Kansas Lawyer seeks reinstatement after leaking Guantanamo documents

A lawyer that was convicted during a court martial proceeding back in 2007 for leaking secret documents about Guantanamo Bay detainees is trying to get his license to practice law back after what looks like a three year suspension.

Apparently, Mathew Diaz was a Naval officer whom printed off the names of about 500 Guantanamo Bay detainees and sent them to a advocacy group trying to obtain the names of the detainees and provide them legal counsel.

Here is the article in the San Fransisco Chronicle.

Former Navy Lawyer goes before Kansas Supreme Court
By: John Milburn

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A former Navy lawyer who was convicted during a court martial in 2007 for mailing secret information about Guantanamo Bay detainees is seeking to get his law license reinstated in Kansas.  Attorneys for Matthew Diaz will argue on Thursday before the Kansas Supreme Court to accept a recommendation from the Office of Judicial Administration to suspend his law license for three years effective 2008. Because of the timeline, Diaz would be reinstated with the Kansas bar.

The disciplinary hearing panel said Diaz warranted "significant discipline" for his actions, which included the act of printing and sending classified information and sending it to an unauthorized person.
"The respondent (Diaz) mailed the card the day before he left the island so as to reduce his chance of facing consequences for his actions," the hearing panel noted in its filing with the Kansas Supreme Court.

However, disciplinary administrator Stan Hazlett sought for the panel to recommend disbarring Diaz.
Diaz, who was a lieutenant commander in the Navy, is currently living in New York. He earned his law degree in 1994 from Washburn University in Topeka and was admitted to practice law in Kansas.

He is represented by Wichita attorney Jack Focht who argues that Diaz by virtue of his court martial, discharge from the Navy and prison term had been punished enough for his actions.  Focht argues that Diaz was torn between what he believed was his ethical duty to see that the accused terrorists received legal counsel and his duties as a military officer to obey orders.  Prosecutors say Diaz went to his office in January 2005 and used his classified computer to log onto a classified military network and access a database with detainee information. They say he printed information that included the names of 550 detainees, their nationalities, the interrogators assigned to them and intelligence sources and methods.

Diaz then cut the document into 39 sheets that he placed inside a card with a big heart and a Chihuahua on its front and mailed it to Barbara Olshansky, they say.  At the time, Olshansky worked for the Center for Constitutional Rights, a nonprofit legal group that was suing the federal government to obtain the names of detainees because the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled they had the right to challenge their detention.  She turned the document over to federal authorities, and they traced it to Diaz.  According to court documents, Diaz sent the list of names on the day before he was to leave Guantanamo, knowing that if he was no longer on the island he would not have to answer for his actions.

Diaz's attorneys noted that their client had strong feelings toward prisoner rights. When he was 16 years old, his father, who was a nurse, was convicted in Southern California for multiple counts of murder for injecting patients with a lethal dose of Lidocaine. His father was sentenced to death but died of natural causes in prison in 2010.

KU ticket scandal inmate wants judge to toss out sentence.

Its been a year or more the University of Kansas ticket scandal ended but it turns out this thing just wont die.  A co-conspirator in the case that received a 46 month prison sentence has now submitted a motion alleging that his criminal defense lawyer at the time had actually caused him to spend longer in in prison and that he did not provide an adequate defense to the criminal charges.  Here is the article in the Kansas City Star..  Will update as new news comes out.

Ex-KU official wants judge to toss out sentence

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/28/3782560/ex-ku-official-wants-judge-to.html#storylink=cpy

By the Associated Press
WICHITA -- A former University of Kansas assistant athletics director wants a judge to throw out his sentence in a $2 million ticket scalping conspiracy, saying his lawyer did a poor job.Rodney Jones is serving a 46-month federal prison sentence in Oklahoma. He was among seven people snared in the investigation of unlawful sales of Jayhawk season tickets by key athletics officials.

Jones filed a motion Monday in federal court claiming his attorney prevented him from cooperating early with an internal university investigation. Two defendants who did cooperate received probation.  Jones also claims prosecutors did not honor an agreement to recommend leniency for his substantial assistance. He argues his attorney did not provide a vigorous defense, in an effort to avoid offending the prosecutor and jeopardizing the recommendation for leniency.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/28/3782560/ex-ku-official-wants-judge-to.html#storylink=cpy

Richard Cuchli, a Kansas City lawyer that was convicted of murdering his law partner in 2002, is a free man.  In what was an obvious and blatant disregard for the criminal justice process, the prosecutors withheld exculpatory evidence and convicted Mr. Cuchli at an unfair trial.  The Court of Appeals has upheld the decision to exclude all evidence that the prosecutor has forcing the DA's office to dismiss the charges.

Irregardless of the defendant's guilt or innocence this just goes to show you that you have to play by the rules, and when you don't sometimes you get caught.

Here is the article in the Kansas City Star.

All charges dismissed in Kansas City lawyer’s murder case 

By: Tony Rizzo

A murder case that roiled the Kansas City legal community for more than a decade has been dropped.

Faced with an appeals court ruling that threw out all evidence in the case, Jackson County prosecutors said Monday that they had dismissed murder charges against a Kansas City lawyer accused in the 2000 killing of his law partner.  The case against Richard Buchli, accused in the beating death of Richard Armitage, had been plagued throughout by problems over evidence being turned over to defense attorneys in a timely manner.  After those problems came to light, Buchli’s 2002 conviction on charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action was thrown out in 2006.  And in December, as attorneys prepared for a second trial, the Missouri Court of Appeals ruled that the state’s continued failure to provide all the evidence in its possession had prevented Buchli from receiving a fair trial.

Jackson County prosecutors called that ruling a “de-facto dismissal of the case.”

They asked the Missouri Supreme Court to review that ruling, but last week the high court declined to hear the case, allowing the appeals court ruling to stand.With no evidence left to use, prosecutors filed the dismissal Friday.  “We are happy the state has decided to dismiss the charges,” said Richard Johnson, one of the attorneys representing Buchli. “I have no doubt about Richard’s innocence, and I’m glad the case has ended in his favor.”

Because murder has no statute of limitations and the case could someday be refiled if new information turns up, Johnson said that Buchli did not want to make a comment about the dismissal.  Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker’s office also declined to comment. Members of the Armitage family could not be reached.  Armitage was 49 when he was beaten to death in May 2000 in the 13th floor office he and Buchli shared in the Kansas City Power & Light Building downtown.  After a Jackson County jury convicted Buchli in 2002, he was sentenced to life in prison.

Much of the trial testimony centered on spatters of Armitage’s blood found on Buchli’s shoes and clothing. The prosecution contended that showed he was the killer; the defense countered that the blood was transferred when Buchli attempted to revive his injured partner.  Another key piece of evidence was a piece of surveillance video that prosecutors used to establish that Buchli had time to kill Armitage and clean up afterward before he was seen leaving for lunch.  Only later was it discovered that prosecutors had an entire daylong surveillance tape that had not been disclosed to the defense before trial. As a result, a Jackson County judge threw out Buchli’s conviction in 2006 after he had served about five years in prison.

The full tape showed that Buchli would have had little time to commit the killing and clean up, potentially refuting the longer “window of opportunity” argument that prosecutors made at trial.  The judge’s ruling was upheld on appeal and in 2008, after all Jackson County judges recused themselves from presiding over the retrial, the case was assigned to Nodaway County Circuit Judge Roger Prokes.  Two years later, after Buchli’s attorneys raised additional concerns about evidence they had not received while preparing for trial, Prokes ordered the exclusion of all evidence.  “The rules have been ignored, this court has been ignored and judicial resources have been squandered,” Prokes said. “The judiciary cannot wait while the state dawdles.”
In his order, Prokes noted a long list of similar “discovery” lapses in the case.

“If this case did not have the history that it does, this court may well impose different sanctions for the state’s current violations,” he wrote.  But Prokes found that after 10 years of litigation, “the state still has inexcusably failed to produce a complete discovery set.”  “A decade is enough time. This court is left with but one conclusion: The only effective sanction is to exclude all of the state’s evidence from trial,” Prokes ordered.  Jackson County prosecutors appealed the order, but in December the Missouri Court of Appeals voted 8-2 to affirm Prokes’ decision.

“There is unquestionably a societal interest in prosecuting cases of murder, but this does not give the state free reign to prosecute this defendant for an indefinite period of time, no matter how many decades it takes the state to comply with its legal obligations,” the appeals court ruled.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/07/3599125/all-charges-dismissed-in-kc-lawyers.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/07/3599125/all-charges-dismissed-in-kc-lawyers.html#storylink=cpy

Kansas City Man gets 164 years in Prision!

Just came out on an FBI press release that Abasi Baker of Kansas City, MO was convicted on multiple charges originating from a series of armed robberies on the Kansas side of the metro.  Considering the man's history and the nature of the crimes a Federal Judge all but threw the book at him.  The most notable quote came from the U.S. Attorney stating,  “This should send a clear message to convicted felons with guns,” said United States Attorney Barry Grissom. “Gun crimes mean hard time.”

164 years of "Hard Time" might be an understatement. 


Here is the Press Release:

KANSAS CITY, KS—A Kansas City, Missouri man has been sentenced to 164 years for a string of armed robberies, United States Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

Abasi S Baker, 32, Kansas City, Missouri, was convicted in a jury trial in September on 21 counts including seven counts of robbery, seven counts of unlawful possession of a firearm after a felony conviction, and seven counts of brandishing a firearm during a robbery.

“This should send a clear message to convicted felons with guns,” said United States Attorney Barry Grissom. “Gun crimes mean hard time.”

During trial, prosecutors presented evidence Baker committed seven robberies including:

January 6: Payday Loans, 7636 State Ave ., Kansas City, Kansas.

January 10: Radio Shack, 7612 State Ave ., Kansas City, Kansas.

January 12: Payday Loans, 10327 Metcalf Ave ., Overland Park, Kansas.

January 16: Dollar Store, 8144 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.

February 16: Check Into Cash, 11044 Quivira, Overland Park, Kansas.

February 22: Check Into Cash, 15241 W 135th, Olathe, Kansas.

March 3: Radio Shack, 6945 W 75th, Overland Park, Kansas.

Co-defendant Mark R Davis is set for a jury trial March 5.

Grissom commended the following agencies and individuals for their work on the case: The FBI and the FBI Violent Crimes/Fugitive Task Force; the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office; the United States Attorney, Western District of Missouri; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Kansas City, Mo ., Police Department; the Kansas City, Kansas ., Police Department; he Overland Park Police Department; the Olathe Police Department; the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office; the St. Joseph, Mo ., Police Department; the Lee’s Summit, Mo ., Police Department; the Mission, Kansas ., Police Department; and assistant United States Attorney Terra Morehead, who prosecuted the case

What does a DUI cost? New Kansas law brings big changes.

DUI's plain and simple cost a driver money.  Increase in insurance costs, fines, attorney fees, reinstatment fees, ignition interlock device fees, and the list goes on and on.  An article in the Lawrence Journal World breaks it down. 

Kansas’ new DUI law bringing big changes

By Shaun Hittle — Lawrence Journal-World

Kansas enacted new drunken driving laws, effective July 1, making ignition interlock devices mandatory for even first-time offenders, creating a central repository to better track drunken drivers across the state and expanding treatment options.  The law also earned the state the highest possible rating from Mothers Against Drunk Driving for laws designed to combat drunken driving. Today, we check in with the people who deal with understanding — and implementing — the law on a daily basis. Here’s what we found:

Ignition interlock devices

 For Ace Bail Bonds, the DUI law has been a big boost to business, said owner Steve Robson. Ace is one of a few local businesses that install the interlock devices, and Robson said they’ve seen installations increase significantly over the past couple of months.  Before the new law, Ace Bail Bonds would install a small number of the devices every month, but now, they’re averaging about a 100 monthly. The biggest issue Robson has been hearing about usage of the devices is people who drink alcohol the night before and then fail the breath test in the morning. After three failures within 15 minutes, users of the interlock must pay a $25 fee to have the device reset.

Breathalyzer refusals
One of the disappointments with the law expressed by state Sen. Tim Owens, R-Overland Park, who helped craft the legislation, was that Breathalyzer, or alcohol-level breath test, refusal wasn’t criminalized. That is, it’s not a criminal — but rather a traffic — offense for someone to refuse a Breathalyzer during a traffic stop. While a person who refuses a Breathalyzer automatically loses his or her driver’s license for a year, it’s more difficult for prosecutors to obtain a DUI conviction without the test.  “Defendants (who refuse) are less likely to face criminal charges,” said Charles Branson, Douglas County District Attorney.  But some prosecutors, including Branson, have taken steps to close that loophole by working with police and judges to streamline the search warrant process for a blood test when probable cause exists.  Scott McPherson, county attorney for Rice County, said his office has copied the Douglas County model.  “It seems to be working well,” said McPherson, who estimates officers have requested search warrants for blood tests in about a dozen cases since the new law was implemented. Whether district attorneys take the steps Branson and McPherson have to handle refusals is up to each district, and it’s unclear how many counties have implemented similar plans.

The takeaway for drivers who are pulled over, at least in Douglas County, is simple: A refusal will likely lead to a search warrant for a blood test, and refusing will bring about more consequences than if a driver consents. In addition to losing a license for a year, drivers who refuse will be assessed a $400 lab fee for the blood test.

Treatment
Kendall Heiman, addictions counselor at Professional Treatment Services, performs the substance abuse assessments and evaluations required for all DUI offenders. Judges use the assessments when deciding whether to order further treatment.  The biggest change with the new law, Heiman said, is an opening up of state funding for offenders who are tagged in assessments as needing additional treatment. Since the law has passed, Heiman said the treatment needs for offenders who come through her door vary.

For DUI offenders who don’t present the markers for a substance abuse disorder, their treatment plan will consist of the assessment and follow-up at an eight-hour alcohol awareness and information course, Heiman said.  But when someone fits the criteria for further treatment, Heiman can recommend outpatient treatment, which can range up to 20 hours of group and individual treatment per week.  Heiman said they’ve seen success at this stage of treatment, which can provide the wake-up call to people that they have a substance abuse problem.  “There’s this moment of clarity” for offenders, Heiman said.  In rare cases, Heiman can recommend inpatient treatment, and the new law allocates state funding for offenders who don’t have insurance and can’t afford inpatient treatment.  Gary Lee, director of services at Valeo, the Topeka-based substance abuse treatment facility, said they haven’t yet begun to see DUI offenders sent to their 40-bed facility based on the new law, but he expects to in the coming years.  The center provides a wide-range of treatment, including detox, group therapy and individual counseling for their clients, who typically stay about two weeks.

Yearly cost of a first conviction for driving under the influence:

Interlock installation and fees: $917
Insurance increase: $60/month
Court/jail costs: $143.50
Treatment: $220 to $270
Fines and probation costs: $810 to $1150
Lawyer: $1,000 minimum
License reinstatement fee: $100
Refusal of breath test to find blood-alcohol level: $400
Total estimated cost range: $3,910 to $4,700
Costs will vary based on service providers chosen and whether someone applies for diversion. Information provided by Ace Bail Bonds, Professional Treatment Services, Douglas County Assistant District Attorney Greg Benefiel, the Ron King Agency and local attorney John Frydman.

Kidnapper sues hostages, says they had a deal to hide him from the police.

Probably one of the most rediculous cases to come across the web in awhile.  I would assume that motion to dismiss would be granted pretty quickly.

In one of the more audacious and head-spinning lawsuits to hit the courts, a fugitive facing a murder charge who took a couple hostage is now suing his victims for not hiding him from police.

Jesse Dimmick is seeking $235,000 from Jared and Lindsay Rowley in a breach of contract suit involving his 2009 invasion of their home in Kansas, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported. Dimmick claims the couple, newlyweds at the time, agreed to hide him for an unspecified amount of money."Later, the Rowleys reneged on said oral contract, resulting in my being shot in the back by authorities," Dimmick wrote in a notarised legal document filed last month, the paper said.  "As a result of the plaintiffs breech (sic) of contract, I, the defendant suffered a gunshot to my back, which almost killed me," he wrote. "The hospital bills alone are in excess of $160,000, which I have no way to pay."

The Rowleys are awaiting a ruling on their motion to have the suit dismissed, saying they never accepted Dimmick's offer of money and even if they had, their consent would have been given under duress. According to the paper, Dimmick, who was being pursued by police, entered the Rowleys' home and confronted them at knifepoint.  A neighbour said the couple gained his trust by eating snacks and drinking soft drinks with him while watching the movie Patch Adams, then fled when he fell asleep.  Dimmick was convicted of four felonies, including two counts of kidnapping, and is currently being held in Colorado on a murder charge, the paper said.

The Rowleys have filed a suit against Dimmick seeking civil damages in excess of $75,000.

Article of  http://www.news.com.au/

Kidnapper Sues hostages, says they had a deal

(AP)  TOPEKA, Kan. - Can there be no trust between a kidnapper and his hostages?

A man who held a Kansas couple hostage in their home while fleeing from authorities is suing them, claiming they broke an oral contract made when he promised them money in exchange for hiding him from police. The couple has asked a judge to dismiss the suit.

Jesse Dimmick of suburban Denver is serving an 11-year sentence after bursting into Jared and Lindsay Rowley's Topeka-area home in September 2009. He was wanted for questioning in the beating death of a Colorado man and a chase had begun in in Geary County.  The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that Dimmick filed a breach of contract suit in Shawnee County District Court, in response to a suit the Rowleys filed in September seeking $75,000 from him for intruding in their home and causing emotional stress. Dimmick contends he told the couple he was being chased by someone, most likely the police, who wanted to kill him.  "I, the defendant, asked the Rowleys to hide me because I feared for my life. I offered the Rowleys an unspecified amount of money which they agreed upon, therefore forging a legally binding oral contract," Dimmick said in his hand-written court documents. He wants $235,000, in part to pay for the hospital bills that resulted from him being shot by police when they arrested him.

Neighbors have said the couple fed Dimmick snacks and watched movies with him until he fell asleep and they were able to escape their home unharmed.  Dimmick was convicted in May 2010 of four felonies, including two counts of kidnapping. He was sentenced to 10 years and 11 months on those charges. He was later sent to a jail in Brighton, Colo., where he is being held on eight charges, including murder, in connection of with the killing of Michael Curtis in September 2009. A preliminary hearing originally scheduled for Dec. 6 has been rescheduled for April 12. No plea has been entered in the case.

Robert E. Keeshan, an attorney for the Rowleys, filed a motion denying there was a contract, but said if there was it would not have been binding anyway.  "In order for parties to form a binding contract, there must be a meeting of the minds on all essential terms, including and most specifically, an agreement on the price," he wrote.  Keeshan said the contract also would have been invalid because the couple agreed to let Dimmick in the home only because they knew he had a knife and suspected he might have a gun.

Article found at
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57333238/kidnapper-sues-hostages-says-they-had-a-deal/

Leawood Kansas Cop Shoots suspect during traffic stop

A routine traffic stop suddenly took a violent turn for an officer who had to fire his weapon Sunday. The State Line Road exit ramp was shut down off of east I-435 for several hours Sunday morning as police investigated.

"It is very unusual in Leawood, we don't deal with this very often," said Maj. Troy Rettig with the Leawood Police Department.  A 22-year veteran of the Leawood Police Department had to react quickly after back-up officers who showed up at a traffic stop to assist him suddenly started screaming at him.

"They just yelled, 'Gun. Gun. Gun.' And then the officer that was involved knew what was going on," said Rettig.  According to Leawood police, the officer pulled over a white Mustang for speeding and erratic driving just after 3:15 a.m. Sunday off of I-435 and State Line Road. When the officer was speaking with that driver, a friend of the driver who was in a gray Chevy, parked in front of the Mustang.

As the officer went to speak with the person in that car, officers who arrived to assist saw the driver of the Mustang toss out a gun, and then he suddenly started driving right for the officer who pulled him over. "The initial driver threw a gun out of the car, and the officers who responded let the initial officer know a gun was in play. And that time the initial car drove at the officer and right at him. He shot at the car," said Rettig.

The officer who opened fire was not hurt, but the driver of the Mustang that fled the scene was not so lucky. "We were contacted later by the Kansas City, MO Police Department that they had the driver of the car at Truman Medical Center, and he has non-life-threatening injuries," said Rettig.

The suspect remains in the hospital and will be taken into custody.

In the meantime, Leawood police are relieved good teamwork by the officers at the traffic stop made it possible for police to walk away unharmed.  "They were very alert, and they made sure he was aware at the first sight of that gun," said Rettig.  In the meantime, the officer who opened fire is on routine paid administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation.

The driver of the Mustang is in the hospital, and that car was missing earlier on Sunday until it was found in Grandview. Police have not said whether the driver of the other car will be charged in the incident.

Copyright 2011 KCTV. All rights reserved

I received a speeding ticket and I have a Commercial Drivers License. (CDL) What can I do?

If you have received a speeding ticket, traffic ticket, or moving violation in Kansas and you have a Commercial Driver's License you are going to have big problems.  Here is why...

KSA 8-2,150: Commercial Driver's License; diversion agreements not allowed. (a) A driver may not enter into a diversion agreement in lieu of further criminal proceedings that would prevent such driver's conviction for any violation, in any type of motor vehicle, of a state or local traffic control law, except a parking violation, from appearing on the driver's record, whether the driver was convicted for an offense committed in the state where the driver is licensed or another state.

     

This creates a huge problem.  What this law does is limit a county attorney's or city prosecutor's ability to cut you a break.  If you have a CDL and you get a Ticket the prosecutor can not legally allow you to enter into a diversion agreement to keep the ticket from going onto your driving record.  It is also the policy of the vast majority of municipal jurisdictions not to amend moving violations to non-moving violations for people that have a CDL.

 

It does NOT matter if...

 

1.  You haven't used your CDL in years.

2.  You weren't driving your truck when you got pulled over.

3.  You have a spotless driving record.

 

That being said we may be able to help.  CDL tickets can be handled.  They can be dismissed.  They can be set for trial and the trial can be won.  You don't just have to pay them and deal with the consequences.  We can set the case for trial and submit discover requests for the officer's training on the equipment used to determine your speed.  We can submit discover requests for the records on the equipment used to measure your speed.  We can determine inconsistencies in the ticket. We can evaluate the records and see if you have a case.  Commercial Driver's License tickets can be beat and we can help.

I got a ticket in Kansas but I have an out of state license...Now what?

People call me this question everyday.  You were driving in the state of Kansas on I70 on your way to St. Louis, or Chicago or XYZ city for a wedding or funeral, or vacation and you got pulled over.  But now what?  You can't come all the way from California or Texas to fight a traffic ticket and you don't want your insurance premiums to go through the roof, but you have some questions...

1. Will my home state find out about my ticket in Kansas ?
Yes, if you pay the ticket in Kansas the court will enter in a conviction on the charge and it will get reported to the Kansas Department of Revenue.  The KDR will then report it to your home state.

2. If I send in the money what will happen?
If you send in the money then you are claiming guilt.  If you plea guilty to a moving violation, the court will enter in a conviction on the charge and it will get reported to the Kansas Department of Revenue.  The KDR will them report it to your home state.

3. Will my home state take points off my license?
Probably yes, once your home state has notice of your ticket in Kansas they will access whatever ramifications are warranted by your state's law.

4. Can I just take a defensive driving class and be done with it?
No, some states allow you to take a defensive driving class and send in a certificate and pay a fine for the ticket to go off your record.  For the overwhelming majority of jurisdictions in Kansas this won't work.

5. I know someone in Kansas, can they go to court for me?
Unless they are an attorney NO.  Only an attorney or your self can go to court for you.

6. But I don't think I was speeding what can I do?
About the only thing you can do, aside from travel back to Kansas, is hire an speeding ticket attorney to help you.  The speeding ticket attorney can either set your case for trial and convince a judge you were not speeding, or get something worked out with the prosecutor to assure that the ticket is taken care of.

What to do when you go to court on a speeding ticket.

When you are given a traffic ticket or speeding ticket in Kansas here are the things that you need to know about going to court.

1. The speeding ticket usually has a summons on the bottom and there is a date that you are required to go to court on to address the speeding ticket.
A. Having to go to work is not a reason to miss court.
B. Having to go to school is not a reason to miss court.
C. Getting married is not a reason to miss court.
D. Graduation is not a reason to miss court.
E. There are only two valid reasons to miss court.  YOU’RE DEAD or your IN JAIL

One of the worst things you can do is miss court!
If you miss court then one or many of these things will happen.
1. You will have a bench warrant issued.
2. Your license will be suspended.
3. You will be assessed an additional fee.
4. You will have to pay an appearance bond to get a new court date.
5. You will make the prosecutor angry with you.
6. You will make the judge angry with you.

2. You need to dress appropriately.
You need to dress in a way that puts your best foot forward in a courtroom.  You need to wear clothes that fit you and wear them as they are intended to be worn.  If you show respect to the court in your attire then the court will show respect to you.

Things NOT to wear.
1. Don't wear a hat in the courtroom.
2. Don't wear clothes that have any words on them.
3. Don't wear T-shirts.
4. Don't wear shorts.
5. Don't wear clothes that are several sizes to big.
6. Don't wear anything in your hair.
7. Don't wear bandannas
8. Don't wear excessive amounts of large jewelry.
9. Don't wear flip flops.

3. Don't expect anyone to help you.
Court Staff
It’s a harsh statement but it’s true.  Court staff are overworked and underpaid.  Remember when you go into a courtroom it is not anyone’s job to help you or guide you or give you information.  There is no person that is employed by the court to tell you what to do or to where to go.  Helping you is what attorneys do. 

Attorneys you haven't hired
Don't come up to an attorney that you haven't hired and expect them to help you.  Don't expect an attorney you haven't hired to give you any information at all.  There are some attorneys that will point you in the right direction or give you some information.  You need to think of it like this, when attorneys are in court they are working and its not their responsibility to help you.  If you are an auto mechanic you’re not going to tell someone step by step how to fix their car unless they pay you.  Same goes with attorneys.  For the most part attorneys do not care what your problem is unless you pay them to care.

4. You need to remember where you are.
A court room is not a democracy; it is not a place where you have the same amount of power as everyone else.  A court room is not the workplace, or school, or playground.  It is a serious place.  People go jail, people have to pay large sums of money, both good and bad things happen.  You need to remember where you are and act accordingly. 

Things you should not do.
1. Act up.
2. Cuss.
3. Talk on a Cell phone.
4. Have a cell phone on in any fashion.
5. Talk loudly.
6. Pick up women.
7. Disrespect anyone.

5. Be polite to everyone.
The smartest thing you can do when you go into any court is be polite and respectful to everyone.  In the hallway be polite and respectful.  In the lobby be polite and respectful.  In the courtroom be polite and respectful.  In the parking lot outside the courtroom be polite and respectful.  Be polite and respectful to court staff.

You never know who has the power in the courtroom until it is too late.  The difference between being polite and respectful to someone in the parking lot can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case.

When you are looking to hire an attorney, see what other attorneys are saying about your prospective lawyer.

When you decide to hire an attorney for your speeding ticket you want to hire someone that knows what they are doing. You want an attorney that has been in that jurisdiction and knows the process, knows how much its going to cost you, and can quickly act on your behalf. You want a speeding ticket attorney who can help you, but you don't know where to turn and you don't want to just pick someone out of phone book. It would be great if you could talk to other attorneys and get a recommendation. Attorneys know good attorneys and attorneys know bad attorneys so a referral is always a good option. AVVO.com has made that easy for you, it allows attorneys to comment on other attorneys.

SEE WHAT OTHER ATTORNEYS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE KC TICKET GUY.

John Beck, Real Estate Attorney in Kansas City, MO - Today
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Brandan is a hardworking, intelligent, and motivated professional. I am confident in his ability to diligently, honestly, and effectively represent his clients .

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I endorse this lawyer. He is an intelligent person who knows how to communicate effectively with clients and other lawyers. Brandon's kind, but strong personality, is one of his greatest attributes as a lawyer.

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I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Davies is one of the most competent attorneys I have had the privilege of working with. I would strongly recommend him to others.

Joseph Hanson, Civil Rights Attorney in Tulsa, OK - 3 months ago
Relationship: Other
Mr. Davies can handle your DUI with competence.

John Christiansen, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney in Spanish Fork, UT - 4 months ago
Relationship: Friend
Mr. Davies is one of the most professional and hard-working attorneys I know. You are in good hands with him.

Jess Herd, Social Security Lawyers in Tulsa, OK - 5 months ago
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Davies is an intelligent, devoted, hard working person. I would not hesitate to hire Mr. Davies to represent myself, or to recommend him to my family or friends.

Mary Gannaway, Family Law Attorney in Tulsa, OK - 5 months ago
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. I respect Brandan Davies as a lawyer and as a friend. Brandan is an honest, hardworking, intelligent and trustworthy person who I wouldn't hesitate to hire as legal counsel. I recommend Brandan Davies with the utmost enthusiasm!

Dallas Strimple, General Practice Lawyer in Tulsa, OK - 5 months ago
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.

Robert Gigstad, DUI / DWI Attorney in Overland park, KS- 6 months ago
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer, I have worked with Mr. Davies on various legal cases, he has always worked competently and diligently to represent his clients best interests to the very best of his abilities.

Avvo.com a positive tool for selecting an Attorney.

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Additionally, a prospective client can look at what other attorneys are saying about a particular attorney.  You can review an attorney's qualifications and see just what type of law they practice.

Read what our past clients are saying about us!

Personable and Hard working

Posted by: Christina, 14 days ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 1-6 months ago.
• I have previously worked with 3-5 lawyers.

Client Review:

He was very quick to get back to us with information. He works very hard for his clients and fosters a great relationship with them. I was very pleased with his services and will utilize them in the future.

Review for Brandon Davies

Posted by: a Speeding Ticket client, 23 days ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 1-6 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 1-2 lawyers.

Client Review:

He kept in contact with me and well informed me in every move that he made. He was able to work around my hectic schedule and made himself available at any time that was convenient to my needs. He was a very helpful and patient lawyer. I would recommend him to anyone and hopefully I will not get into anymore trouble to need his services (lol) but, if a problem arises it is nice to know that I can call on someone I trust.

Professional and efficient.

Posted by: Sean, a Transportation client, about 1 month ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 1-6 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Transportation matter.
• I have previously worked with 1-2 lawyers.

Client Review:

I received a Speeding / Traffic Ticket while driving through rural Kansas during a cross-country trip. I live in California and flying out to the Kansas court to deal with it, as you might guess, wasn't an option. I gave Brandan a call and I was immediately glad I did. He knew the type of ticket right off the bat and suggested an option to proceed to minimize my costs and not receive a point on my driving record. I scanned and emailed him the ticket and he took it from there. He's very responsive by phone and by email, an added bonus to have a lawyer comfortable with technology. I'm glad got in contact with Brandan and I happily recommend him to others dealing with any traffic cases.

Leawood speeding ticket

Posted by: Larry, Speeding Ticket client, about 1 month ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan more than 3 years ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with no lawyers.

Client Review:

My speeding ticket was my first moving violation in 20 years. Since I didn't know the system and couldn't get off work I hired Brandan based on the reviews on this site. The officer who issued the ticket waited til a few days before my court date and Brandan still got the ticket amended before the court date through his persistence and dedication. He also communicates directly to his clients. Way to go Brandan!

GREAT SERVICE

Posted by: Debbie, a Speeding Ticket client, 3 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 1-6 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 1-2 lawyers.

Client Review:

Brandon was absolutely great! He called me the very next morning after leaving him an email at 8pm the night before. He knows his stuff and handled my speeding ticket in just a couple of weeks...over a month from the court date. I highly recommend him.

His Service and Results were amazing!

Posted by: Terri Swain, a Telecommunications client, 3 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 1-6 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Telecommunications matter.
• I have previously worked with more than 10 lawyers.

Client Review:

It's always a crapshoot when you do an internet search to find an attorney right? But we were a family in Texas with a ticket in Kansas that needed to be taken care of. Brandan did not disappoint. He acted swiftly, honestly and if we were his most important client. I would highly recommend him!

AWESOME!!!

Posted by: a Speeding Ticket client, 3 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with no lawyers.

Client Review:

Brandan is the BEST!!! He is extremely professional, polite, and expedient. Not only was he able to have my speeding ticket changed into a nonmoving violation successfully, he kept me updated during the entire process. He took care of EVERYTHING. I didn't have to worry about a thing. THANK YOU BRANDAN!!!

Really good lawyer!

Posted by: a Criminal Defense client, 4 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Criminal Defense matter.
• I have previously worked with 3-5 lawyers.

Client Review:

Helped me with a driving while suspended. Great results.

Thank God for Davies

Posted by: candice, a Speeding Ticket client, 4 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 1-2 lawyers.

Client Review:

I would highly recommend Brandan Davies to anyone. He was very knowledgeable about the law. He was easy to communicate with. He did a fine job in keeping me informed about the status of my case. I am a very busy individual and i did not have time to juggle court into my schedule, so I hired Mr. Davies and he took care of everything

Great Experience

Posted by: Rachel, a Speeding Ticket client, 5 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 3-5 lawyers.

Client Review:

Brandan kept in contact with me, kept me informed throughout the process, as well as emailed me the completed paperwork to ensure that my ticket had been taken care of! I will definitely recommend Brandon and use him again if need be!

Awesome, Just plain Awesome

Posted by: Jason, a Speeding Ticket client, 5 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 3-5 lawyers.

Client Review:

Brandan is awesome. He helped me through 6 tickets (2 different encounters, same 3 tickets each time). He kept me informed, worked with me on the price, let me know exactly what I was paying for, and got them all taken care of for me. I could not have asked for better service, and since I tend to get a lot of tickets, I am sure he will have my business again.

Traffic ticket

Posted by: Mike, a Speeding Ticket client, 5 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 3-5 lawyers.

Client Review:

I felt at ease leaving my ticket in his hands. NO worries at all. I had no time to take care of this matter myself and handing it off was a breeze. Took care of it over the phone and online only. Saved even more of my time! Thanks much Brandan...

Brandan helped me with a driving while suspended charge

Posted by: a Speeding Ticket client, 5 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 1-2 lawyers.

Client Review:

I found Brandan on the internet, he helped me with a driving while suspended.charge in Leawood, KS. He kept me out of jail and got the charge fixed for me. Good Lawyer

Very good!!

Posted by: Sean, a Speeding Ticket client, 5 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 1-2 lawyers.

Client Review:

Mr. Davies was very helpful in letting me know the process and what to expect. His fee was very reasonable. Made the entire process quick and as painless as it could be. Thanks.

Brandan Joseph Davies Recommendation

Posted by: Jene Hynek, a Speeding Ticket client, 5 months ago.

Overall rating		Excellent
Trustworthy		Excellent
Responsive		Excellent
Knowledgeable		Excellent
Kept me informed		Excellent

• I recommend Brandan Davies.
• I used Brandan 6-12 months ago.
• Brandan handled my Speeding / Traffic Ticket matter.
• I have previously worked with 1-2 lawyers.

Client Review:

Brandan provided great legal advice on a traffic ticket I received. I was looking for representation at an affordable price however I wanted to work with someone who was knowledgeable, trustworthy and responsive to my questions and Brandan demonstrated all of those qualities when we worked together. I would highly recommend Brandan to anyone who is looking for an attorney with the same qualities.