Can a prosecutor in either the state or Federal systems, disclose grand jury proceedings during a grand jury investigation? After an investigation has closed, the GJ is discharged, and there is no indictment of the person being investigated? If a prosecutor does disclose GJ proceedings in either of the two scenarios, can she, should she, be either indicted or subjected to some form of sanction by the applicable Bar?
The law regarding grand jury secrecy is fairly clearly set out in article 20.02, CCP. Your question seems to imply that a prosecutor has disclosed information and you want to know if we agree you can complain about it. The answer depends on the facts of the case. That sounds like a local issue best resolved by the application of the local facts to the law rather than random guesses by posters on this forum. Volunteering guesses is also troublesome when an issue is pending and not yet resolved.
I was looking for some support for or disagreement with comments in a book review by Scott Horton in The American Lawyer Online of Aug. 1.
The book is
"Her Way: The Hopes and Ambitions of Hillary Rodham Clinton is by two Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporters, Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta, Jr. The heart of the book turns on information recently furnished by Starr, including a comprehensive telling of what happened during the grand jury investigation into the Whitewater real estate scandal and the death of White House aide Vincent Foster."
The Starr referred to is not Blaze Starr, the famous stripper, but Ken Starr, the famous official pornographer and failed special prosecutor. I think he might now be on the faculty of a well known conservative law school.
The article quotes some academics as saying the release of such information by Starr is prohibited. I'm looking for support and/or non-support for those conclusions. Where best to look but on a prosecutors forum?
It is not a cheap shot. Or, to put it differently, why is it you consider a question about Ken Starr apparently having disclosed grand jury proceedings to be a cheap shot? It certainly is not anywhere near the cheap shots taken dailey here at criminal defense lawyers. [See today's (Aug. 9) Lawyer Joke of The Day, for instance.]
I have friends who are prosecutors, as well as non-friends, and do not do anything on the cheap with them.
However, and keeping in mind my general denial, just what is the purpose of this forum if not to discuss some interesting issues of the day having to do with the practice of criminal law from both sides of the bar?
Welcome to the TDCAA Bulletin Boards. The discussions in these user forums are for the benefit of prosecutors and their staff members, although we welcome relevant and appropriate input from other members of the criminal justice and government lawyer community. These forums are NOT a source of legal advice for citizens. Call the State Bar of Texas (1-800-204-2222) for information on seeking legal advice.
quote:Originally posted by David Newell: i never take cheap shots at ken starr or blaze starr, only at starship. built this city my ass.
They did build the city, Newell. You're just too young to understand. When you get ready to trade in those 90's records and get down with some 80's rock, then call me.
I got your starship, with Aynsley Dunbar at the helm of the drums. Actually, Aynsley built this city!
And don't forget, Bootsy Collins always played a star shaped bass guitar with James Brown and Parliament/Funkadelic!
Posts: 2578 | Location: The Great State of Texas | Registered: December 26, 2001
dude, i don't take cheap shots at jefferson airplane. or even jefferson starship. (i kind of like that find your way back song. sort of bostony.) but you've got to admit that "we built this city on rock and roll" is weak! mickey thomas was not in airplane, so his taking credit for those previous accomplishments is doubly weak. paul kantner wasn't even in the band that's why they were called starship! talk about knee deep in the hoopla (they even had to put that goofy-ass line in the song!).
well, it's not "mambo number 5".
p.s.-bootsie's bass line in "groove is in the heart" is the only reason i like dee-lite. yes, please make my funk the p-funk. now where did i put my flashlight?
quote:Originally posted by David Newell: but you've got to admit that "we built this city on rock and roll" is weak!
We've been friends too long. I've got to admit that it is weak. The other songs are better. Mea Culpa. And I'm totally impressed with your knowledge of old fogies. But then you've always been an amazing repository of musical knowledge.
R.W., you are amazing! I'm totally impressed. Do you play an instrument? We must talk next seminar. My favorite Elvin song was "(Got to put on) My walking shoes", from perhaps the same album. Did Thomas sing that too? I'll have to research that. Thanks for the education.
[This message was edited by GG on 08-11-07 at .]
Posts: 2578 | Location: The Great State of Texas | Registered: December 26, 2001
quote:Originally posted by JB: That's not really the purpose of this forum. If you are looking for a place to take cheap shots at prosecutors, check elsewhere.
Bravo. Well done.
Also, I think the thread hijack maneuver as demonstrated above by Mr. Newell et al works very effectively.
Posts: 2578 | Location: The Great State of Texas | Registered: December 26, 2001
In researching the alteraction mentioned above, I learned that it was not Dunbar that assaulted Thomas, but former Elvin Bishop drummer Donny Baldwin, who had taken over the drumming duties after Dunbar left Starship. The editorial staff regrets this error and offers our apologies to Mr. Dunbar.
Posts: 60 | Location: Austin, TX US | Registered: December 21, 2005
