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D.A. Bumped From Case Over Novel

Santa Barbara prosecutor Joyce Dudley wrote a novel about herself and her life as a prosecutor. Obviously, not lacking in ego, she describes her character as:

Ms. Danner, Ms. Dudley writes, has "the poise and sexiness of a dancer, the brains of a scholar and the protective passion of a mother." "She had always been attractive," Ms. Dudley continues, "but now, having reached middle age, experience, confidence and poise further enhanced her beauty."

She also suffers from Dick Wolf syndrome, where prosecutors are g-ds and defense lawyers are scum.

Prosecutors in "Intoxicating Agent" are fearless champions of the truth; defense lawyers, unethical and manipulative; and defendants, despicable and unattractive. One is called "felony ugly."

A real-life defendant in a date-rape drug case sued because one of the cases in her book is so close to his still-pending case. The judge issued a strong opinion, disqualifying her from the real-life case.

Ms. Dudley must be disqualified, Justice Yegan continued, because the defendant, Massey Haraguchi, "is being prosecuted for raping an intoxicated person while the prosecutor is promoting her novel involving the identical charge."

Justice Yegan wrote that Ms. Dudley's desire for money and fame might tempt her to throw the book at the defendant, as it were. "Dudley will garner no laurels, and the case will not generate favorable media publicity for her book," Justice Yegan wrote, "if she enters into a negotiated settlement."

In my view, this is the totally correct decisoin. I also hope the California bar authorities and Dudley's boss take a look at her actions. Some people will do anything for a buck, but they shouldn't be collecting a state-issued paycheck while they trade on state secrets. And yes, the details of a prosecutor's case are state secrets, since the DA's office is a state agency.

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    Re: D.A. Bumped From Case Over Novel (none / 0) (#1)
    by Molly Bloom on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 05:50:45 AM EST
    She also suffers from lack of imagination and inability to write decent prose, if what you excerpted is representative.

    Re: D.A. Bumped From Case Over Novel (none / 0) (#2)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 09:10:48 AM EST
    I think Ms. Dudley should be mated to Mr. Nifong so that the offspring will be a genetically engineered prosecutor who has an unlimited ego but a complete aversion to the ethical rules of professional conduct.

    Re: D.A. Bumped From Case Over Novel (none / 0) (#3)
    by cpinva on Tue Oct 10, 2006 at 09:10:48 AM EST
    what molly said! :)