Showing posts with label Marc J. Victor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marc J. Victor. Show all posts

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Allegation: PD sat on key evidence

PHOENIX - The family of a victim killed by the Baseline Killer is saying the city of Phoenix is responsible for their loved one's death. Romelia Vargas' family claims the Phoenix Police Department wanted to get all the credit for solving the Baseline killings, so they sat on key evidence instead of asking for help.

Story and video here:
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/baseline_killer_lawsuit_09_09_2009

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Family of Baseline Killer Victim to Sue Phoenix Police

PHOENIX - The family of a victim killed by the Baseline Killer is saying the city of Phoenix is responsible for their loved one's death. Romelia Vargas' family claims the Phoenix Police Department wanted to get all the credit for solving the Baseline killings, so they sat on key evidence instead of asking for help.

"Somebody or group of people in the chain of command at Phoenix PD or at the crime lab made the decision not to test them for no reason other than we want to be the ones to break this case. If that's true I'm all over this case," says Marc Victor, the family's attorney.

More Here:
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/local/phoenix/baseline_killer_lawsuit_09_09_2009

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Ask Marc Victor a Legal Question

Whether you want just to get educated about the laws and penalties or you or someone you know has been accused of a DUI, Possession or other criminal charge, don’t react until you learn all your options. Submit your question below and then listen Sunday as Marc answers your question on air (confidentially of course).

http://1015jamz.com/Marc-Victor/4899929

MARC Victor is a certified specialist in criminal law with over 15 years of proven success. A former Marine, he’ll fight to make sure your rights are not violated. Mr. Victor has provided criminal attorney representation in Chandler, Mesa, Phoenix and all of Arizona since 1994. As an attorney in Phoenix he has been consistently interviewed by the press as a legal expert. He has been quoted numerous times on television, radio and in newspapers.

Mr. Victor has presented many lectures on the criminal justice system. He has lectured to judges, prosecutors and police officers. He has authored several articles on the criminal justice system, some of which have been published nationally and recognized internationally.

Call Marc at (480) 755-7110 or visit attorneyforfreedom.com.

Also hear Marc speak personally at Shopping for Jobs event at Arizona Mills Friday August 28th from 4-7pm. This is one seminar you won’t want to miss!

http://1015jamz.com/Marc-Victor/4899929

Thursday, July 30, 2009

The Pot Lawyer on Defending Smokers

The smoke never seems to clear on whether to legalize weed or not.
FOX 10's Keith Yaskin talks to lawyers coming to the defense of those caught lighting up. To them, it's no joke.

Watch video:

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/only_on_fox/pot_lawyer_07_29_2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Former Marine now on duty as attorney

Former Marine now on duty as attorney
By Jen Bondeson

In the late hours of the night, Attorney Marc J. Victor, P.C., might find himself talking to an inmate in a jail cell. His voicemail asks clients with emergencies to press a number to alert him, and oftentimes they do.

It’s Victor’s 24/7 approach to business that he believes gives him a competitive advantage. He says his pristine reputation doesn’t hurt either.

Victor has been serving the East Valley since 1994 and the SanTan Sun area since 2004. He is the president of his law firm, Marc J. Victor P.C. Attorney at Law, located at 3920 S. Alma School Rd., Suite 5 in Chandler.

After serving as a sergeant and squad leader in the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years and during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Victor believes much of his traditional way of practice relates back to his time spent as a Marine.

“I run my practice the same way I used to run the Marine Corps,” Victor says. “It’s what I call old-fashioned principles.”

These principles, he says, can be translated into one simple adage.

“I represent people the same way I would want to be represented,” Victor says. “When I am sitting here thinking about doing something for someone, I think about if I would want someone to do it for me, and then I do it for them.”

Victor, certified in criminal defense, has represented thousands of people in the Phoenix area in the past 15 years. His law firm also specializes in bankruptcy, personal injury and wrongful death and home and commercial loan modifications, among other cases.

As far back as he remembers, Victor says he knew he wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer. He graduated from Arizona State University in 1992 with a B.S. in Justice Studies, then from Southwestern University of Law with a juris doctorate in the top 20 percent of his class.

He calls his firm the “high-end, high-power boutique” of law firms because of his specialization, education, training and style.

“I’m very aggressive, and I push very hard for my clients,” Victor adds. “A former law partner used to say he knows my secret - I just keep nagging until I get what I want. I’m a pain in the butt. I don’t like taking no for an answer.”

With an interest in representing felony, death penalty and serious crime cases, Victor admits he is always looking for the most high-profile cases.

He says his team is trained to share his approach to law, too.

“I return everyone’s call the same day I receive it and everyone’s message the same day I get it,” Victor says. “I do everything that I say I’m going to do. Everyone who works here knows that’s how we do business.”

For more info on Victor and his law practice, call 480-755-7110 or visit www.attorneyforfreedom.com.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Marc Victor on Charles Goyette

3/07/08 - Audio Interview Marc J. Victor with Charles Goyette - 1 in 100 Americans in Prison - PEW Report

Listen here: http://www.apfn.net/pogo67/A004I080307-448D.MP3

Judge Marc J. Victor

MY CONTRIBUTION TO SCIENCE



I recall learning about the painfully short half-life of certain chemical compounds in high school chemistry. Some of those nasty little compounds expire in hours, minutes or even a few short seconds. Several years after high school, I can now truly empathize with such ill fated compounds. I have discovered that the half-life of a principled libertarian superior court judge on the criminal bench is about one half hour.


After many years as a practicing criminal defense attorney, I decided to apply to become a judge on the court of appeals. Despite good credentials and numerous letters of recommendation from several respected judges and other accomplished people, I was not deemed worthy of an interview by the appellate court selection committee. It may have had something to do with the fact that I cited a need for intellectual diversity as my reason for wanting to become an appellate court judge and used the term “pro-freedom” in my application. Maybe I was doomed from the start.


My application to become a superior court judge pro tem was lodged with visions of presiding over selected criminal jury trials. As a judge pro tem, I expected to have the luxury of picking and choosing my limited trial assignments. I was determined neither to conceal nor to violate my principles. My application included a disclosure that I am on the legal committee for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (“NORML”) as well as the fact that I co-founded the Freedom Summit http://www.freedomsummit.com. In addition, my application included my
associations with the Foundation for Economic Education, the Future of Freedom Foundation and CATO.


I was pleasantly surprised when my application was approved and I was appointed for a one year term as a superior court judge pro tem. I was excited and eager to work hard and do justice.


After two months of waiting for a criminal trial assignment on a non-victimless case, I inquired about obtaining such an assignment. I learned that the superior court’s urgent need was for pro tem judges to cover the assortment of cases composing the pre-trial calendar. I had refused countless opportunities to cover court calendars I believed would contain predominately drug cases. On a day when the court was desperate for help, the court administration was agreeable to reassign a full time judge and arrange a criminal court calendar I believed would not contain many drug cases. I agreed but expected some non-violent drug cases would be on my calendar.


Determined to be honest and honorable, I decided to recuse myself on all drug related cases . To avoid being accused of having secret or illegitimate motives, I drafted a detailed six page minute entry: http://attorneyforfreedomcom.nxg.verizonsupersite.com/protem_art.pdf, explaining the legal reasons underlying my anticipated recusal. I believed the parties had a right to know why I refused to hear their case. After all, the government, including judges, are supposed to be agents of the people; not masters.


When my first (and last) day as a judge arrived, I learned there were seven drug cases on my calendar of thirty seven matters. I arranged for another judge to handle the seven drug cases and offered to take several non-drug cases in exchange. I planned to recuse myself from the seven drug cases and reassign them to the other judge to be heard that same day.


Shortly after I began my court calendar, a friendly law enforcement officer arrived with several routine arrest warrants to be signed. All but one of the proposed arrest warrants were for drug cases. The other was for a questionable gun case. I informed the law enforcement officer of my principled refusal to consider his warrants and sent him away. To my surprise, the officer informed me of his support before he left to seek out a more agreeable
judge.


Without my knowledge, the clerk e-mailed my recusal minute entry to her supervisor who forwarded it to the presiding criminal judge of the superior court. I soon found myself on the telephone with an angry judge who voiced his disagreement with my legal reasoning by referring to my minute entry as “bullshit.” He ordered me not to issue my minute entry on any cases until after he consulted with the presiding judge of the superior court. He promised a quick call back.


Back in chambers, I informally explained to the prosecutor and defense attorney why I hesitated to call their drug case. While the defense attorney sat shocked, the prosecutor informed me of his unqualified support. I eventually decided to retake the bench and recuse myself. I stated on the record that I intended to disclose my reasons for recusal in a detailed minute entry.


The cranky presiding criminal law judge soon called back and informed me he was not happy with my performance. I was fired and told to leave immediately. Before I left, the clerk who initially e-mailed her supervisor with my minute entry privately told me of her unqualified support for my position. Two other defense attorneys also came back into chambers to voice their support. I walked out of court that day a bit disappointed but with my principles firmly intact.


While my judicial career was going up in flames, my good friend and guerilla libertarian activist, Ernest Hancock www.ernesthancock.com was driving to the courthouse to see me wearing the black robe. I called Ernie and told him my judicial career was over. Although neither of us predicted my lifespan as a judge would be long, his response was, “Already?” In what seemed like seconds later, the press was calling me for comment.


The next morning, I was news. The television, radio and print media all did stories about the judge who was fired because he refused to hear drug cases. I received about one hundred e-mails; not one negative. Many of the emails I received praised me for having integrity. I also learned that within hours of my firing, the presiding justice of the Arizona Supreme Court issued an order recinding my appointment as a judge pro tem.


The Supreme court’s order stated in relevant part, “Having expressly declared his inability to be impartial in the application of the law and the disposition of cases before him.…” I found this language curious as I had not declared any inability to be impartial. Moreover, the Supreme Court’s order appeared as if I had issues with all laws as there was no mention of drug cases specifically nor any connection with my reasons for recusal.


About a week later, an editorial writer from a major local newspaper showed up to interview me. He was shocked to learn that there was a much bigger principle involved than the right to smoke pot. He wrote a great article which now appears on my law firm website http://attorneyforfreedomcom.nxg.verizonsupersite.com/azrepublic_art.pdf


After my initial publicity waned, another local superior court judge pro tem drove drunk and killed a seventeen year old high school student who was riding a bike. The professional, unbiased, fair and balanced newspaper editorial staff writers at the Arizona Republic published an editorial recklessly lumping me with the other judge under the title, “Two Bad Apples.” It wasn’t my proudest moment, but I concluded some people would draw the fine distinction.


Being unsatisfied merely that my unusually distinguished judicial career was over, the presiding judge of the superior court referred my conduct to the Commission on Judicial Conduct14. Among other things, I was accused of acting in a manner which fails to promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary. I was asked to formally respond to the judicial complaint against me. After reviewing the incident and my response, the Commission on Judicial Conduct dismissed the presiding judge’s complaint against me.


Although my judicial career ended abruptly, my career as a scientist is off to a promising start. I may have been the first to discover that the compound P-L-J (principled libertarian judge) has a tragically short half-life when mixed with the highly toxic compound C-B (criminal bench). For now, I will continue my experiments combining the volatile and explosive compound A-L-C-D-A (aggressive libertarian criminal defense attorney) with all varieties of TS (toxic statists).



1 Technically, my scientist friend Stu Krone says there are not enough principled libertarian judges to determine the
actual half-life.
2 A judge pro tem is a judge who serves part time. In Maricopa County, Arizona, pro tem judges serve without pay.
3 The website link was included in my application. The Freedom Summit website links to many other pro-freedom
websites.
4 OK, I was shocked.
5 My specific reasons for recusal are detailed in my minute entry. Generally, I gave four reasons: 1. The noninitiation
of force principle and my refusal to violate it. 2. My view that the Arizona Constitution protects the right to
control one’s own body. 3. My view that the United States Constitution protects the right to control one’s own body.
4. My membership on the NORML legal committee requires recusal as it creates an appearance of bias.
6 I suspect virtually any other judge would have sufficed.
7 I’m not sure what authority one superior court judge has to tell another superior court judge not to issue a minute
entry. In any event, the clerk in my courtroom was clearly following the instructions of the presiding criminal law
judge.
8 The prosecutor’s support did not surprise me. Despite the lack of public discussion about ending the war on drugs,
I have found many prosecutors who agree that the war on drugs has been a colossal failure and wish they were
prosecuting “real” crimes instead.
9 My “performance” amounted to granting a routine uncontested continuance on one case and recusing myself from
two drug cases.
10 I didn’t know the Arizona Supreme Court could do anything that fast. Apparently, recinding my appointment as a
judge pro tem was so important that it required immediate attention apparently ahead of anything else happening
at the Supreme Court that day. By the way, I got a copy of the Supreme Court’s order from the press because it
was never sent to me. I have still yet to receive it from the Supreme Court.
11 I have always believed I could have been impartial had I been inclined to hear victimless cases.
12 His blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit and he had a prior DUI.
13 Who says only fruits and nuts work at the Arizona Republic?
14 This commission serves as the disciplinary commission for all judges in Arizona. 15 They retain continuing
jurisdiction over former judges for their conduct while serving as a judge.
Marc J. Victor is a practicing criminal defense attorney located in Chandler, Arizona. He can be reached via his website at
www.attorneyforfreedom.com