TPM Reader TB checks in on the Wilkes case ...

I don't know Geragos personally, but I practice in Los Angeles and am familiar with his work, and people who have dealt directly with him. When is the last time he has been successful in one of these high profile cases? Think Michael Jackson. Wynonna Ryder. Yet people seem to be drawn to his "celebrity" status. If Wilkes was looking for an "attorney to the stars", he would have been better off with Harvey Birdman. If, on the other hand, he was looking for competent criminal defense counsel, he should have gone to a store front attorney who practices law for a living, and has to be good to eat.

By the way, it was a bonehead move to put the employee up to testify what a good guy Wilkes is. It opens the door to evidence of character - always a messy issue with people like Wilkes.

I thought Michael walked. But maybe Geragos was no longer defending him when he went to trial? Can't remember. In any case, picking Geragos always seemed like an odd pick. Not just on the track record of non-success issue, but people nabbed on these public corruption cases often go for lawyers with pretty specialized expertise in this sort of defense. Any other insights into the Geragos choice?