Once upon a time, I had a legal problem of another sort. I sold the idea of a TV show to a production company and signed a contract that would pay me a very large chunk of money. I thought I was set, if not for life, at least for a few years.

The TV show ran for many episodes. I even got my name in the credits. But they decided to simply not pay me.

Finally I went to a lawyer, supposedly one of best entertainment lawyers in LA. He looked over my contracts, agreed that they owed me, then said "but I have to work with that network and that production company every day, and this is the only case you'll ever have. Why should I hurt my relationship with them to help you?"

I've thought about this every day during this mess. How can you ever tell when your lawyer is working for you, and when is he protecting his relationship with the DA and judges he sees every day? The answer is that he's probably never thinking purely about how best to help the client.

On top of this, lawyers actually contribute much of the money that goes into the campaigns of the judges they appear in front of. That factor alone is enough to screw any chance at fairness.

I don't understand how anyone can win. Whats the point? He could have saved $30k and defended himself.

one of the smartest things you can do is get a lawyer from out of town. that way the lawyer and the judge aren't drinking buddies and they don't play golf together... and their not in bed with the DA's playing footsies or tic tac toe over who's turn it is to win.

So true Echo.

So how about this....
My brother was facing 55 years. After a plea deal his maximum he was facing was 36. He told his attorney that he wouldn't agree to any deal past 10 years. So, his attorney and the prosecutor went to the judge and told him they wanted 10 years for sentencing and according to them the judge obliged. When the plea deal paperwork came in my brother was reluctant to sign it because it still said "maximum 36 years". His attorey said "just sign it. If the judge said he will give you 10 then he will give you 10"

Fast forward to sentencing, the judge gave him 30 years!!!! 30!!!!

So that leaves us filing an appeal (or something like it). Basically because he accosted the plea under false pretenses from his legal cousil, he is asking the state for a new case. Problem is, once the state approves the new case, ALL charges are back on the table and we are back atogether square 1. The most messed up part.... We will have the same judge!!!

I dont know how you do it in higher courts but I helped my girlfriend file a request to have a judge recused because he was terribly gender biased and actually sexist in the courtroom and very unprofessional when she was going thru her divorce. She got it and her case was assigned to another court. It is plainly obvious that this specific judge played a huge role in how your brother got screwed. I would think your reasons for recusal and the fact there's no possible way he could rule unbiased would be enough grounds to recuse him. I am so sorry, I hope you can find a solution that is fair and just.