Cmon Chris... Make it a little easier to be a fan!

Discussion in 'On The Field' started by Max Powers, Aug 23, 2010.

  1. Max Powers

    Max Powers 100+ Posts

  2. Lamp

    Lamp 250+ Posts

    Come on, this is very common in criminal law. As a former prosecutor and defense attorney, defendants missed court dates all the time for lesser reasons than a hundred thousand dollar game. Usually the court would allow the defendant to reschedule the court date if they did so within ten days. Sorry, but hardly newsworthy.
     
  3. MaduroUTMB

    MaduroUTMB 2,500+ Posts

    That's interesting because the nice lady at the court house with whom I spoke about discussing a traffic ticket with the prosecutor said that if I missed the date, even if I called ahead to alert them that I was in a surgery case, I would be summarily thrown in the slammer.

    I am by no means disagreeing with you, but I find it interesting that she gave me such a wildly different opinion.
     
  4. zsubnot

    zsubnot 100+ Posts

    its because the nice lady you were talking to at the court house was an assistant clerk and obviously wants you to think that if you miss the date, you are screwed.

    you provide cause for missing the date, you can reschedule; only time their is an issue is if the prosecutor has a problem. for offenses like the above, usually not an issue.
     
  5. mr. sunshine

    mr. sunshine 250+ Posts

    I've been in criminal defense and now prosecution for 19 years. If a defendant misses a court appearance without it being continued in advance, the judge issues a capias, which is basically an arrest warrant. In rare situations, such as the defendant offering proof that he was hospitalized at the time of the court date, the capias is recalled before its served.

    I don't know New York law or the particulars of Simms' case, other than what's linked above. But the suggestion that a judge won't take some action when you stand him up on a date is hogwash, at least in this neck of the woods.
     
  6. Max Powers

    Max Powers 100+ Posts

    Legal or not, it's horrible personal PR. The kid has been hated on by just about every kind of sports fan in the nation - this doesn't help his cause.
     
  7. GigoloJoe

    GigoloJoe 250+ Posts

    1. The Daily News story makes it look a little better for Chris than the Gothamist story, in that it relates how a letter was sent asking for a continuance due to work reasons; also, apparently, some sort of settlement is being worked on.

    2. Nevertheless, this is an embarrassing episode for Chris all around. The quotes from the police source ("he was very stoned") in the Daily News piece are not good for him.

    3. This has NOT been a good summer for former Longhorn athletes.
     
  8. UTeric32

    UTeric32 500+ Posts

    Im a defense attorney in Houston, missing court is a very big deal. Showing up late is "ok", but missing leads to an automatic bond forfeiture and a huge hassle for the defendant/attorney.
     
  9. TDTexas!

    TDTexas! 250+ Posts

    I am NOT an attorney but one would obviously assume Chris' representation WAS present. Doesnt that factor in?
     
  10. Third Coast

    Third Coast 10,000+ Posts


     
  11. overmaars

    overmaars 1,000+ Posts


     
  12. Pericles

    Pericles 1,000+ Posts


     
  13. Slick16

    Slick16 250+ Posts

    Plead guilty or nolo contendere, pay the fine, and be done with it. If they suspend his license, he can always hire a limo to bring him to practice. He's done it before.
     

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