Terrible Language! Obscenities in Court! BAD Courtroom Behavior. Twice  in Boulder Courts. In over 45 years of courtroom practice, 7000 court appearances, I have been censored and chastised by two justifiably respected Judges. Two times! And for the same reason. I’ve said that if you learn from someone elses mistakes you are lucky. Usually I need to make a mistake twice to learn from it. No one ever said, “You learn from your mistake.” The expression is ” You learn from your mistakes.” I learned this lesson! I hope. My mistakes were separated by several years... Read More

        Many think, even in Boulder, that once a person is suspected of a crime, guilty or not, they may be arrested and then must bond out. In my 45 years of courtroom experience, perhaps 7000 court appearances, I have seen people get arrest WHILE IN THE COURTROOM! So how is that done? Here are seven way to accomplish the ignominious feet. First let’s look at the basic, obvious ways to do this, and I’ve seen them ALL in real life courtrooms at all levels except Federal.People behave very well in Federal Court, as do lawyers. There are several behaviors and actions... Read More

A pair of “large tree nymph” butterflies. Photo Lenny Lensworth Frieling Is Plea Bargain a Dirty Word? Is the Negotiation Balanced Like these Butterflies? Plea bargains are misunderstood and inappropriately denigrated by some defendants. Boulder courts, as well as courts across the United States, plea bargaining is a fundamental part of resolving criminal cases. In Colorado’s criminal courts, plea bargains are commonly used to settle cases without proceeding to trial. Consider that only about 4% of all cases go to trial, either before a jury or as a bench trial. A small... Read More