Sweet Leila

My sweet little cat Leila and her brother Cumin have now been with me for nearly a year. I'm blessed to have them as friends.

Vermont's "Catch and Release" Criminal Justice System

In today's Calaedonian-Record the lead editorial complains about the very real fact the Vermont's convicted criminals face virtually no punishment when they violate the terms of bail, probation, parole or furlough. The message to the criminal class is do as thou wilt with virtual impunity. And the result is..........drum roll please,,,,,,,,,communities that are far less safe than they should be for law abiding citizens.

Do Consequences Matter In VT Criminal Courts?

Ask most parents or teachers. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Threatening consequences and not following through sends the wrong message; do what you will because nothing is really going to happen as a consequence.

This lesson doesn't seem to have been learned yet by Vermont criminal court judges. Just this week, two convicts violated the terms of their probation and furloughs respectively. They were found guilty of the violations, both felonies, and were given additional prison sentences as a consequence. But were they really?? One convict is to serve his additional sentence concurrently with the sentence he was already serving. The other was given additional years of prison time-----suspended!!!! No extra time in prison for violently violating the terms of his furlough.

The lesson taught by Vermont judges--do what thou wilt. Ain't nothin stoppin ya. Pity the poor, law abiding citizens coming into contact with these miscreants.

When A Deputy State's Attorney Is Less Than Forthright and Acts Like a Jerk

Deputy State's Attorney (Assistant District Attorney in most states--that's what I was In Western Massachusetts) Jim Lillicrap was apparently fired from his ADA job in California for cause. He allegedly exhibited the same rude behavior and disregard for state discovery obligations that he has shown here according to members of the criminal defense bar. The Big Question----Did he reveal in his application and resume for his present Vermont position that he had been let go for cause in California. Lillicrap and his wife, who worked for the same office as her husband in CA, sued for sexual harassment and the creation of a hostile workplace. That case was settled with the settlement sealed as is customary in most civil cases of that nature. Documents in the public record from that case were unearthed by a local member of the criminal defense bar.

Lillicrap just ran unsuccessfully in November's election for the Orleans County State's Attorney position. During the campaign he refused to discuss where he went to law school or accurately what his litigation background was. A friend of mine who has dealt with Lillicrap in court in the past told me more than a month ago that Lillicrap is, in his opinion, a "jerk."  From the article about this in the Caledonian-Record last weekend, it looks like many others here who have dealt with Lillicrap have the same low opinion of him. Will the new State's Attorney who defeated him in the November election keep him on in her office? To be continued............

Ah, the First Snow

It is here proving that God is intelligent for having invented snow tires. Here's the house after shoveling out and raking the roof Thanksgiving morning.

"Best Interests of the Child" Will Be the Legal Standard for DCF In Protecting Vermont Children

After the debacle of two toddlers in DCF care dying after being reunited with abusive parents, the Vermont legislature is poised to enact legislation mandating that a child's best interests will always govern decision making by state agencies dealing with the well-being of minors. The state will also likely adopt a version of the Massachusetts system which allows for placement with relatives, friends and teachers if a responsible parent is not available to assume custody of the child. Privacy rules for Vermont agencies like DCF and the police will also likely be relaxed to allow agencies to share information about children to insure there are no problems being hidden by one agency from another. Kudos to State Senator Dick Sears, D-Bennington, for spearheading the legislative changes.

And a big, wet raspberry to DCF Commissioner Ken Schatz for failing to grasp the priority of the BIC standard and make it the cultural norm at DCF.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2014/11/25/lawmakers-prepare-child-protection-ideas/70099034/

First Real Snow

It's coming down and I have visions of getting out the roof rake to get the heavy wet snow off my roof. Then it will be out the door and along the river on snow shoes. Happy Winter to all!!!