It was a special two days and it all began last Thursday, when Megan Chaney, Law Professor at the University of La Verne College of Law, put on a panel discussion regarding the artistic merits of both the film Alpha Dog and the book, Stolen Boy. I was one of four panelists – the other three being University of La Verne Professors – who fielded questions regarding both the book and movie, and their reflection on modern day society. After a viewing of Alpha Dog, Professor Chaney led a question and answer session that got heated at times, yet played an important roll in synthesizing the presentation of these two art forms, the story they had to tell, and that story’s place in today’s society.
Professor Ed Perez introduces Keynote Speaker, California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno.
This was followed on Friday by a fascinating focus symposium led by coordinator and moderator, Professor Ed Perez. At 9:30 a.m., Dean Easley began the symposium with thanks to all in attendance and an introduction of our day’s Keynote Speaker, Carlos Moreno, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court. Justice Moreno spoke eloquently and with passion of the importance of ethics in law.
Next, Professor Perez took the mic, describing the background and purpose of the symposium. The goal of such symposiums, according to the professor, is to educate students, faculty, and the general public in understanding how the law fits into everyday life and in the media. This particular symposium was convened in an effort to discuss the ethics of law and the media. It focused on the case of Jesse James Hollywood v. The Superior Court of Santa Barbara, the California code of professional responsibility, and other important cases that raise ethical issues.
Attorney/author Michael Mehas talks about his involvement with the Hollywood case.
Each of the panelists then took the podium to discuss their take on the ethics involved in this case. Former Riverside County District Attorney Grover Trask spoke of the ethics required by not only his office during his practice, but for prosecutors in general. Deputy Attorney General David Glassman, who has served in the California Attorney General’s office since 1984, spoke of the ethics in the Hollywood case, one that he fought all the way to the California Supreme Court.
Jesse James Hollywood’s defense lawyer, James Blatt, then spoke of the lack of ethics he believed took place in the Hollywood case, and the bearing they could have on his client’s ability, or lack thereof, to receive a fair trial. I got up there and spoke briefly about my unusual situation in getting all the information on the Hollywood case from Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Ron Zonen, for both the film Alpha Dog, and my book, Stolen Boy.
Investigative journalist Scott Hadly gives his take on ethics and Jesse James Hollywood.
This was followed by the poignant words of Ventura County Star investigative journalist Scott Hadly, who, while working for the Santa Barbara News-Press, broke the Jesse James Hollywood story. Scott posed one of the day’s lighter moments, noting that he was the only member of the panel not to bill by the hour.
Santa Barbara criminal defense lawyer and former Los Angeles city prosecutor Sam Eaton then gave his perspective of what’s important with ethics and attorneys, and the way they played out in the Hollywood case. Sam was my attorney when I had to battle the three subpoenas levied my way by both Mr. Blatt and the new prosecutor on the Hollywood case, so he certainly had the knowledge and the experience to speak from.
After a wonderful lunch, the panelists gathered to battle it out in Q and A format over issues involving ethics and the media and the law and how the media can play such a substantial role in high-profile criminal cases. At times this turned into a very contentious discussion regarding how and why the Jesse James Hollywood case was made into a feature film, Alpha Dog, and an award-winning novel, Stolen Boy.
Jesse James Hollywood attorney James Blatt discusses his client’s chances at a fair trial.
Attorney James Blatt represents Jesse James Hollywood, a pot dealer who allegedly ordered the death of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz. Blatt continues to allege prosecutorial misconduct in the case and that his client can’t get a fair trial because of the fact the prosecutor, Ron Zonen, turned over his trial files, including confidential documents, to me for use in a movie and book, and acted as an unpaid consultant for the movie. The California Supreme Court ultimately found no conflict of interest by Ron Zonen mostly because he was not paid for his files or services. The case has presented a myriad of ethical questions, which the panel, in its wisdom and experience and glory, attempted to answer.
