Wondering about picking a lawyer if you are criminally charged or civilly sued? I just posted a discussion on this topic at our new YouTube channel, Facts and Firearms which you can find here:
PICKING A SELF-DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Wondering about picking a lawyer if you are criminally charged or civilly sued? I just posted a discussion on this topic at our new YouTube channel, Facts and Firearms which you can find here:
Great advice, Mas. As you noted at the end, I hope I never have to employ it.
I was amused by one thing. I watched your video until the end on YouTube. As soon as it finished, what do you think that YouTube did?
I’ll tell you. They put up a commercial featuring Kamala Harris begging for donations to the DNC!
Man! Did they misjudge their target audience! They should put up Kamala for the people watching the Cat-Lady Video’s that you mentioned. Or some other squishy left-leaning topic, not after your video. Certainly, Kamala’s face was not what I wanted to see pop up! 🙂
P.S. – Do you think that YouTube does this kind of thing just to jerk our chains? I know how hostile YouTube is to firearm’s content (in general), and to 2nd Amendment Rights too.
lol
Don’t fret.
I don’t mind them doing that … wasted add revenue with a portion going to support the likes of Mas. Actually, kinda nice!
What ARE you talking about?
There are tons of videos on Youtube on firearms and 2nd Amendment.
njk
@ nicholas kane – “…tons of videos…”
You are correct. There are tons of firearm-related videos on YouTube. I did not mean to imply that YouTube is so hostile as to block them all. I get the impression that firearms/defense- related topics are too popular for YouTube to shut them all down.
However, I have seen multiple cases where the creators of such content complain about YouTube’s hostile stance. My impression is that YouTube will force removal of such content on the slightest justification, and take other actions (demonetizing, for example) to show their displeasure with such content. If there is a ton of such content on YouTube, it is DESPITE YouTube’s management practices rather than by their good graces.
In summary, my impression is that YouTube dislikes firearms content and will discourage it if they can. However, it is of such broad interest that YouTube does not dare to block it altogether.
So, I maintain that a simple count of the available videos does not, necessarily, reflect YouTube’s attitude toward them. My impression is that the management of YouTube leans strongly to the Left end of the political spectrum and, as a result, left-leaning content gets more favorable treatment than right-leaning (i.e. 2nd Amendment) content. I don’t see the management of YouTube as politically neutral actors. Here is another example:
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/youtube-trump-lawsuit-settlement-jan-6
But, then, the Left has made a determined effort to invade all media, educational, entertainment, and Governmental institutions. Their operatives are EVERYWHERE. We have an infestation of them. They are a plague around the globe. They are like termites – eating away at the foundations of society. 🙁
@ Paul S – “…wasted ad revenue…”
That is one way to look at it. Still, it is strange. This incident with Mas’ video is not the only time that I have seen this kind of thing happen. For example:
One of my favorite YouTube channels is Ian McCollum’s “Forgotten Weapons”. I have watched numerous video’s posted by Mr. McCollum. However, on more than one occasion, YouTube has followed up a “Forgotten Weapons” video with an ad from Sandy Hook Promise. This is the Anti-gun Group formed after the infamous Sandy Hook School Shooting.
Now, in what universe does an anti-gun group think that it would be profitable to target a channel like “Forgotten Weapons”? Do they really expect donations? Is this an effort to change “Hearts and Minds” by the Firearms-Prohibitionists? Or, are they (with YouTube’s blessing) simply trying to jerk our chains?
It makes no sense, politically or financially, but I have seen it happen (multiple times with my own eyes).
I can’t help but wonder what is up with this nonsense?
TN_MAN, I agree with you on all points (Original comment, and your replies to replies, including mine).
I just laugh at the advertising choices and appreciate the revenue for fellow enthusiasts and supporters of the 2nd as those help pay content providers
I was a member of the ACLDN (and have now renewed with CCW Safe) and I looked through their affiliated attorneys and found one fairly close to me. I set up an appointment and basically interviewed him for about 30 minutes and was quite pleased.
Also a member. We have been on the road all summer and still busy. I need to get logged in and get caught up on changes, but we have a multi year membership. I have time.
Sad to see the change but happy for Marty and wife. And thankful for all their time and efforts. And I think they ultimately made a good decision.
And I was a member thanks to Mas and his team in northern FL about 10 years ago. So, thanks to Mas and crew as well.
Thank you, Mr. Ayoob. I have been with CCW Safe for several years, and your reaffirmation of my choice has been greatly appreciated.
Mike Kostecki
As an attorney practicing in his sixth decade — who has counseled many in attorney selection, including criminal and civil use of force cases (nonsworn citizens and LEOs); who has been involved in the representation of a self-defense defendant more than a couple of times, for fee, and pro bono; who has written (for judges and lawyers) more on Florida self-defense law and related subjects than anyone, ever, and; who is now involved in several cases and following the dockets of 47 other Florida self-defense cases (such following totaling about 250 Florida cases in the past 10 years), I offer some additional thoughts (in no particular order).
You should endeavor to find out whether an attorney is respected in the courthouse and by those in the prosecutor’s office. Online search resources and official records sites contain a wealth of information on prior cases handled by an attorney.
If your state has a pretrial self-defense immunity process, your attorney should know how to prepare a compelling immunity motion, be able to handle a lengthy evidentiary hearing before a judge, and be willing to file an appeal if immunity is denied by the trial court.
You should select an attorney who has demonstrated knowledge about justified force statutes and caselaw or who is willing to consult another attorney who has such knowledge. There are not many of the former. The so-called “expert” ones quoted in the media on other self-defense cases usually have outed themselves as lacking knowledge of the law.
Exercise restraint in selecting an attorney just because he/she has “won” a prior self-defense case.
If you cannot afford an attorney, don’t buy into the false argument that public defenders or appointed private attorneys are not up to the task. I have worked with several and find them to be fully worthy colleagues.
Avoid an attorney who makes press conferences in his/her cases and does interviews on local TV or YouTube, etc. In this regard understand that an attorney in 2A practice is not what is needed.
Two is almost always better than one.
IIRC, my attorney shopping was after LFI-1. I had a 10 minute or so free session with a local judged by some folks in the criminal justice system to be “sharp”. When I left, I was still in search of an attorney, finally settled on the former Commonwealth Attorney for our county. He’s won a couple of big ones, but retired:(
Thank you, Mas, and Steven M. Harris, for that great advice. Probably worth $1,000.