Papa’s state bar membership dues statement has arrived. It has appeared like clockwork for fifty-six years. Retired and no longer needing bar status I still pay my membership level because I believe in supporting an organization that promotes professionalism. I’ve always been proud of my state and I feel it is a proud distinction that I was admitted to its bar. I’ve been exposed to many jurisdictions at the military, federal and state levels. There is a bit of a hodge podge in the quality of the legal profession across this country. Most have been good in my experience. I classify Wisconsin as top shelf. ( As it is “in everything” I can hear the cynics say.)

Almost a year ago I joked that the anti-Trump politicians might hit 100 indictments. Overall they came up a bit short. However, my prediction that there was a danger of casting Trump as a victim seems more clear now. If one is to go after someone, political targeting being a dubious move in any event, it would have been a good idea to hone in on a few select charges. Solid evidence would have helped. And, of course, having competent attorneys act as hatchet women/men would be high on a list of qualifications. Clowns, grifers and bozos need not apply. However, so far it has at least been entertaining.

The current trial has also caused some of my atrophied legal brain cells to revive long enough to remember the olden days. Jury trials. (See the movie “Twelve Angry Men”…sorry RO it was filmed in black and white.) I always appeared for a jury duty summons. At times I had legitimate excuses for an excuse and knew there was little chance I’d be selected. However, I wanted to be a part of the justice system to keep balance. I defended enough criminal cases to want a decent mix of citizens for jury duty. Fairness in due process is crucial. Thus, I’d show up and leave it to others whether I’d make a jury. Never did. If you are ever called to jury duty I recommend trying not to avoid it. It is an essential part of citizenship.

News reports from the Trump trial make mention of sleepiness during court sessions. I was always happy to be a trial attorney because you have to be on stage all the time. Not so for most others at a trial. That can also be true for a judge. Judicial rulings/interactions during a trial can be few and far between. I recall a county judge back home who dosed off in a jury trial. It made the news. I felt bad for him as I knew him to be one of our better judges. Who was really mad about his lapse was the jury. After all the jury missed work or their daily routines to show up and stay awake. Years later that memory prompted Papa to have a paper clip on hand to press into the palm on hot, muggy afternoon sessions. May not have been the best judge but I was awake.

Soon a New York jury will hand down its verdict. In my experiemce there is no higher high than a positive verdict for a trial attorney. A low can go pretty deep if an attorney is heavily invested in a case’s merits but falls short on a verdict. Civil or criminal a trial consumes an attorney’s attention for long periods. I often talked to myself while driving or walking alone when I rehearsed opening/closing arguments or a sequence of questions to ask a witness. Certain folks might catch me babbling on and suspect me of going around the bend.

The Trump trial has highlighted an aspect of the current state of our news media. There is an onslaught of cheerleading, for and against, rather than any veiled attempt to be objective. The throw him in jail crowd seemed to be 24/7. Every word of testimony was flashed with more than enough spin to satisfy its diehard viewers. When a witness was crushed in cross the pale it caused on presenters was obvious. But, soon another talking head recovered and said it all was not as bad as it might seem. Hope for a conviction prevailed. The other side pointed out all the holes in the case. What a tragic turn of events for America and our judicial system was proclaimed. Papa sits and thinks about showmanship rather than what the last fifty-six years has been about for him. Woo is the system.

Well, it came and went. Once again Papa was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Totality, or at least as close as it possibly gets, passed over my beloved Sight Point at the appointed time. Clouds parted or were thin enough to not see much here in Oregon at the same time. Of course the road is still unpassable at our cabin. Not like Papa could have sat on the deck overlooking the gulf to watch darkness. So, did I miss much? Tonight I will turn off all the house lights to imagine the darkness of an eclipse. And, dream I am you know where.

Papa loves history and politics. As a boy in the 1950’s Mad Magazine was a favorite. Reading it was about as rebellious as I ever became in my lifetime. The title of the above post comes from a saying of the mascot of MAD. Today I connect that memory with a poliical event taking place tomorrow. South Carolina holds its republican primary.

What I find especially interesting is that there seems to be a steady drumbeat from the Trump campaign and all its supportive talking heads that Niki Haley should drop out; yesterday. Why is she still trying? What does she have to gain? One guy on television today suggested that if she had half a brain she’d have quit after New Hampshire. Or, was it after Iowa? There seems to be a trace of anger in the voices of various talking heads. Why would that be? If your favored candidate is a shoo-in why not be calm and magnanimous about an opponent? What harm can she do?

Thus, “What me worry?” seems a more appropriate reaction to a two person race when Trump cheerleaders ballyhoo a 35 or is it a 40 point advantage. Tomorrow is the vote. I’ll be watching the results. Mostly to see if there is a major blowout. In that event I still will be pondering why so much angst about a candidate that is not a threat. I don’t recall such anger/upset when Harold Stassen stayed in GOP races later than February.

In a prior post I predicted 100 indictments of President Trump. Solemn federal and state prosecutors were on a roll at the time. Democrat politicians were on the job. Democracy was to be saved. However, indictments have not gone much beyond the 90 count since then. A lull in the action. So when Papa said 100 was an achievable aim, was he wrong? Perhaps not, thanks to Colorado and Maine already declaring him guilty. Other states are poised to also find him guilty of insurrection. I believe it is only fair to wedge insurrection verdicts that assume/presume guilt without due process into the mix of charges. Who needs a formal charge/indictment? (To paraphrase “Treasure Of The Sierra Nevada” who needs a stinking finding?) Of course he is guilty. Like in the “Oxbow Incident” just cut to the chase. It is reasonable to count all such efforts. That is how 100 indictments/charges are achieved. Papa is a visionary.

I don’t have the time to do the research but I’d bet Trump has set a record. I’m not sure charges against Dillinger, Capone and Bonnie and Clyde combined come close to 90 much less 100. Beware. I also predicted that “piling on” might just make Trump a martyr. The American people historically have demonstrated a sense of fairness. Who knows if voters might favor a criminal in 2024. (Whether a crook by Kafka standards or by an old fashioned trial verdict.) Some Trump supporters may quaintly think due process has a role to play. Trogludytes. The business of saving democracy is too important. However, even Bonnie and Clyde were romaticzied by some despite 13 alleged murders. Of course, those who so despise Trump know in their heart of hearts that Trump’s actions are worse than murder. Papa may not have voted for the man but I can see where many voters will see the democrats’ legal manuvers as a bridge too far. Even voting for a jackass may be viewed as preferable in order to teach that ignoring our constitution is beyond the pale.

Or, perhaps all these astonishing legal shenanigans will dissipate when Trump actually becomes the Republican nominee. He may be the only candidate Biden can defeat. 90 plus charges provide a ton of talking points to scare the pants off voters. How can one person do so many bad things in such a short time? Save us, please. It’s just possible enough voters will take a deep breath and again vote for a seemingly more moderate alternative. Unless an alternative arises. Stay tuned.

Tis the season. It’s the thought that counts. That saying is never more true than when I take scissors in hand and proceed to crinkle, crankle and slash decorative Christmas wrap to shreds. In that condition the wrap never seems to securly cover a present. Eight or nine strips of Scotch tape helps shape up my offering by 20 or 30% improvement but it often still resembles an item kids played “kick the can” with for a day or two. Just remember that it is the thought that counts.

Any present that I wrapped for you can be located in a hiding position anywhere from 5 to 10 yards BEHIND the Christmas Tree. GPS locators generally not needed to find said present. Just think, “location that does not spoil beautiful setting”. Sadly, practice does not make better much less perfect. Because of age remedial training will not improve my wrapping skills.

I lay all of my paper cutting deficiencies at the feet of a certain unnamed Kindergarten teacher. Unnamed not out of respect but only because computer access now has names of first teachers, dates and favorite toys stored as iron clad security codes. I can still see Miss F’s face of wonderment as I tried to cut a straight line on colored paper that I sensed was ten-fold thicker than the paper given to my classmates. Paper given me to cut circles was even worse; the thickness of a pizza crust. Lest you think of Papa as paranoid I will not chronicle the perfectly round edged scissors assigned to me.

I rank package wrapping right up there next to plastic wrap package opening. Has it ever occurred to these brainiacs in the field to sell wrapping paper in sheets that match gift box sizes? 8″ x 10″ inches etc. They can do it with lumber. Not that hard. Otherwise one must go to extremes to wrap a gift. For example a certain young woman I dated in my youth had worked at a depatment store and she was an artist with wrapping paper. She liked doing warpping. Loved it. That was a solution to lean on of course but a life time commitment was a stretch. She didn’t have other attributes that made any top 50 list.

So, I continue my fumbling ways. I can’t remember the last time a store offered to wrap a gift. It’s difficult to remember being in a store now that I think on it. However, rest assured that thought and feelings are attached to any gift I hide for you to find. Merry Christmas!