Novel Way to Get to Law School...T14 perhaps, too! Forum

[robin600]

Yes! Another reason to hate Michigan, score!

[GATORTIM]

Do you think people who get behind the wheel of a car while drunk and risk innocent lives (despite the best intentions) deserve to go to law school?

I like fish, but have yet to aquire a taste for Red Herring

[hds2388]

Moral of the story...if convicted for armed robbery, but manage to polish your legal brief-writing skills behind bars then you have a shot at T-14 and your robbery and detainment of innocent individuals at gunpoint becomes a speed bump.

I'm all for rehabilitation, but if this fool is admitted to a prestigious law school and lauded for his "accomplishments" behind bars then something is wrong. His notoriety is drawn from a series of events that are directly correlated to him threatening lives of individuals at gunpoint and taking FDIC insured money because he fell on hard economic times.

I too have been strapped for cash, but decided against knocking off a liquor store or holding the life of an innocent mother, father, brother or sister at the tip of a trigger-finger. No, I busted my ass to overcome and wasnt afforded the "luxory" of time and resources while sitting in a prison library educating myself. This has to be a joke. /rant

Yeah! People don't change! I'm sure while he was significantly aiding in a case before the supreme court, a case which he single handedly found and nurtured, he was eyeing O'Connor's purse and thinking of the best way to get at her checkbook.

Oh wait....maybe he actually learned a lesson and decided to help people...a novel concept.

[hds2388]

Do you think people who get behind the wheel of a car while drunk and risk innocent lives (despite the best intentions) deserve to go to law school?

I like fish, but have yet to aquire a taste for Red Herring

They must not serve it in ivory towers.

[jks289]

Do you think people who get behind the wheel of a car while drunk and risk innocent lives (despite the best intentions) deserve to go to law school?

I like fish, but have yet to aquire a taste for Red Herring

It is a logical extension of your argument. That despite the actual consequences of his action (ie no violence occured) he should be judged based on the potential consequences of his actions (someone could have been killed). I am pointing out that if your reasoning applied to all offenses, lots of people would be disqualified from law school.

[darknightbegins]

Guy should get a second chance...but reserve him a seat? Thats where I have a problem. Let him earn his way in like everyone else don't reserve him a seat.

[randomwombat]

At least he is a fan of Radiohead.

[GATORTIM]

Moral of the story...if convicted for armed robbery, but manage to polish your legal brief-writing skills behind bars then you have a shot at T-14 and your robbery and detainment of innocent individuals at gunpoint becomes a speed bump.

I'm all for rehabilitation, but if this fool is admitted to a prestigious law school and lauded for his "accomplishments" behind bars then something is wrong. His notoriety is drawn from a series of events that are directly correlated to him threatening lives of individuals at gunpoint and taking FDIC insured money because he fell on hard economic times.

I too have been strapped for cash, but decided against knocking off a liquor store or holding the life of an innocent mother, father, brother or sister at the tip of a trigger-finger. No, I busted my ass to overcome and wasnt afforded the "luxory" of time and resources while sitting in a prison library educating myself. This has to be a joke. /rant

Yeah! People don't change! I'm sure while he was significantly aiding in a case before the supreme court, a case which he single handedly found and nurtured, he was eyeing O'Connor's purse and thinking of the best way to get at her checkbook.

Oh wait....maybe he actually learned a lesson and decided to help people...a novel concept.

I'm not saying that this guy didnt learn his lesson. I am saying that I do not think (aka my opinion) that he should be able to attend graduate school at the expense of tax-payers. There are a myriad of civil liberties that have been stripped from felons, I'm only saying that I think/feel/believe (insert word that implies I am not the one making the GD decision in regards to this mans life, but am only imparting my opinion on the story)

[sibley]

Guy should get a second chance...but reserve him a seat? Thats where I have a problem. Let him earn his way in like everyone else don't reserve him a seat.

+1. And he'd better have a pretty damn compelling explanation as to why he's suddenly developed a respect for the law.

[Jericwithers]

Guy should get a second chance...but reserve him a seat? Thats where I have a problem. Let him earn his way in like everyone else don't reserve him a seat.

Are his accomplishments not enough to earn him a seat? Law Schools always accept some people based on their achievements or 'soft' factors, but this one just happens to be a convict.

[Rawlsian]

Yes, but he served his time. Should he no longer be allowed to integrate back in society? Moreover, he obviously has the skills and ability which could greatly improve our society, and he possesses a unique lens which should enable him to see things that 'those who did it right' cannot.

I agree that he has paid his debt to society and has gained useful knowledge at the expense of taxpayers while in prison. I just think that the seriousness of his crimes are being tossed aside in light of his accomplishments. If he was imprisoned for stealing cars or some white-collar type crime then I do not believe I would give a shit, but this man could very easily have taken an innocent life, regardless of his intent when he entered the bank (watch Point Break).

I'm not saying he should dawn a scarlet letter for the rest of his life and he should be allowed to provide for his new family. However, I just don't think awarding the man a seat at a prestigious law school at the further expense of tax-payers and another qualified, law abiding, applicant is right/fair/just/whatever. Either way it is not my call and will not impact my life...I'm just sayin'.

Think about having this kind of experience in the classroom: imagine the discussion, the counterpoise of perspective, the diversity of thought. These are the kinds of students that make a classroom dynamic.

I understand these situations breed resentment. After all, we find a coherency to our life and use well-disciplined approaches--hard work, sacrifice, ect--to realize our ambition. And these success stories make a mockery of everything we've done; or, at least they do until we let go of the bitterness we hold towards our own struggle.

[GATORTIM]

Yes, but he served his time. Should he no longer be allowed to integrate back in society? Moreover, he obviously has the skills and ability which could greatly improve our society, and he possesses a unique lens which should enable him to see things that 'those who did it right' cannot.

I agree that he has paid his debt to society and has gained useful knowledge at the expense of taxpayers while in prison. I just think that the seriousness of his crimes are being tossed aside in light of his accomplishments. If he was imprisoned for stealing cars or some white-collar type crime then I do not believe I would give a shit, but this man could very easily have taken an innocent life, regardless of his intent when he entered the bank (watch Point Break).

I'm not saying he should dawn a scarlet letter for the rest of his life and he should be allowed to provide for his new family. However, I just don't think awarding the man a seat at a prestigious law school at the further expense of tax-payers and another qualified, law abiding, applicant is right/fair/just/whatever. Either way it is not my call and will not impact my life...I'm just sayin'.

Think about the having this kind of experience in the classroom: imagine the discussion, the counterpoise of perspective, the diversity of thought. These are the kinds of students that make a classroom dynamic.

I understand these situations breed resentment. After all, we find a coherency to our life and use well-disciplined approaches--hard work, sacrifice, ect--to realize our ambition. And these success stories make a mockery of everything we've done; or, at least they do until we let go of the bitterness we hold towards our own struggle.

well said

[nycparalegal]

Wow. All the haters on this thread. Yes, he commited a crime. Yes, he went to prison.

But do you honestly think you're that amazing that you would be able to work on a supreme court petition from prison?

He's unique. Good luck in law school.

[GATORTIM]

I just noticed the extreme irony in regards to my position on this story and the fact that my 'tar is that of a feathered-hair, gun-toting, trigger happy, manical, suicidal, violent, depressed, profanity loving, alcoholic man with a past that likely involved the heavy use of illegal drugs

[sibley]

Guy should get a second chance...but reserve him a seat? Thats where I have a problem. Let him earn his way in like everyone else don't reserve him a seat.

Are his accomplishments not enough to earn him a seat? Law Schools always accept some people based on their achievements or 'soft' factors, but this one just happens to be a convict.

Crime is the true antithesis of law. It just seems a bit like a dog hater opening up a kennel.

[dood]

...

[poprox]

Guy should get a second chance...but reserve him a seat? Thats where I have a problem. Let him earn his way in like everyone else don't reserve him a seat.

Are his accomplishments not enough to earn him a seat? Law Schools always accept some people based on their achievements or 'soft' factors, but this one just happens to be a convict.

Crime is the true antithesis of law. It just seems a bit like a dog hater opening up a kennel.

One tenet of our criminal justice system is that reform is possible, yet you're labelling this person in a permanent way by way of your comparison. His former actions do not determine his destiny as a human being. At one time he WAS a law-breaker. He got caught, received punishment, and is now living in a wholly different way. He's done his time for hurting society and now wants to contribute instead; please consider a re-evaluation, this man is not a branded piece of cattle.

[Jericwithers]

Guy should get a second chance...but reserve him a seat? Thats where I have a problem. Let him earn his way in like everyone else don't reserve him a seat.

Are his accomplishments not enough to earn him a seat? Law Schools always accept some people based on their achievements or 'soft' factors, but this one just happens to be a convict.

Crime is the true antithesis of law. It just seems a bit like a dog hater opening up a kennel.

I would much rather see him as a classmate than as a repeat offender. I have no experience with his skills, intelligence, or personality but if a Michigan professor sees enough in him that he can make it at a T14 law school then I should give him the same chance. If anyone else had accomplished the same things as this man you would be saying let him into Yale. However I understand the difference between practicing the law and studying it, so I still think he should be made to take the LSAT and be considered in the application process as a whole. Who knows, maybe he will be like some of us and change his mind about going to Michigan. This seems more like a clever ploy for the school to get a good candidate without having him be advertised or tempted to go to the other schools.

[FunkyJD]

One tenet of our criminal justice system is that reform is possible, yet you're labelling this person in a permanent way by way of your comparison. His former actions do not determine his destiny as a human being. At one time he WAS a law-breaker. He got caught, received punishment, and is now living in a wholly different way. He's done his time for hurting society and now wants to contribute instead; please consider a re-evaluation, this man is not a branded piece of cattle.

FWIW, if this guy can pass the Michigan bar, what's that say about the C&F rules in Michigan? What do you have to do to be disqualified?

[sibley]

My previous post explained that I felt he should be given the opportunity to go to law school but he'd better have a really good reason for his sudden interest in applying the law where it was clearly lacking before. I agree that the system could adversely effect someone who has in the past committed a crime and that that could very well give them the motivation in, interest in, and respect for the application of the law that they'd need.

But it's ridiculous to just set aside a seat for them. Because my above statement still stands.

[Katerina]

Guy should get a second chance...but reserve him a seat? Thats where I have a problem. Let him earn his way in like everyone else don't reserve him a seat.

THIS.

[vanwinkle]

I admit, the stuff is addictive. But I really did have to post this. G'bye!

You seem to have this "declare victory and leave" thing down pat, considering you're doing it with almost every post now.

[vanwinkle]

I just noticed the extreme irony in regards to my position on this story and the fact that my 'tar is that of a feathered-hair, gun-toting, trigger happy, manical, suicidal, violent, depressed, profanity loving, alcoholic man with a past that likely involved the heavy use of illegal drugs

Haha, +1

[Kohinoor]

I'm not saying that this guy didnt learn his lesson. I am saying that I do not think (aka my opinion) that he should be able to attend graduate school at the expense of tax-payers. There are a myriad of civil liberties that have been stripped from felons, I'm only saying that I think/feel/believe (insert word that implies I am not the one making the GD decision in regards to this mans life, but am only imparting my opinion on the story)

Why do you keep saying 'at the expense of tax payers'? Is he getting money from some special pool set aside for redeemed felons?

[vanwinkle]

Here are my thoughts on the matter:

Shouldn't everybody want this guy to succeed? I mean, this guy is the archetype of the reformed felon. Do we want to give people positive things to look forward to so that if they change and learn to contribute we will accept them into society, or do we want to label them, "once a felon, always a felon"?

The government pays for the education of so many graduate students. It's going to end up paying for a huge chunk of mine if I go into PI work, and I'm just some guy. It pays for the educations of many others who end up wasting that money, dropping out, or taking the money and then bolting to higher-paying corporate work as soon as they've fulfilled their government obligations. Why shouldn't it pay to educate ex-cons, especially if it helps those people be this productive and stop being harmful toward society?

I'd rather taxpayers fund his education than end up having to fund his reincarceration.