A small Austin company, International Legal Services, advertises that it can free just about any federal prison inmate on appeal, even those who pleaded guilty or confessed � a dubious claim that even the most prestigious law firms would never make.

The key is supposed to be a legal argument, developed by employee Tony Davis, that claims the federal criminal code is invalid because Congress botched key legislation during the Truman administration.

As a result, most criminal convictions obtained in the past 59 years should be tossed out, Davis argues.

Davis, however, is not a lawyer. He's a former accountant who served almost 51/2 years in prison for fraud and money laundering � details International Legal Services fails to disclose to its clients, including about 160 inmates who paid up to $17,500 each for the company's services, potentially generating fees topping $1 million.

Read the rest of the article.

This sounds like the guys who argue that there was some paperwork foul up with annexation, and that Texas is still an independant Republic.

or the anti-IRS faction, who believes a loophole in the act creating income tax prohibits the US from collecting income taxes. They usually reject that belief on the way out of tax court, post seizure.

Yeah, I've been wrangling with one of the Republic of Texas guys recently. Or someone using those arguments, at least. Apparently my guy's so loony even THEY won't claim him! But you have to be impressed at this guy turning his wacky argument into a company this big. My favorite part was that he copyrighted his legal argument so no one else could use it!

I suspect the Federal Courts won't be so impressed.

U.S. Supreme Court rejects ex-convict's legal argument

Austin company argued most inmates must be freed on technicality

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to accept arguments alleging that the federal criminal code is invalid � dealing a blow to International Legal Services, an Austin company that advertised that the argument could win freedom for federal inmates nationwide.

Justices gave no reason for denying the petition.



10.28.07: Ex-convict appeals to inmates' hopes for freedom

In Sunday's editions, the Austin American-Statesman examined dubious claims by International Legal Services that the argument, developed by ex-convict Tony Davis, could free just about any federal inmate, even those who had pleaded guilty or confessed.

About 160 inmates and their families hired the Austin company � paying up to $17,500 each for the right to use Davis' argument, which claims that Congress botched legislation creating the criminal code in 1948, invalidating most criminal convictions obtained over the past six decades.

Other courts have already dismissed the argument, including the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Chicago, which recently dubbed it "unbelievably frivolous."

Despite the latest setback, Davis remained optimistic that the Supreme Court would address his argument because he said the petition denied Monday was flawed. That petition for a writ of habeas corpus, developed by federal inmate Yorie Von Kahl using research provided by Davis, included exhibits in violation of court rules, Davis said.

After consulting with Supreme Court clerks, International Legal Services on Monday filed an identical petition on behalf of its clients, but with the exhibits removed, he said.

"We think we will be given a docket number this week and we'll be taken to conference" for consideration by justices, said Davis, who in 1998 was convicted of fraud and money laundering for collecting advance fees for loans he did not make, court records show.

If the court rejects the argument again � a strong likelihood, given Monday's denial and the court's extreme reluctance to grant such claims � Davis said he is prepared to flood U.S. district courts with copies of the argument on behalf of International Legal Services' clients.

"Either way, we plan on getting the issue heard," he said.

Since APD is already looking into Unauthorized Practice of Law, why not add Theft and send him back so he can work on his own writs?