Finally!

[catelin]

The latest issue of Atomicpetals in now online. It's full of LJ folks too! I'm particularly proud of this one for a lot of reasons, but my real coup was getting Ken Light to agree to let me use some of his photos for a little piece on Texas' death row. He even said "no" at first, but I finally managed to charm him into relenting. He's my new hero.

The ice is melting. That means I have to go to work today and continue the capital murder trial. Non-death penalty case. We actually do have those in Texas, ya know.

Oh, and while I'm on the subject: FUCK YOU SIDEWAYS, CLARENCE THOMAS!

Comments

sad

[mgansle.livejournal.com]

I won't comment on the death penalty, because I don't want to start a debate in your journal, but I do think it is very sad how young all of those death row inmates were when they actually committed the crime and they still received the death penalty?

Re: sad

[catelin.livejournal.com]

I agree. While I have my own ideas about the death penalty (which are in constant flux, and I often wrestle with the discrepancies between "in principle" vs. "in practice"), I think it IS disturbing when you see how it is applied, especially with young offenders. I don't know that I'd be quite so ready to give up on someone so quickly.

[rothko.livejournal.com]

wow. that's powerful stuff.

nice work.

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was quite pleased with how it all turned out.

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

oh cate, this issue is visually brilliant, and i'm knocked out by the poems i've read so far. brava! beautifully edited.

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Vicki! I had a lot of great stuff to work with, so that made it easy. : )

[pageeater.livejournal.com]

What a beatiful work. Bookmarked - I'll look forward to the reading, Cate.

[catelin.livejournal.com]

I think there's some really great stuff in this issue. I'd love to hear what you think when you've seen some of it.

[budhaboy.livejournal.com]

hmm...

I think Anita would warn you that he may take that suggestion the wrong way...

[catelin.livejournal.com]

He's really despicable. You're right...he'd probably just offer me a Pepsi. ; )

[maya12.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I wish I were you for a day. I'm in awe of your life.

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's a great compliment, A. Thank you! : )

[emrecom.livejournal.com]

Looks great, Cate!

[catelin.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you like it!


p.s. You owe me mail!! Slacker! ;-P

[shigolch.livejournal.com]

I've not read everything yet, but I've read quite a bit -- as promised, it's something you (and the writers and artists) should be proud of.

Thanks ver' much for sharing this with us, Cate!

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Thanks! You know, every time I have to get it all together I grumble for days about how I'm not going to bother with it anymore, but then everyone sends in such great work that I always end up really in awe of all the talent. Makes me feel lucky to know so many great people. : )

FUCK YOU SIDEWAYS, CLARENCE THOMAS!

[ex-friedrich47.livejournal.com]

Better watch out or he may try and take you up and that, although I wager you would be very disappointed.

I take it that you agree with the Supreme Court decision here. You must be a very fair judge yourself. How do you deal with poorly represented defendants and prosecutors who try to stack the jury?

Re: FUCK YOU SIDEWAYS, CLARENCE THOMAS!

[catelin.livejournal.com]

Oh, I have a few law books I'd like to stick up his ass...maybe he'd actually absorb something that way.

Yeah, I do agree with it and I'm amazed at his cavalier dissent. I haven't read the whole thing yet because it makes me crazy to even remember that this idiot is on the Court. I'm not a judge, Don; I'm a prosecutor. But I do try to be fair, because THAT'S what the whole process is about. How do I deal with poorly represented defendants? I have on many occasions beeen a better defense attorney that the defendant's own lawyer. I don't try to screw defendants just because they have a shitty lawyer. My deal (plea bargain offer) is my deal, based on the facts of the case and the defendant's history. As for prosecutors who "stack the jury" I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean what was going on in the Dallas case? There the prosecutors were likely striking minority jurors based on race, a practice which has long been proscribed by law. I've never known anyone to do that in all my career, which is why I'm shocked that such a blatant case would have even made it all the way up to the Supreme Court. The real fault here lies with the Appeals courts that didn't shitcan such an obviously flawed verdict. I have no love for Miller-El...but he deserved a fair trial, just like every criminal defendant does.

Sorry to rant about it, but I really think that sometimes people don't realize that they generally only hear about the extremes. There are plenty of hardworking, bright people (on both sides--defense and prosecution) who work long hours for a joke of a paycheck because they actually BELIEVE in the concept of justice and doing right by people. But that's a whole other pet peeve of mine that I'll leave for another day. ; )

Re: FUCK YOU SIDEWAYS, CLARENCE THOMAS!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_riomaggiore/]

i'm not sure how i found your journal but what i've read, i like. i am a former ADA and always felt i would have been a better public defender. the presumptive power of the DA's position just never quite fit my integrity or personality. my approach (in the majority of cases) was to argue in the office for plea bargaining as so much of what crossed my desk was a needless economic and social reprisal to something beyond justice, however there probably is no such thing in making a name, expanding a budget and in stroking an ego.

Re: FUCK YOU SIDEWAYS, CLARENCE THOMAS!

[catelin.livejournal.com]

That's interesting. I've always been more comfortable on the prosecutorial side. I've thought about that a lot and here's why in a nutshell. As a defense attorney, my obligation was to obtain the least consequence possible for my client--no matter what I personally thought about what he'd done. Ultimately, the defense attorney's job is to obtain an acquittal or as close to that as she can get. I wasn't comfortable with that--sure, I understood the whole "make sure the checks and balances are working, defend the constitution, better one guilty man go free" theory...but I wasn't comfortable playing on that side of it. As a prosecutor, I feel that I can be much more merciful (to everyone, defendants and victims) and take into account what would be the most fair outcome for all involved. I've almost lost my job a couple of times for arguing with my boss for leniency for certain people. On the other hand, I've had no problem bringing the hammer of Lady Justice down hard on people who deserved it. I jokingly call myself "Karma's Little Helper"...but in a way, that's the most accurate description for what I do that I can come up with. Nice to meet you too! : )

hello

[desert-trove.livejournal.com]

I found you through looking up mutual interests on LJ. I liked your journal, and I am very much enjoying Atomic Petals, so I added you as a friend. I'd love to be on your list so I can read all your entries.

Thanks for all the beauty...

Re: hello

[catelin.livejournal.com]

We do have a lot of interests in common! : ) I've added you too. Welcome!

Re: hello

[desert-trove.livejournal.com]

Thanks a lot, and welcome to my journal as well! I'm enjoying being able to read your all your entries, and I look forward to more. :-)