Tuesday, January 12, 2010

A Moot Writ

Sometimes the beast doesn't merely roar. Sometimes it listens.

The writ I posted yesterday did not need to be filed. The Department of Correction has agreed to provide the client with individual transportation to court in the mornings, thus making it possible to get a good night's sleep. And, miracles abound, Mr. Leniart walked into court yesterday with his legal papers.

But just to remind us that there is still a fist in the velvet glove, the Department still plans to return Mr. Leniart to prison each night by means of a circuitous route. He will get direct tranportation only one-way, and not round trip.

The significance of this half-measure? Call it a misguided attempt to be Solomonic.

A member of the Attorney General's office explained to me that the one-way accommodation was done as a courtesy to Judge Stuart Schimelman. Translated: Tell your client to kiss off. We still own his sorry derriere, and we want to make sure he recalls that each night on the way home.

Query? Will officials still taunt my client as a "ripper" at his transshipment point, this encouraging other inmates to assault him?