As someone who went to law school with one of Paris Hilton's attorneys, and who worked alongside Judge Michael Sauer, I have a rather unique perspective on the whole Hilton saga.
Are you ready?
There is nothing unusual, extraordinary, bazaar, radical, or outrageous about People V Paris Hilton case number 06M----- (fill in the blank).
So why are some journalists, pundits and legal analysts repeating ad nauseam that somehow Paris is receiving preferential treatment regarding her upcoming jail stint on June 5th?
Because businesses hawking their wares want to advertise on shows with the most eyeballs watching. Those shows look to Nielsen ratings to charge companies top dollar. The ratings wars cause producers to identify the most outrageous personalities and sensational stories for their entertainment and around-the-clock, breaking news coverage talk shows.
Viewers are then brainwashed into believing that these stories merit the disproportionate attention they garner, elevating false idol worship to new highs instead of dealing with the non-televised artistry of living "in the real world".
This case is not rocket science folks. Before becoming a high-profile celebrity attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, Howard Weiztman's co-counsel, worked as a public defender. This sharp, African-American lawyer is fully aware that Paris was never going to serve the full 45 days jail sentence. Ms. Holley knows about inmate overcrowding, as well as the state mandated good time/work time policy under which Los Angeles County operates.
As for Paris' appeal, it did not go bye-bye because she will be housed away from the general population over her 20-plus days of incarceration. In my opinion, it went away because after the attorneys did their due diligence, they recognized that pursuing this strategy was "unwise".
Sentencing probation violators is so routine that most courts have new judges and attorney's appointed by other judges to the bench dispensing this mundane but necessary form of justice.
Given the reported circumstances under which Ms. Hilton found herself, drafting a serious brief with relevant points and authorities would have clearly been a stretch.
Michael Sauer has been a judge for decades and can practically do this assignment in his sleep. While on the bench as a judge, I actually filled in for Judge Sauer on several occasions. And sure, there was the case involving Jeffrey Katzenburg, Levar Burton, Scarlett Johanson's mother, and Stockard Channing. But what about ALL the others?The public could care less about the tens of thousands of cases where the defendant could be the next Denzel or Leonardo Di Caprio, but now his big break won't come because he just lost his waiter gig at Mr. Chow's restuarant after being bucketed for a misdemeanor warrant. Honestly, this case is not even worth the time I've taken to put it on our blog.
THIS JUST IN: You people in the media need to get a grip. And for those of us who watch, snap out of it!
While you're at it, read what Barack has to say about Paris below. DO IT NOW!!!!