Blogonaut’s Top Posts for 2007 and Reader Poll

As 2007 winds down, we present for your consideration our favorite posts in 2007. We invite you to tell us your favorite (or least favorite) posts in the comments. Or nominate your own. NEW: Legal Blog Picks Top Odd-But-True Stories (ABA Journal writeup). NEW: #7 In "Remains of the year, blog buzz edition." (She Writes Like She Talks)

In addition, PLEASE participate in our VIZU reader poll, in the right margin--below the ads. [It is a check the box and click poll--it will only take two seconds.]

Depending on your poll responses, Blogonaut may be resuming its regular format in 2008, or shutting down. (We have a day job as a full time trial lawyer, this blawg takes 2 hours of our time a day, and if you are not enjoying it, what's the point?)

You may review a listed post by clicking on it. You may also scroll through non listed past posts by month by clicking on the archive tab. Enjoy!

Vancouver WA Judge ‘Gave the Finger’, Used Anti-Semitic and Anti-Gay Slurs During Juvenile Justice Conference in LA

NYC Cop ‘Testilys,’ then Gets Indicted for Perjury Based on Secret Mp3 Audio Recording by 17 Year Old Suspect

Slain Attorney’s First Wife Also Tried to Shoot Him

Saudi Lawyer for Rape VICTIM Sentenced to 200 lashes—Suspended by Ministry of Justice in Riyadh for Rocking the Boat

Brawling TN Lawyer Entangled in Hilarious McDonald’s Dustup--But Fast Food Imbroglio is 'Tip of the Iceberg' for Court Room Pugilist

Borat Sued by Driving Teacher Featured in Film

20 Year Old’s Snap Decision to Loan Car to Friend Gets Him Life in the Joint

So Many Japanese Die of Over-Work They Have a Word for It

Dept. of Bizarre and Strange Litigation: Alleged Transgendered Model Maximilia Cordero Sues the New York Post for “Falsely” Claiming “She” was a “He”

Infamous Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyer’s Current Legal Woes Include Shoplifting, Lying to Police

Phony ‘Harvard Lawyer’ Arrested for Fraud—he Got Away With it for Years and Collected Thousands in Fees

Lawyer’s Defense to Meth Charge: ‘I Did it for My Dog’— Wins Acquittal

Georgia Sheriff Who Charged Jail Inmates Room and Board Faces Extortion, Perjury Charges

In Addition to Providing Legal Commentary, Blawgs Cover Fast Moving Stories In-Depth and in Real Time

Almost Cliché Dept.: Former Republican Congressman Arrested for DUI had Woman[‘s head] ‘on His Lap’

Is Nothing Sacred Dept.: Nun Pleads ‘No Contest’ in Sex Abuse Case

Even Weirder Pet Stories Dept: Man Weds Dog in Hindu Ceremony

Lawyer Jailed 13 Years Still Refuses to Tell Ex-Wife Where Assets Are

Bizarre Legal Precedent Dept: Sex with Mannequin Legal in SD

Court Room Clerk Snorts the Evidence in Drug Case, Gets Probation

Law Student Who Shot his Law Books with Assault Rifle Released from Jail

Judge Defrocked for Deciding Cases by Coin Toss, Making Woman Pull Pants Down in Court

Chapter 4.65 Arrests in Public Places (Published Again as a Public Service to Republican Lawmakers)

Attorney Charged with…‘Embracery’? (Hint: It’s Not a Sex Crime)

Court Upholds Dismissal of Charges Against ‘Naked Prosecutor’

Law Student Sues SIU for Flunking Her Out Claiming ‘Attention Span Deficit Disorder’, Resulting in Her low 'grape' Point Average

Ex-Assistant US Attorney Convertino Acquitted: First Justice Dept. Bungles Terrorism Case, then Bungles the Criminal Case Against the Alleged Bungler

500 Pound, Scooter Driven, Suspended Vegas Judge Must Remain Benched, Nevada Supreme Court Rules

Stunning Mid-Trial Dismissal of Murder Charge Against Ex-FBI Agent

Attorney Fights Reinstatement of Former Judge—Tables Turned in 10 Year Blood Feud

Drunk Bites-Off Lawyer’s Finger in McDonalds

Forget Gossip—Associate Compensation Issues Trump Blawg's Scandal Stories with Big Law Associate Readership Every Time

Will the Real “Violet Blue” Please Stand Up; Writer-Blogger Sues Porn Star Over Name Use

California Attorney Who Stalked Judge That Presided Over His Divorce for 12 Years Told by Appellate Court to Stay Away

Chief Colorado Federal Court Judge Sued by Wheelchair Bound Lawyer After Judge Hogs Handicapped Parking Spot then Pulls Rank

Boston Lawyer Charged with Drugging-Raping Coed in Miami—Third Sex Arrest for People Magazine’s "Most Eligible Bachelor”

Video Spoof of Matt Lauer Larry Craig Interview

Judge with the $54M Pants Loses Job

Disbarred Attorney Arrested for Practicing Law Asserts he Was Only Using Former Law Office for “Creative Writing”

Woman Impersonates Attorney to Have Sex with Inmate

Amazing Judicial Trivia Dept.: 9th Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski Not Only Appeared On the Dating Game TV Show as a Contestant, He Won!

18 Year Old UCLA School of Law Graduate—If She Passes California Bar—Will Be Youngest Lawyer in the Nation; She Entered Law School at Age 15

Only in San Francisco Dept.: Archbishop Apologizes for Giving Communion to Gays Dressed as Nuns Amid Catholic and Conservative Uproar

Strange But True Legal Defenses Dept.: Woman Jailed for 50 Days on Meth Charge Released After Tests Confirm Substance to be Cat Urine

“The Law Dog” Admits to Advising Clients while High on Drugs

Disgraced? Disbarred? No Problem, Apply for Bar Admission in Tonga

Mortgage Broker Arrested After Biting Off Man's Ear in Vicious Attack with Karaoke Machine

It’s Official: UC Berkeley to Drop “Boalt Hall” from Law School’s Name

Jailed Then Disbarred “Sex for Crack” Judge Arrested Again for Practicing Law Without a License

Vanderbilt Law School Dropout Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize After Oscar and Emmy

Beloved “Klutzo the Klown” Arrested in Illinois on Kiddie Porn Charges

Ex-stripper Accused of Following Plot of 1994 Movie “The Last Seduction” in Lover’s Slaying in the North West

Federal Court Brings Written Charges of “Exceptional Misconduct” Against 14 Lawyers in California Qualcomm Suit, Heller Litigators Among Those Cited

Senator Larry Craig Claymation Music Video Features Tiny Village People

Mentally Disabled Man Incarcerated for 14 Years Without a Trial

Phil Spector Murder Jury Hangs Itself

Minnesota Court Denies Senator Craig’s Request for Do-Over of Toilet Bust Plea
Convicted Congressmen Collect Pensions—Even From Jail

Just in Time to F*** Up My Travel Plans UBL Prepares to Speak

Cop Named “Lovejoy” in Hot Seat for Cooking K-9 Companion

Senator Larry Craig is Reconsidering the Reconsideration of His Hasty Decision to Resign

Fall Down Funny Senator Craig Music Video, to the Tune of “Tap 3 Times (with You’re Loafer) if You Want Me” (Senator Craig)

The Death of The Singing Senators

Chapter 4.65 Arrests in Public Places (Reprinted as a Public Service to Congressional Members)

Spicy pony heads?

Nevada Judicial Watchdog Commission Files Brief in Case of Embattled Vegas Judge

Related: Legal Blog Picks Top Odd-But-True Stories (ABA Journal writeup)

87 comments:

Anonymous said...

Keep um' comming!

Anonymous said...

Klutzo rules!

Anonymous said...

I vote for the 500 lb Vegas judge.

Anonymous said...

I like the wayward attorney and judge posts.

Anonymous said...

Man marries dog....

Anonymous said...

Larry Craig claymation video. I laughed, I cried.

Anonymous said...

'Slain Attorney’s First Wife Also Tried to Shoot Him' hands down.

Anonymous said...

My vote is to keep going.

Anonymous said...

More clown posts plz.hh

Anonymous said...

"Lawyer Jailed 13 Years Still Refuses to Tell Ex-Wife Where Assets Are" gets my vote.

Anonymous said...

Maximilia Cordero

Anonymous said...

Catherine Shelton

Anonymous said...

Halverson

Anonymous said...

Judge Halverson. I have my reasons.

Anonymous said...

Were is the poll?

Anonymous said...

Lovejoy.

Anonymous said...

You missed the story of Flea. A doctor anonymously live-blogging his own medical malpractice trial only to get busted for it while on the witness stand.

Anonymous said...

The fat judge from Vegas. Hands down.

Anonymous said...

Halverson.

Anonymous said...

Elizabeth Halverson. Hilarious.

Loyola 2L said...

Can I have a job?

Anonymous said...

Scooter judge.

Anonymous said...

Fatso from Las Vegas.

Anonymous said...

More clowns gone bad please.

PS: Don't shut down.

Anonymous said...

Brocade story

http://blogonaut-blogonaut.blogspot.com/2007/12/key-witness-against-former-brocade.html

This is the only Blawg that posted it....

PS: You still suck, but don't shut down.

Gingles the Clown said...

Klutzo was murdered!

Anonymous said...

More Christian Clown stories please.

Anonymous said...

No one cares about your lame blog.

You suck.

Anonymous said...

Lame.

Will vote to re-elect Judge Halverson said...

Halverson is being treated unfairly.

Many judges have dozed off during cases at one point or another.

Many judges have made dumb simple mistakes while on the bench. They are human.

Many judges are KNOWN to be difficult with their staffs. MANY.

The difference here is Hardcastle wants to see Halverson go down. So, EVERYTHING Halverson does ends up in the paper and is a big deal even though all these things have been done again and again by other judges.

Hardcastle is costing taxpayers HUGE amounts of money because of her personal vendetta against Halverson. It is this sort of bad politics and game playing that makes taxpayers lose trust in the judical system. Not Judge Halverson.

Wake up voters.. there is so much underhanded behvaior going on here...

Blogonaut said...

Dear Vote-to-Re-Elect-Halverson:

(Apart for Larry Craig) the scooter bound judge is the best thing that happened to this Blawg.

We whish you success in reelecting her to the Las Vegas bench—hopefully in time for the OJ trial.

Anonymous said...

Halverson.

Anonymous said...

Dallas attorney Catherine Shelton. For sure.

Anonymous said...

Lisa Dawn Rittenhouse’s suit against SIU School of Law and dean Peter C. Alexander for flunking her out.

Her filing this suit shows exactly what kind of attorney she would have been.

Anonymous said...

500 lb Las Vegas judge.

Anonymous said...

Halverson!

Anonymous said...

Halverson gives the phrase elevated to the bench new meaning (not to mention a new level of difficulty).

Anonymous said...

Larry Craig claymation video.

You can shut down now.

Anonymous said...

Halverson, cuz she's tons o' fun....

Anonymous said...

I agree, you suck!

My advice: Kill self.

Anonymous said...

The fat judge. With the felon husband.

Anonymous said...

What are spicy pony heads?

Anonymous said...

I've heard that Judge Gates has fallen asleep on the bench a couple times and that even the Great Infallible Justice Cherry nodded off during a trial once! But of course they aren't disabled, diabetic & on oxygen. They didn't have medical reasons. It seems to me that in Nevada the crime is to be disabled or fat.

Anonymous said...

Cordero is still totally HOT! I'd hit it!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sex abuse nun.

Anonymous said...

Shut down. This site sucks. And learn to proof read.

Anonymous said...

Trolls will find any forum....

Anonymous said...

Death of The Singing Senators

Anonymous said...

SIU LAWSUIT

Anonymous said...

UBL post--lol

Anonymous said...

lame

Anonymous said...

Rittenhouse

Loyola 2L said...

I vote for Loyola 2L

Anonymous said...

L2L.

Anonymous said...

Brawling TN Lawyer Entangled in Hilarious McDonald’s Dustup

Anonymous said...

Fat judge from Vegas

Anonymous said...

Fat judge from Vegas

Anonymous said...

Halverson

Anonymous said...

Meth Charge lawyer

Anonymous said...

Tap 3 times video

All My Ex's live in Texas said...

Catherine Shelton

Anonymous said...

loyola 2l

Anonymous said...

Borat!

Anonymous said...

Hindu dog wedding.

Anonymous said...

Just in Time to F*** Up My Travel Plans UBL Prepares to Speak

Funny!

Anonymous said...

500 lb Las Vegas judge

Anonymous said...

Phony Harvard Lawyer

Anonymous said...

tap 3 times larry craig

Anonymous said...

Halverson

Anonymous said...

Lawyer Jim Tatum, RIP

Anonymous said...

10 Year Blood Feud

fan said...

The post about James Disney, the CA attorney who stalked the judge who ruled against him in his divorce for 12 years.

Also the post about the attorney who has remained in jail for 13 years instead of complying with the court order to tell his ex-wife where the offshore accounts are located.

Amazing.

Anonymous said...

Klutzo the 'Christian' clown busted for kiddy pron-molestation

Anonymous said...

Will the Real Violet Blue.....

Seriously, she's hot (both of them).

Anonymous said...

the Sex with Mannequin post

Anonymous said...

I Did it for My Dog, of course.

Anonymous said...

Lawyer Jailed 13 Years Still Refuses to Tell Ex-Wife Where Assets Are

Anonymous said...

Law student suit over low 'grape' point average

Anonymous said...

UBL post

Anonymous said...

Halverson

Anonymous said...

World’s Meanest Wife Dept.: Clovis Woman Convicted of Drowning Husband in Hydrochloric Acid

Not in the list, but liked it.

Anonymous said...

the fat las vegas judge

Blogonaut said...

Response to December 18, 2007 6:00 AM:

At Blogonaut we are all buttoned up for the year & heading to Baja to cruse into Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza. But we noticed your comment:

“You missed the story of Flea. A doctor anonymously live-blogging his own medical malpractice trial only to get busted for it while on the witness stand.”

And so we did. Intrigued, we found this May 10 post on Overlawyered:

“LIVEBLOGGING A MALPRACTICE TRIAL
We've pointed out doctor-bloggers who have provided first person accounts of being sued for malpractice, but the last doctor on the list, the pseudonymously-named "Flea," is taking it one step further: he's blogging about his own trial as it happens. Today's post is "Flea on Trial - Day One: Jury Selection." You can follow the whole series here.
Meanwhile, New York Personal Injury Lawyer Eric Turkewitz comments, from a trial lawyer's perspective, on some of the dangers of a doctor blogging about a case in near-real time. Our favorite tidbit is this:
His decision to walk this high-wire without a net brings us to a third issue: If plaintiff's counsel finds out about the blog, should it be used at trial? A lawyer's gut reaction may be yes, in order to claim to the jury that what they are seeing is a well-rehearsed act.

But if the risk is that the insurance carrier uses it as an excuse to disclaim on a plaintiff's verdict, it may be entirely counterproductive.

In this sense, Flea shares a common goal with his nemesis: They both want the insurance company standing there in case of a plaintiff's verdict.
Well, sure -- it is about the money, after all.”

But there is also this Overlawyered update.

The bogging-doctor got found out by the plaintiff’s lawyer, and was cross-examined on his posts in front of the jury:

•“Three weeks ago, we noted that a prominent anonymous medical blogger, "Flea," was liveblogging his malpractice trial, and we discussed the ramifications for Flea's case. A few hours after we posted about this, Flea stopped -- presumably after his attorney had a fit. But apparently that was at least a few hours, or a few weeks, too late; Flea had left enough clues to enable the plaintiff's lawyer to figure out that Flea is Robert Lindeman, and she questioned him about it on the stand: With the jury looking on in puzzlement, Lindeman admitted that he was, in fact, Flea.

The next morning, on May 15, he agreed to pay what members of Boston's tight-knit legal community describe as a substantial settlement -- case closed.

The Globe also quotes a trial lawyer as claiming that the plaintiff's attorney "had telegraphed that she was ready to share Lindeman's blog -- containing his unvarnished views of lawyers, jurors, and the legal process -- with the jury," although it's not clear to me how his views of lawyers, jurors, and the legal process would be relevant to a medical-malpractice case.

Incidentally, Flea's blog is apparently now totally kaput.”

Since we missed what is certainly the quintessential Blawg story of the year, we thank you for bringing this omission to our attention.

big fan said...

Court Room Clerk Snorts the Evidence in Drug Case, Gets Probation

Anonymous said...

Entire 'When Clowns Go Bad' series.

Funny!!!!!

Anonymous said...

SIU lawsuit

Anonymous said...

I found this site using [url=http://google.com]google.com[/url] And i want to thank you for your work. You have done really very good site. Great work, great site! Thank you!

Sorry for offtopic