A Big Welcome to Judge Cavanaugh

If federal prosecutors in New Jersey with the Paul Bergrin case were judge shopping, I think they would have avoided the Honorable U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh. In fact, as much as I like Judge Martini, I believe that prosecutors would have been better off keeping him. It is obvious to me that they had no choice in which judge was assigned to the Paul Bergrin case and there will be a fair trial after all.

At this point in time, the trial date is set for October 1, 2012. However, briefs will be filed in August in relation to severing the counts as Judge Martini did in the last trial. Oral Argument is set for September 12, 2012. If the counts are not severed and everything is tossed together, it is most likely that the trial date will be reset for a later date.

In my opinion from a defense perspective, there are good reasons to sever the counts and equally good reasons not to. I already have a thought on which way Judge Cavanaugh will go, but won't tip my hat quite yet. I also have no intention of stating the reasons to go either way. I'm going to let each side fight it out without my voice. What good am I, right?

From what I have read around the internet, U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh is a no nonsense, facts only type of guy. I haven't had any contact with Paul to know his thoughts, but I already like this new judge. Figure, at least if you bothered to read the trial transcripts, that a facts only judge would have scoffed at the lousy excuse for evidence presented by the DOJ. Remember? We had a parade of jailhouse snitches, informants, and a variety of other miscreants that just expected us to believe what they said, even though many had been caught lying to the feds and in court in past.

A no nonsense judge won't appreciate all of the Rule 35 / 5K1.1 patients in the line-up. A facts only judge wants exactly that - facts. Nothing that any of the so-called witnesses stated was factual and it was all 'he said, she said' based on what served the prosecution best. The prosecutor's opening statement was pure conjecture and it was backed by concocted stories told by proven liars and others with something substantial to gain. How much more of that can prosecutors offer us? Well, ask Nino Lyons. He has a story to tell, or rather his attorney does:

Prosecutors' conduct can tip justice scales

Justice Dept. agrees to pay $140,000 to man wrongly jailed

A big welcome to the Honorable U.S. District Judge Dennis M. Cavanaugh!

You will find several new documents added on the "Documents" page of this blog.