A First Trial Memorable For The Wrong Reasons

A criminal conviction drew a public reprimand by consent from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

According to the report of the Disciplinary Board, Respondent was in his basement office in his parents home preparing for his first civil trial on the following morning “when he took a break from trial preparation to clean his ,38 caliber revolver.” The weapon had been lawfully purchased and was stored in a bedroom wall safe.

His parents disapproved of firearms. Because of that concern, he put the weapon in his trial bag. He intended to (but forgot) to put it back in the wall safe.

You know what happened next.

The trial was in New Jersey, where he was not authorized to possess a weapon. It was detected when the trial bag was scanned entering the Middlesex County courthouse.

The ensuing criminal charges were diverted after his conditional plea and there was no conviction.

He was censured in New Jersey.

My first trial was a memorable experience but nothing like this. (Mike Frisch)