Welcome

I am an Englishman in California practising criminal law. I work for a small firm under a contract with the county to represent indigent clients at the second conflict level. The work can be stressful, frustrating, confounding, tedious, entertaining. This blogspot is not meant to be anything fancy---just a place to vent a little, relate interesting or amusing anecdotes, pose a question, answer a question, and so on.

The blog's name "Oswald Defense Lawyer" is taken from an old song by The Fall, an English rock band fronted by the anti-charismatic "Bard of Salford," Mark E. Smith. As far as I can tell, the lyrics of the song address the representation at trial of Lee Harvey Oswald; something that never actually happened, thanks to Jack Ruby. (Also, I believe the song, originating from Blighty and all, is properly titled "Oswald Defence Lawyer." But, hey, this is an American blog, goddammit!)