Oh Chipper, I think Hughes is talking to you!

Hughes AF order

From Big Jolly

http://bigjollypolitics.com/2013/11/23/rachel-palmer-wins/

Rachel Palmer wins again

 BY  

ADA Rachel Palmer

ADA Rachel Palmer

One thing about being bullied is that if you are willing to step up and fight back, you usually win. Harris County Assistant District Attorney Rachel Palmer, who along with former Harris County District Attorney Pay Lykos was the subject of a politically motivated witch hunt, was willing to step up and fight back. And win she did.

This past Wednesday, Federal Judge Lynn Hughes issued an order forcing the plaintiffs in a frivolous lawsuit against Palmer, Amanda Culbertson and Jorge Wong, to pay  Palmer $82,101 in attorney’s fees. Click here to view the order.

Because Culbertson and Wong brought baseless claims in an attempt to construct a case out of an administrative policy they did not like, they must pay the reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in defending their suit. They may use legal action in their politics, but they are responsible for the consequences.

Let me repeat that last line:

They may use legal action in their politics, but they are responsible for the consequences.

I remain convinced that the real culprit here was the attorney pushing Culbertson and Wong, Chip B. Lewis, along with other supporters of former Harris County DA Mike Anderson (deceased). Hopefully Culbertson and Wong will find a way to make Mr. Lewis pay the $82,101 because they were nothing more than pawns used in an attempt to smear Palmer and Lykos. Perhaps the campaign account of Anderson could chip in because that campaign certainly profited from the smears.

It is an absolute disgrace that these people used a runaway grand jury as a tool to get Anderson elected to office and then used a couple of pawns like Culbertson and Wong to continue the smear.

Congratulations to Rachel Palmer for being a fighter and standing up to the bullies, although it is no surprise. She fights for the citizens of Harris County every day in the courtroom, putting the worst of the worst in our society behind bars where they belong. Those now in positions of power at the DA’s office continue to hold her back and bypass her for promotion. It will take time for this smear job to go away (and the current regime to get booted out of office) but perhaps someday the people of Harris County will recognize her work and elect her to lead the DA’s office and put integrity back in the place.

 

 

Federal Judge Lynn Hughes issues opinion on the dismissal

I know David Jennings is writing about this so I am just posting the opinion here for informational purposes and thanking a few folks who really deserve to be called out. Judge Hughes issued this opinion yesterday afternoon, on 9-11. Once again, hat-tip to Kate David and Mike Stafford, unquestionably two of the best lawyers in the City of Houston. These two lawyers, who I might add, won the Early to Rise litigation a few days ago. They are on a roll.

I also would like to thank Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, Robert Soard, and Mary Baker from the Harris County Attorney’s Office who provided Rachel such wonderful counsel. We are deeply in your gratitude. This goes double to the members of Harris County Commissioners Court. To all, thank you!

Hughes Opinion on Dismissal

 

The Fifth Amendment, James Duane

This was done a number of years ago, not long after the Senator Larry Craig toe tapping incident.  I think today Jerry Eversole and Roger Clemens come to mind when you think of those who should follow the advice of Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson.  James Duane is a law school professor who put this together for a class he teaches.  His focus was on the police, the advice is the same for a grand jury.  You be the judge of the importance of not testifying before a politically motivated grand jury.