More on State Sentences in Federal Prison

and other miscellany

A Good Man

The first time I worked with Lane Haygood of Odessa, Texas, he sat second with me on a jury trial in Midland, and we kicked the State’s ass. Absolutely outclassed them from voir dire to acquittal, and subsequent expunction of our client’s record.

Since then and I have written numerous briefs in First Amendment cases together. If I’ve written a free-speech brief, Lane has had a hand in it, usually for no pay but the eventually glory when the walls come tumbling down.

Every time I come up with some idea for a harebrained pro-bono case I’ll email Lane. “Are you in?” Of course Lane is in. Take on this case for too little money? Sure! For free? Why not! Give me your input on this crazy issue? I’ll get to it this evening! He’s generous to the point of selflessness.

Lane is brilliant—there are precious few lawyers who I’ll say that of—and he writes much more beautifully than me. My writing is stolid, workmanlike. I’m building bridges with words. Lane is building bridges with words, bu…