs

Dahobbs 17449

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2 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

250 an hour is not great?   

In terms of billed time, no. Paralegals sometimes bill at that level. But that generally assumes there is staff and overhead to pay for. If it all goes to him, then I guess not so bad. 

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Horn Dog

Horn Dog 9674

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Posted (edited)
25 minutes ago, Macanudo said:

250 an hour is not great?   

For a lead  attorney on a high profile case where at least 3 other attorney have turned down cause of the death threats and BS involved??  Fuck no $250 isn't a great rate!     There was a movie in 1989 called War of the Roses where Danny Devito plays an attorney who talks about his  rate being $450/hr.  That was 35 years ago.  

Edited by Horn Dog
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TwiceHorn

TwiceHorn 31300

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18 minutes ago, jimmyjazz said:

Yeah, a half mil a year is not so bad.

It may boil down to how easily you can rack up hours without office support. Like, if the DAs office does all the writing and filing, and all you need to do is "consult" or "attention to file" and talk to people on the phone, that might not be so bad. 

But yeah partner level attorneys in metros like Atlanta are getting at least 500, closer to 1000 in biglaw or specialized boutiques. 

I understand Wade to be mostly in PI and criminal defense, neither of which typically bill hourly, but you can be sure that he strives for an effective rate much better than 250/hour, which a colleague of mine once referred to as plumbers wages. And that was 10 years ago. 

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Dahobbs

Dahobbs 17449

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1 minute ago, TwiceHorn said:

It may boil down to how easily you can rack up hours without office support. Like, if the DAs office does all the writing and filing, and all you need to do is "consult" or "attention to file" and talk to people on the phone, that might not be so bad. 

But yeah partner level attorneys in metros like Atlanta are getting at least 500, closer to 1000 in biglaw or specialized boutiques. 

I understand Wade to be mostly in PI and criminal defense, neither of which typically bill hourly, but you can be sure that he strives for an effective rate much better than 250/hour, which a colleague of mine once referred to as plumbers wages. And that was 10 years ago. 

Big firms in Houston are well over $1,000 for partner level. And god forbid you look up the rates for named partners.

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Brisketexan

Brisketexan 104638

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1 minute ago, Dahobbs said:

Big firms in Houston are well over $1,000 for partner level. And god forbid you look up the rates for named partners.

I remember when the first Texas Big Law rates broke the $600 barrier (nearly 30 years ago).  One of the hot-shot senior partners (an amazing litigator) I knew commented "shit....I can't think of anything I'd pay ANYONE to do for $600 an hour where they got to keep their clothes on."

And yes, $250 an hour is pretty damned low.  Not "insurance defense hourly rate" low, but not far from it.

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jimmyjazz

jimmyjazz 45563

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8 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

I understand Wade to be mostly in PI and criminal defense, neither of which typically bill hourly, but you can be sure that he strives for an effective rate much better than 250/hour, which a colleague of mine once referred to as plumbers wages. And that was 10 years ago. 

Yeah, my plumber charges $220/hr.  He's good and fast, though.  So am I, and I charge less for engineering consulting.  Dammit.

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Js1

Js1 85119

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35 minutes ago, Dahobbs said:

In terms of billed time, no. Paralegals sometimes bill at that level. But that generally assumes there is staff and overhead to pay for. If it all goes to him, then I guess not so bad. 

I bill $250 an hour as a paralegal! 

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Satchel

Satchel 6908

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12 minutes ago, washparkhorn said:

Bush league mistake by the DA. Stupid unforced error. Sloppy as fuck.

Mediocrity will be the death of our experiment in democracy. 

Still the most Atlanta shit ever. Now, go get him Fani.

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SaucyJack

SaucyJack 3487

Posted
Posted (edited)
3 hours ago, TwiceHorn said:

Sounds about right. 

 

Brings to mind advice from my first mentor when it was popular to try to disqualify counsel in patent cases: be real careful when you do that, they may turn around and get somebody good. 

Not sure Wade is a big loss here, although Fani may have trouble getting a replacement given all her shenanigans. I don't even know why there is a special prosecutor, she's supposed to be the RICO whiz. 

At first glance appears to be judicial overreach:

 “Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices -- even repeatedly -- and it is the trial court’s duty to confine itself to the relevant issues and applicable law properly brought before it.”

Willis and Wade can be held accountable in another tribunal if need be.

Edited by SaucyJack
the court can make that referral
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Hookah Horns

Hookah Horns 3082

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2 hours ago, tx 3 putt said:

 

It's actually terrifying to read so many rantings of completely insane morons when they're put together like that. These people are lost causes and should be rounded up and put into camps. I'd never say that about any other group, except maybe aggy. 

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Reality Check

Reality Check 137

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7 hours ago, jimmyjazz said:

Yeah, my plumber charges $220/hr.  He's good and fast, though.  So am I, and I charge less for engineering consulting.  Dammit.

But will he come over between the hours of 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. so you can cram his pipes into your drains?

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Reality Check 137

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5 hours ago, Satchel said:

Still the most Atlanta shit ever. Now, go get him Fani.

She’s made herself the primary target for the state senate’s new DA Removal Task Force signed into law this week by Gov. Kemp. Not sure how quickly anything can get done in the legislature, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s gone — stemming from allegations of this affair, perjury, not prosecuting BLM protesters, and using the Feds’ anti-gang grant as a personal slush fund (whistleblowers’ claims) — before this ever goes to trial.

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Reality Check 137

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1 hour ago, Hookah Horns said:

It's actually terrifying to read so many rantings of completely insane morons when they're put together like that. These people are lost causes and should be rounded up and put into camps. I'd never say that about any other group, except maybe aggy. 

I read all 23 pages and think McAfee did a great job of explaining what the limited case history in Georgia allows him to do and acting within those parameters. It’s a very thoughtful and well-researched ruling.

I think getting rid of Wade was probably essential because of the perception of a conflict. The sad thing is this should have been anticipated by Willis and Wade and when the whole matter was brought up he should have recused himself. The ignorance and arrogance to fabricate the “affair didn’t start until 2022” lie and she paid him in cash just dumped buckets of blood in the water for the sharks. Also, it brought Wade’s perjury in his interrogatories and abuse of the IOLTA into public light. He’s likely going to have to find another way to earn money for a few years without a bar card.

Finally, McAfee took her to task for her unprofessional conduct in court.

The big question now is does McAfee authorize the appeal of his decision before or after the trial. Not only do I believe he will — given the state’s expectation that this will take up two to three months of the court’s time for three trials, but because he’s crafted a connect the dots outline of his findings for the appellate court to finish the picture and disqualify Willis and the Fulton County DA’s office.

 

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TwiceHorn

TwiceHorn 31300

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3 hours ago, ChuckNorrisActionJeans said:

 Very little media focus on the charges that McAfee threw out --- is it correct that they were the ones relating to the phone call to Raffensperger, i.e., the crimes that should be easiest to prove??

Yes. I have some additional on it above. Seems the state inadequately alleged how the conduct solicited would have violated the oaths of office. 

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TwiceHorn

TwiceHorn 31300

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5 hours ago, SaucyJack said:

At first glance appears to be judicial overreach:

 “Georgia law does not permit the finding of an actual conflict for simply making bad choices -- even repeatedly -- and it is the trial court’s duty to confine itself to the relevant issues and applicable law properly brought before it.”

Willis and Wade can be held accountable in another tribunal if need be.

I think the judge highly suspected that it was bullshit as far as disqualification went, but felt he had to air it just in case. Sunlight being the best disinfectant and all. 

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Gatorubet

Gatorubet 30121

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5 minutes ago, Reality Check said:

I read all 23 pages and think McAfee did a great job of explaining what the limited case history in Georgia allows him to do and acting within those parameters. It’s a very thoughtful and well-researched ruling.

I think getting rid of Wade was probably essential because of the perception of a conflict. The sad thing is this should have been anticipated by Willis and Wade and when the whole matter was brought up he should have recused himself. The ignorance and arrogance to fabricate the “affair didn’t start until 2022” lie and she paid him in cash just dumped buckets of blood in the water for the sharks. Also, it brought Wade’s perjury in his interrogatories and abuse of the IOLTA into public light. He’s likely going to have to find another way to earn money for a few years without a bar card.

Finally, McAfee took her to task for her unprofessional conduct in court.

The big question now is does McAfee authorize the appeal of his decision before or after the trial. Not only do I believe he will — given the state’s expectation that this will take up two to three months of the court’s time for three trials, but because he’s crafted a connect the dots outline of his findings for the appellate court to finish the picture and disqualify Willis and the Fulton County DA’s office.

 

As read this, I am sure the Georgia GOP is getting ready to open their special prosecutor investigation of Fani’s perjury, and/or get the Georgia ODC to bring claims. No matter what, this is only the beginning, not the end.

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BamaATL

BamaATL 16592

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While Kemp has appointed a review board, right now it's entirely toothless, as the law was challenged in court and its proposed working rules are currently set aside.  Additionally, this law faces at least four other legal challenges before it can become implemented.  However, welcome to the latest and greatest right wing legal fantasy we are going to keep hearing about.  

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ChuckNorrisActionJeans

ChuckNorrisActionJeans 2659

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11 minutes ago, TwiceHorn said:

Yes. I have some additional on it above. Seems the state inadequately alleged how the conduct solicited would have violated the oaths of office. 

That would seem evidentiary in nature rather than elemental, but obv. I haven't looked into the wording of the indictment 

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