Paris Hilton Legal Factoid (R-Rated language alert)
[posted by Justin Levine]
Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45-days in jail by L.A. Superior Court Judge Michael T. Sauer.
Dunno much about Judge Sauer myself, but
he was apparently the attorney arguing on behalf of California in the famous Supreme Court case of Cohen v. California.
In other words, he was arguing to the Supreme Court that a guy should spend 30 days in the slammer for wearing a jacket that said “Fuck The Draft” in the court hallways.
Now that’s what you call a dude who insists on respect for the court. So if you have a carefree attitude that essentially says “Fuck the court order suspending my driver’s license”, don’t expect a judge like Sauer to have much leniency.
A “factoid” is something that is NOT a fact, but looks like one. In the same way that a humanoid isn’t human, but has a human shape.
Viktor (04428e) — 5/7/2007 @ 12:12 pmSupposedly she was 10 minutes late for court also. Seems like her attorneys could have warned her about this judge and showing up late with no panties.
I actually made up the part about no britches.
spongeworthy (45b30e) — 5/7/2007 @ 12:21 pmFine Viktor – I ammend the word to ‘factlet’.
Justin Levine (20f2b5) — 5/7/2007 @ 12:42 pmMr Levine: why do we need either “factoid” or “factlet.” Isn’t the word “fact” good enough?
Wasn’t it CNN which coined the word “factoid” for some sort of screen blurb?
Dana (3e4784) — 5/7/2007 @ 1:18 pmAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first citation for “factoid” is from Norman Mailer in 1973:
Crust (399898) — 5/7/2007 @ 1:58 pmThe judge argued a First Amendment case before the U.S. Supreme Court and now he’s assigned to traffic court? What went wrong in his career?
nk (db0112) — 5/7/2007 @ 2:12 pmnk –
He was a lowly scumbag lawyer when he argued in front of the Supreme Court. Even a traffic court judge is higher on the food chain than the biggest trial lawyer on the planet. 99% of the readers on this blog might disagree with me here – but whatever.
Justin Levine (20f2b5) — 5/7/2007 @ 2:26 pmDana –
The word ‘fact’ is NOT good enough. Just like the phrase ‘don’t know’ is not good enough. I use the much more eloquent and flowing ‘dunno’ as I use ‘factoid’. Dunno what the dictionary or Norman Mailer says about it. Don’t care. I sticking with the word – and that is a factoid!
Justin Levine (20f2b5) — 5/7/2007 @ 2:29 pmIn light of Judge Sauer’s background in arguing before the Supreme Court, do you suppose he called the “non glamour slammer” warden and asked that Ms. Hilton be assigned to a “drafty” jail cell? Just wondering.
Mike Myers (2e43f5) — 5/7/2007 @ 2:34 pmJustin,
I won’t disagree except maybe as to the scumbag part. But I would have thought that he would be in Chancery, Probate or Criminal (Felony). Actually, I had hoped you would point to other rich and powerful people whom he had thrown the book at and been given the equivalent of “walking a beat on Coney Island”.
nk (db0112) — 5/7/2007 @ 2:37 pmnk –
‘scumbag’ and ‘lawyer’ go hand in hand in the English language. I should know. I’m one of them. But I’ll be happy to retract the word in this instance.
Justin Levine (20f2b5) — 5/7/2007 @ 2:49 pmYou forgot “unscrupulous,” “grifter” and “master of barratry.”
Petit Bourgeois (375601) — 5/7/2007 @ 6:03 pmIt seems like a bit much–45 days in jail. I would expect something closer to 10 days for a first timer.
Alta Bob (3a3406) — 5/7/2007 @ 6:04 pmActually she was more like a third timer. After her license was suspended on the DUI case she was pulled over on three seprate occasions. In my experience 45 days mght be slightly on the high side but is not that unreasonable for someone who flagrantly violates probation by commiitting three new suspended licensed offenses.
C Student (635699) — 5/7/2007 @ 7:16 pmAmen C Student.
Even if she didn’t know the FIRST time she was pulled over that the suspension was total, she had to know after that. They kinda tell you…
Scott Jacobs (a1de9d) — 5/7/2007 @ 8:03 pmNo pity. What better way to encourage Hilton’s fans to take the rule of law seriously than to actually apply it to even the (gasp) beautiful people?
If the sentence is good enough for Joe No-Name, it’s good enough for Paris Hilton.
Tom (cc8c08) — 5/8/2007 @ 3:37 amNRO notes that Judge Sauer also happens to be a Reagan appointee.
NYC 2L (e16c0b) — 5/8/2007 @ 5:58 amI wonder if she’ll get Martha’s old cellmate?…
mojo (8096f2) — 5/8/2007 @ 8:00 amMaybe Paris can get a new TV show out her experience. Her mother’s comments didn’t help, either. This was a case of pure contempt of the court. My 16-year-old daughter was sentenced to a couple of weekends picking up trash along the freeway for a littering charge. She had tossed a cassette tape to a friend in a car next to her at a stoplight. The light changed and the car pulled away, causing the tape to fall on the street. A cop behind her pulled her over and charged her with littering. She was sobbing in court but got no slack. She has still never had a moving violation and that was ten years ago. I’d say Paris got what she deserved.
Mike K (83017f) — 5/8/2007 @ 8:38 amParis Hilton enters Montreal to Key West Bullrun road rally
I guess the 45 days will put a cramp into this planned drive.
PCD (f619dd) — 5/8/2007 @ 11:15 amHe is not a traffic court Judge. He is a crimminal court Judge. Thankfully.
Dan (1f0f07) — 5/8/2007 @ 11:18 amcohen v. california is one of my favorite supreme court cases. i’m still a little surprised cohen won.
assistant devil's advocate (e4d694) — 5/8/2007 @ 10:12 pm[…] The judge argued to the Supreme Court that a guy should spend 30 days in the slammer for wearing a jacket that said “F*** The Draft” in the court hallways (only it didn’t have the “***” part. ;)) […]
Paris Hilton - Did you know? « Something should go here, maybe later. (7fcc0b) — 5/9/2007 @ 11:55 pmShe hasn’t even gone to jail yet and already her sentence has been halved to 23 days. They gave her credit for good behavior.
DRJ (c6d1df) — 5/16/2007 @ 8:19 pmNow I’m mad. I lost a bet with my mom who said Paris would never serve the 45 days.
How the f*** do you get credit for good behavior before getting to prison?
Is that even legal?
Christoph (12b77c) — 5/16/2007 @ 10:11 pmIt could just be “untruth in sentencing”. Automatic day-for-day “good time” which can be lost by misconduct in jail.
nk (1185e3) — 5/17/2007 @ 4:38 amWhen Illinois was still doing it, it was calculated in advance and used to determine in which level of security the prisoner would be placed. It could be deducted in blocks for various offenses.
nk (1185e3) — 5/17/2007 @ 4:54 amHonestly, if I’m going to commit a crime, I’m doing it in Cali…
They seem pretty easy going when it comes to jail-terms…
Or even convictions…
Scott Jacobs (feb2f7) — 5/17/2007 @ 5:11 amA cat may look at the Queen
Adrian (02cb8a) — 5/22/2007 @ 7:22 amI read that the twit was going to throw a Freedom party. Talk about idiotic ideas. She hasn’t beaten the system quite yet, but might manage. I don’t know a single person who doesn’t either, say she is ridiculous, or who expresses genuine outrage. No pro-Paris remarks, though her rabid fans on the internet seem as worshipful as ever. She has a genuine talent for remaining oblivious to the disgust she manages to engender for herself by her “I’m better than anyone” attitude. I don’t think its envy, its more like a visceral contempt.
anne (99e52f) — 6/8/2007 @ 9:01 amHello! Good Site! Thanks you! wglhcrmdls
eqhccaubcv (4c5986) — 6/20/2007 @ 6:22 pmWell, there’s one thing we know about Judge Sauer – he’s not interested in staying at any of the 3000 or so Hilton hotels worldwide, nor purchasing various rental car, airline and other services. Not that a closely held family of companies like those in the Hilton mega-empire would hold a grudge or anything.
By the way, regarding that “F the draft” Supreme Court appearance? Sauer lost the case.
Most astonishing of all, he is reportedly “amazed” by all the publicity this case has attracted. Duh. Earth to Sauer. You’d think even a Regan appointed 70 year old should be able to guess that one in advance.
Freddy (270e1d) — 6/26/2007 @ 2:48 am