Comments on: ESD Trial, Day 18 UPDATED

By: Autvincere

Autvincere — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:59:02 +0000

Former Student…. good Question. Judges have to respond to the quality of lawyering they are presented they absolutely cannot “Help” a lawyer that is floundering. So if a lawyer is losing on arguments, evidence, and arguments it is not because the Judge favors one side or the other but the evidence and quality of the attorneys counsel and their clients.

One very important factor….Good lawyers tell their clients and witnesses TELL THE TRUTH ….nothing but the TRUTH….Very hard to believe this is not a witness problem vs a lawyer problem. Good lawyers simply do Not ever ever make this mistake and I don’t think these lawyers have made these mistakes but are just stuck with trying to cllean up a mess.h

By: LisaM

LisaM — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 02:08:54 +0000

I think so much of this pain could have been healed or avoided if the school had responded in a true, Christian manner to JDII, and her family. One of the things I have learned about ESD through this process is that the Episcopal title is “in name” only and that authentic, Christian values have not been presented.

By: Kersten Rettig

Kersten Rettig — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:50:49 +0000

@Avid Reader – hi.

@Claire – good work.

@Everyone involved in this case – bummer for you, man.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:07:51 +0000

Claire, any idea about what the former student is saying?
I am interested in what students were hearing from Doe. Was she lying to her classmates too or did they know what was going on?

By: Excuse me?

Excuse me? — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:49:51 +0000

@Claire, regardless of the criticism, you are doing a remarkable job. This is a hard story. It’s not your job or the job of ESD parents to put a positive spin on a crappy set of facts. Someone at ESD finally figured that out, and hired LeMaster to do it. You have a great style and a quick wit. Keep it up!

Can one of the giant legal brains discuss the impact of the potential testimony of a former friend of JDII? Does Burrow’s smarmy performance and Swann’s selective memory impact how a jury filter’s the defense’s case?

By: Claire St. Amant

Claire St. Amant — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:38:12 +0000

@Jack Bauer, I have very little insight on the jury. They appear unshaken by the testimony from where I’m sitting. I only saw a couple of raised eyebrows when the alleged Chris Burrow tapes were introduced. Other than that, they’ve been very unreadable.

Btw, fist bump for your sweet commenter alias!

By: Claire St. Amant

Claire St. Amant — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:33:18 +0000

@Interested Dad, Today, Chrysta Castaneda said she might be able to finish up by Tuesday.

By: Mike Engleman

Mike Engleman — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:10:09 +0000

I am a former newsman. Dallas Times-Herald rookie, AP, Denton Record-Chronicle managing editor, Dallas News editorial page columnist. In my opinion Claire St. Amant is doing a first-rate job in her coverage of the ESD trial. “Perfect”? No. Let me suggest that none of us, nor our work product, is “perfect”.
I am amused at the charges that Ms. Amant’s coverage of the trial is “biased.” I read in her work a continuing effort to let the witnesses, attorneys and (unfortunately) the judge speak for themselves. Notice all of the direct quotes? And, let’s face it, every human being on earth is “biased”. We see every event in our own personal light—our own life history. We can’t help it. It’s part of being human. Hell, even the scientists can’t agree on the “facts” of global warming.
Both of my children attended ESD. But, that was more than 20 years ago. It was, at that time, a small loving and nurturing school. Since those days, it has grown. Has it outgrown its former character? Possible, but in my opinion, unlikely. It was founded with a vision of what its core values were to be. Core values rarely change.
If ESD had a weakness in those earlier days, it would have been borne of its character of lovingness. Faculty and staff expected the best of one another and of the students. The idea of a student having a sexual relationship with a teacher or staff member would have been considered ludicrous. If the ESD administration is “guilty” of anything in this current affair, in my opinion, it would be naivety. Isn’t expecting the best of people considered, these days, to be naïve?
It seems to me that the base issue of the lawsuit is whether the school acted reasonably once it found out about the Campbell/Doe relationship—whether the school acted in the child’s best interest or to protect its reputation. I cannot imagine the school taking any action that would not be in the best interest of a student and the student body. Perhaps not a popular action, but one that is taken for the benefit of the children.

By: CarolinaBorn

CarolinaBorn — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:09:20 +0000

So the judge here was “pressured” by Aldous into admitting the tapes….

Oh Chortle!!

The tapes were admitted because they’re plainly pertinent.

ESD says they have no responsibility for what Campbell did. There’s nothing they could or should have done different…..

Yet there they are, calling that “rogue employee” and telling him how to lie…. about using school property, about the student’s age….

It’s relevant.

So Burrow went and got a former judge as counsel? Gosh. Would that be to “pressure” anyone?

Dont see that working on Benson.

Also dont see any legit issue with “authentification.” The CFO and the teacher call each other by name. The CFO makes sure to mention that he’s on a 3 person committee to protect ESD. So is the court supposed to pretend we-don-know who’s coaching who?

By: INterested DAD

INterested DAD — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:44:29 +0000

CLARE-Any Idea on how long the defense plans to bring witness’ in?