Don't talk to police??

[b322da]

Time and again we see good advice here on the forum dealing with not talking to the police without first seeing your lawyer, and what the 5th Amendment is all about. This advice has been given under various contexts, but probably most often dealing with what to do, or not to do, after a self-defense shooting.

Be careful if you give such advice in Houston. You may get in trouble with the mayor.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 43380.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Elmo

[The Annoyed Man]

Jones said she listed her council office on the card instead of the Houston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division because she considers the latter a "black hole" where complaints rarely get a thorough vetting. She instead refers callers to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office.

Here in Dallas, if a city official uses the phrase "black hole" in allegorical terms - meaning an astronomical object which consumes all matter and even light, never to be seen again - the African American members of the council get upset and accuse the white members of racism. Chalk up another victory for the diminution of the language for the benefit of misguided ignorance.


So now I'm waiting for the same ruckus to erupt in Houston...

[TxKimberMan]

I would have to agree that the Dallas County Commissioners, and the Dallas City Council have to be two of the most dysfunctional institutions that I have ever seen. Looks like Houston is catching up, though.

[Keith B]

Jones said she listed her council office on the card instead of the Houston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division because she considers the latter a "black hole" where complaints rarely get a thorough vetting. She instead refers callers to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office.

Here in Dallas, if a city official uses the phrase "black hole" in allegorical terms - meaning an astronomical object which consumes all matter and even light, never to be seen again - the African American members of the council get upset and accuse the white members of racism. Chalk up another victory for the diminution of the language for the benefit of misguided ignorance.


So now I'm waiting for the same ruckus to erupt in Houston...

Actually, it is only John Willey Price, but he gets upset if you say ANYTHING to him he doesn't like or just wants to argue about. He is basicaly unstable in mine and others opinions. I call him the Gadaffi of Dallas.

[Llanero]

I agree with Jones, there is nothing wrong with informing people of their of their 5th amendment rights, even if she is on the city council. Ideally, she should inform them of their 2nd amendment rights as well.

[TxKimberMan]

... I call him the Gadaffi of Dallas.

That sir, is "priceless"!

[The Annoyed Man]

I call him the Gadaffi of Dallas.

I'll have to remember that nickname.

[hirundo82]

Jones said she listed her council office on the card instead of the Houston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division because she considers the latter a "black hole" where complaints rarely get a thorough vetting. She instead refers callers to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office.

Here in Dallas, if a city official uses the phrase "black hole" in allegorical terms - meaning an astronomical object which consumes all matter and even light, never to be seen again - the African American members of the council get upset and accuse the white members of racism. Chalk up another victory for the diminution of the language for the benefit of misguided ignorance.


So now I'm waiting for the same ruckus to erupt in Houston...

Actually, it is only John Willey Price, but he gets upset if you say ANYTHING to him he doesn't like or just wants to argue about. He is basicaly unstable in mine and others opinions. I call him the Gadaffi of Dallas.

Jolanda Jones is the one who would make an uproar about that in Houston (along with her buddy Sheila Jackson-Lee).

She's also a defense attorney, so that explains why she is giving this (relatively innocuous, IMO) advice.

[sjfcontrol]

I call him the Gadaffi of Dallas.

And here I thought he was just the "Chief Mullah"

[b322da]

Jolanda Jones is the one who would make an uproar about that in Houston (along with her buddy Sheila Jackson-Lee).

She's also a defense attorney, so that explains why she is giving this (relatively innocuous, IMO) advice.

I have given similar advice on this forum several times, and I am retired after almost 50 years of practice -- I'm certainly not interested in any business. As well, I am not black.

Does your explanation explain why I too give such advice?

It doesn't take much to shake them out of the woodwork here.

Elmo

[rmr1923]

Jones said she listed her council office on the card instead of the Houston Police Department's Internal Affairs Division because she considers the latter a "black hole" where complaints rarely get a thorough vetting. She instead refers callers to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office.

Here in Dallas, if a city official uses the phrase "black hole" in allegorical terms - meaning an astronomical object which consumes all matter and even light, never to be seen again - the African American members of the council get upset and accuse the white members of racism. Chalk up another victory for the diminution of the language for the benefit of misguided ignorance.


So now I'm waiting for the same ruckus to erupt in Houston...

Actually, it is only John Willey Price, but he gets upset if you say ANYTHING to him he doesn't like or just wants to argue about. He is basicaly unstable in mine and others opinions. I call him the Gadaffi of Dallas.

Jolanda Jones is the one who would make an uproar about that in Houston (along with her buddy Sheila Jackson-Lee).

She's also a defense attorney, so that explains why she is giving this (relatively innocuous, IMO) advice.

oh gosh, don't get me started on those two... i can't ever take anything that either of them say seriously

[hirundo82]

Jolanda Jones is the one who would make an uproar about that in Houston (along with her buddy Sheila Jackson-Lee).

She's also a defense attorney, so that explains why she is giving this (relatively innocuous, IMO) advice.

I have given similar advice on this forum several times, and I am retired after almost 50 years of practice -- I'm certainly not interested in any business. As well, I am not black.

Does your explanation explain why I too give such advice?

It doesn't take much to shake them out of the woodwork here.

Elmo

I'm sure the explanation for why you gave that advice is because it is very good advice. I have great respect for defense attorneys; they are one of the few classes of lawyers who routinely stand up for the rights of the accused any more, and by extension protect the rights of all of us.

I'm just saying that it is especially relevant to Jones's advice because as a defense attorney she has seen people, almost certainly including innocent people, who got in way more trouble than they should have because they opened their mouth when they should have shut up.

Plus it is completely irresponsible of the mayor and the rest to suggest that we should not assert our constituional rights because doing so might make life more dangerous for law enforcement.

[ELB]

Added to the list. FAQ: What do I do or say after defending myself?

[steveincowtown]

Over the weekend we had a few people over, and somehow this topic came up. I was told by someone that asserting your 5th ammendment right was foolish and harmful to society. I then asked the person what other ammendents he found offensive and harmfull to soceity..Free speech? Women Voting? Equal rights? The right to refuse a door to door search of your home? The right to trial by jury? Etc. etc.

[sawdust]

I'm in a minority.

One on-going piece of advice on this and in other venues, is to "call your lawyer". I don't have a lawyer. I don't know a lawyer. The one time I had a lawyer, he lost me 27 million dollars. I don't want to call him again.

So the question is: How many of you have lawyers that are ready to represent you, on retainer, or whatever. Spousal attorneys or ones in the immedate family do not count.