E.  Litigating Action Motions 2K10

Strategic Subpoenas
  Wait, this paper is about motions.  Why is a paper about motion now discussing subpoenas.
  Without presenting evidence, there can be no Action Motions2K10.
 The strategic subpoena is one of the ignition systems necessary for Action Motions 2K10. Catchy titles for motions, innovative subject matter for motions and even favorable publicity cannot assure the proper ignition for Action Motions 2K10.
  The strategic subpoena begins to tell the story and accomplish the goals. An important element of the strategic subpoena is the production of documents portion of the subpoena.
  An  example of a request for documents is the following request used in a post-conviction hearing.

ITEMIZED ITEMS SUBPOENAED
1.   All documents relating to the televised CNN Presents segment, “Amazing Grace.” This segment was recorded, in part, in the residence of xxxx on or about February 28, 1994 and was first broadcast on April 9, 1995.
2.  All documents relating to Court TV's involvement in the trial of xxxx.  These include interviews and segments in which you appeared or were depicted between April 7, 1993 and the present.
3.  All documents relating to the WSB-TV newscast which showed you strutting (walking in an animated manner with exaggerated movements of upper and lower extremities) down the hall of the Fulton County Courthouse very soon after the verdict in the trial of xxxx.  
4.  All documents relating to other TV broadcasts, between April 7, 1993 and the present, in which you appeared or were depicted.
5.  All documents in which you appeared and/or were recorded and/or were depicted or described relating to or appearing in radio broadcasts and/or audio recordings, between April 7, 1993 and the present.
6.  All documents in which you appeared or were depicted relating to or appearing in newsprint or other print media, between April 7, 1993 and the present.
7. All documents relating to legal seminars or oral presentations, between April 7, 1993 and the present, in which you participated or presented information.
8.  All documents concerning any communications between you and xx or concerning xx, including, but not limited to, any interactions between you and xx between April 7, 1993 and the present.
9. All documents concerning any communications between you and xx or concerning xx, including, but not limited to, any interactions between you and xx between April 7, 1993 and the present.
10. All documents concerning any communications between you and xx or concerning xx, including, but not limited to, any interactions between you and xx between April 7, 1993 and the present.
11.  All documents concerning personal funds supplied by you to assist in the investigation and/or prosecution of  xxxx.
12.  All documents concerning funds and/or services provided by other than governmental entities for the prosecution and/or investigation of xxxx or any facts relating to the fire at the residence of xxxx.
13.  All documents received by you from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or other law enforcement agencies relating to the case of State of Georgia v. xxxx.
14.  All documents concerning information relating to the date of any test for accelerants in the residence of xxxx and the date of receipt by the office of the District Attorney of Fulton County of the report for any tests relating to these accelerants.
15.  All documents concerning any compensation, reward or benefit which was provided any persons testifying at the trial of xxxx.
16.  All documents concerning any compensation, reward or benefit provided to any person related to the case of State of Georgia v. xxxx.
17.  All documents concerning the supposed “beatings” Ms. xxxx received at the hands of Mr. xxxx.
18.  All documents concerning other cases on which you worked between the night of April 7, 1993 and the day of closing arguments in the case of State of Georgia v. xxxx.
19.  Copy of your W-2, W-4 and 1099 forms and federal income tax returns for the past four years.
20.  All documents reflecting gifts, contributions, or donations, rewards or awards you have received from April 7, 1993 until the present excepting only gifts from persons related to you by blood or marriage within the 7th Levitical degree.
21.  All documents reflecting gifts, contributions, or donations, rewards or awards you have made from April 7, 1993 until the present excepting only gifts given to persons related to you by blood or marriage within the 7th Levitical degree.
22.  All documents reflecting terms of compensation to you by any entities other than the office of the District Attorney of Fulton County from April 7, 1993 to the present.
23.  All documents relating to any complaints about your conduct as an attorney or about your conduct as a prosecutor in any case during the time you have been employed by the office of the District Attorney of Fulton County.
24.  All documents relating to any application you have made seeking any judicial position during the time you have been employed by the office of the District Attorney of Fulton County.
25.  All documents relating to any application you have made seeking employment within the last five years, including, but not limited to, employment at Georgia State University.
26.  All documents related to classes you have taught or are currently teaching at Georgia State University.  This includes, but is not limited to, lesson plans, course materials, and lecture documents.
27.  All documents you have written about the case of xxxx that are not a part of the official record of this case.
28.  All documents related to written or oral communication with persons who testified during the trial of the case of State of Georgia v. xxxx from April 7, 1993 to the present.
29.  All documents related to written or oral communication with persons about xxxx since April 7, 1993 to the present.
30.  All documents that relate to any justification for you questioning Dr. Joseph Burton about being called “Lying Joe Burton.”
31.  All documents relating to any persons entering the residence of xxxx from April 7, 1993 to the present.
32.  All documents depicting any view of the scene of the residence of xxxx  from April 7, 1993 to the present.
33.  All documents depicting any view or reflecting any test, test results, experiment or simulation that in any way relate to the case of the State of Georgia v. xxxx or the fire at the residence of xxxx, including, but not limited to, the video made during the presence of the CNN crew at the residence of xxxxand the test by xx made before the trial of xxxx of the Neat-Lac burning against a board.


  The strategic subpoena is most often accompanied with the following attachment that demonstrates to the court the courtesy you are extending to the witness. The following is an example of this type of attachment.

 

ATTACHMENT 1 to Subpoena
 NOTE: Counsel for xxxx are coordinating the subpoenas and documents subpoenaed for the hearing in this case scheduled to begin Thursday, April 11 at 9:00 a.m. through the office of Millard Farmer, P.O. Box 1728, Atlanta, GA 30301, telephone (404) 688-8116; fax: (404) 577-0643.  Someone at this office will be available to discuss your attendance and your production of documents pursuant to this subpoena.
 Please inform the person answering the phone that you wish to talk with someone about your subpoena for this case.  There will be someone available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
 Persons who are subpoenaed are requested to call as soon as possible with scheduling or document production problems.
 The purpose of these calls is to arrange for a schedule, not only for attendance, but also a time to produce the subpoenaed documents.  The same documents, in some instances, have been subpoenaed from more than one witness.  It is not intended that each witness be burdened with production of the documents or items subpoenaed if there can be an agreement as to the person who will supply the document or item subpoenaed.
 Persons who wish to be on call for attendance may make this request and everything possible will be done to accommodate both personal and professional obligations and schedules.
 Please note the time and date on your subpoena; not everyone is subpoenaed for the same time and date.
 Please call as soon as practical or have your counsel call promptly so that this hearing can be facilitated without a number of people being inconvenienced  by last day and hour requests for accommodations.  It will be difficult to adjust the scheduled time for your appearance close to the hearing date.
 Please call promptly for the convenience of all involved; however, please understand this requested call is not required by the court.   
 The strategic subpoena is accompanied by a list of descriptions much the same as descriptions used in notices to produce documents in civil cases.  An example of this attachment of descriptions is as follows.

 
ATTACHMENT 2 To Subpoena
DEFINITIONS RELATING TO SUBPOENAED ITEMS
  The following definitions are an integral part of these requests for documents and are applicable throughout this request.

  "Document", either singular or plural, is defined as any and all originals, or if not available, true copies of all memorandum, reports, appraisals, evaluations, correspondence, receipts, payment vouchers, accounting records and books, communications, interoffice communications, intra-office memorandum, inter-agency communications, electronic recordings including computer generated and/or preserved recordings, video recordings, audio recordings, summaries of conversations, summaries of memorandum of meetings or conferences, list of persons attending meetings or conferences, diaries, records or summaries of interviews, investigation or reports, summaries of negotiations, agreements, contracts, agency rules, agency policies, office manuals, invoices, canceled checks, journals, ledgers, file cards, index cards, indices, deposit slips, data processing cards, computer or business machine printouts, electronic recordings, work papers, statements, financial statements whether audited or unaudited, leases, speeches, information provided to the media, press releases, advertisements, pamphlets, circulars, professional letters, annual and other reports, documents filed with government agencies, reports of experts and research personnel, draft and preliminary copies of any of the foregoing, marginal comments appearing in any document and all other writings and data compilations, including any written, printed, recorded or graphic matter, photographic matter or similar reproductions, however produced or reproduced or tangible things upon which words or phrases are affixed.

  The effective use of subpoenas in litigation is a little used skill. The requirement to bring documents aspect of the subpoena should be written much as the concentric statements concept in Action Motions 2K10.  
  In fact, the subpoena should be a modified motion. It should command the person being subpoenaed to bring numerous items with him/her to the Action Motions 2K10 hearing to be used as Energized Evidence.

Energized Evidence

  Action Motions 2K10 need evidence. This evidence is needed to ignite the presentation of the motion and to give the record teeth. Many lawyers “argue” motions. A motion that is merely argued is just another motion, it is not a Action Motion 2K10.
  To produce the Energized Evidence required to qualify a motion as an Action Motion 2K10 it is necessary to understand a  few other concepts.

CHARISMA  (ke riz' ma)  the special quality that gives an individual influence, charm, or inspiration over large numbers of people.

POWER  (pou' er)  the ability or capacity to act or perform effectively.
 
. . . two important keys to Action Motion 2K10.
 

  Time is a critical element in the presentation of Action Motion 2K10. There are some limitations on when motions may be presented, but often you can control both the time of filing and the time of presentation.
  To present motions properly, evidence should be presented on all factual matters raised by the motion and any other necessary facts that affect the issues. It is not sufficient to simply "argue" motions.
 If funds are needed to obtain evidence and to present it properly, specific motions for funds, supported by evidence to show the need for funds, should be made. When possible, motions for funds should be frequently renewed with a specific showing of need. If the client is not completely indigent and can pay attorney's fees or other fees for defense services, this should not be assumed to preclude the need for funds from the State to adequately defend the charges.
 If the trial court refuses to hear evidence on behalf of any factual matters contained in the motions, or if a denial of funds makes it impossible to present all of the evidence needed, a specific offer of proof of what evidence could have been presented -- framed in a manner which is favorable to the accused -- should always be made to the trial court.
 There are certain kinds of motions that should be presented out of the hearing of the public. These motions can be presented in camera. The in camera presentation of a motion can be the subject of a motion itself. The restrictions on an in camera motion can include not only a hearing outside the presence of the public, but also, a sealed decision together with a concealment of both the motion, and the motion to have the motion heard in camera.
 Examples of this type of motion are motions in limine and motions for directed verdicts of acquittal. These in camera motions shield the client from the adverse effects of both a denial of the motion and the prejudicial evidence that may be presented during the motion hearing. The accused also has the right to an ex parte hearing on an application for funds.
 At any stage of the proceeding where the rights of the person accused are affected by the denial of a prior motion, you should renew the motion and supplement it with additional evidence, or, if prohibited from presenting evidence, make an offer of proof.
 The ways in which motions should be formulated to communicate information depend in great part upon an individual's communication skills and understanding of the many ways in which messages are sent and received.
 We may be familiar with the use of psychologists to help interpret body language of potential jurors. Body language is but one of the many "languages" we all speak, often unconsciously. Many other "languages" exist that can assist or affect communication by spoken word.
 There are things that allow us the security of communicating effectively.  One of these things that provides security is having a model of representation.  Another is having a strategy specialist to oversee the adherence to the goals of the model of representation.

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