Wiki, Plagiarism and Legal Briefs
Wiki, plagiarism and stupidity strike again. The lawyers plagiarized wiki in their legal briefs? What!!! WIKI!!!! The judge even said “Finally, the court reminds counsel that Wikipedia is not an acceptable source of legal authority in the United States District Courts.” WIKI IS NOT GOOD LEGAL AUTHORITY ANYWHERE! Do some real research instead of using Wiki. You are lawyers!
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_warns_defense_lawyers_in_pitino_extortion_case_dont_crib_law_discussi/?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email
or
Appellate Practice
Judge Warns Defense Lawyers in Pitino Extortion Case: Don’t Crib Law Discussion from Wikipedia
Posted Apr 7, 2011 8:02 AM CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A federal judge has issued a legal writing warning to lawyers who sought a new trial for a woman convicted of trying to extort money from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.
The defense should not have copied its discussion of ineffective assistance from Wikipedia, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson of Louisville wrote in a February opinion (PDF). His concerns are outlined in footnote 4 of his opinion denying a new trial for the defendant, Karen Sypher, Legal Blog Watch reports.
“The court notes here that defense counsel appears to have cobbled much of his statement of the law governing ineffective assistance of counsel claims by cutting and pasting, without citation, from the Wikipedia website,” Simpson wrote.
“The court reminds counsel that such cutting and pasting, without attribution, is plagiarism. The court also brings to counsel’s attention Rule 8.4 of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct, which states that it is professional misconduct for an attorney to ‘engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.' …
“Finally, the court reminds counsel that Wikipedia is not an acceptable source of legal authority in the United States District Courts.”
Sypher reported to federal prison Wednesday to begin serving an 87-month sentence, Wave3.com reports. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court refused to postpone Sypher’s prison sentence while her appeals are resolved, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Legal Blog Watch credits Legal Writing Prof Blog for noting the footnote.
Alexandria, Va., lawyer David Nolan filed the motion discussing ineffective assistance, according to Pacer documents. A phone number listed on court documents was apparently forwarded to the voice mail for a private number. He did not immediately respond to a phone message and an email.
Updated at 9:10 a.m. to add information about the lawyer.
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(and as a side note, FB will not let me post this on their site - what? anyone want to explain that one to me?
http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/judge_warns_defense_lawyers_in_pitino_extortion_case_dont_crib_law_discussi/?utm_source=maestro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly_email
or
Appellate Practice
Judge Warns Defense Lawyers in Pitino Extortion Case: Don’t Crib Law Discussion from Wikipedia
Posted Apr 7, 2011 8:02 AM CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A federal judge has issued a legal writing warning to lawyers who sought a new trial for a woman convicted of trying to extort money from University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino.
The defense should not have copied its discussion of ineffective assistance from Wikipedia, U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson of Louisville wrote in a February opinion (PDF). His concerns are outlined in footnote 4 of his opinion denying a new trial for the defendant, Karen Sypher, Legal Blog Watch reports.
“The court notes here that defense counsel appears to have cobbled much of his statement of the law governing ineffective assistance of counsel claims by cutting and pasting, without citation, from the Wikipedia website,” Simpson wrote.
“The court reminds counsel that such cutting and pasting, without attribution, is plagiarism. The court also brings to counsel’s attention Rule 8.4 of the Kentucky Rules of Professional Conduct, which states that it is professional misconduct for an attorney to ‘engage in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation.' …
“Finally, the court reminds counsel that Wikipedia is not an acceptable source of legal authority in the United States District Courts.”
Sypher reported to federal prison Wednesday to begin serving an 87-month sentence, Wave3.com reports. On Tuesday, a federal appeals court refused to postpone Sypher’s prison sentence while her appeals are resolved, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Legal Blog Watch credits Legal Writing Prof Blog for noting the footnote.
Alexandria, Va., lawyer David Nolan filed the motion discussing ineffective assistance, according to Pacer documents. A phone number listed on court documents was apparently forwarded to the voice mail for a private number. He did not immediately respond to a phone message and an email.
Updated at 9:10 a.m. to add information about the lawyer.
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(and as a side note, FB will not let me post this on their site - what? anyone want to explain that one to me?