The Seamless Web: A Blog on Law, Popular Culture and Related Issues

What You Can Learn From Star Trek

David Borgenicht says there are least seven life lessons available, including "Wearing red makes you a target." Gee, red is one of my favorite colors. Rats.

A "Reverse CSI Effect"?

Mark Godsey, University of Cincinnati College of Law, and Marie Alou have published She Blinded Me with Science: Wrongful Convictions and the 'Reverse CSI-Effect' in volume 17 of Texas Wesleyan Law Review (2011). Here is the abstract.

Prosecutors in the United States are often heard to complain these days of the "CSI-effect.'' Jurors today, the theory goes, have become spoiled as a result of the proliferation of these "high-tech" forensic shows, and now unrealistically expect conclusive scientific proof of guilt before they will convict. What I have come to notice, however, is a different kind a reverberation from the CSI-type shows that I believe often hurts defendants and benefits the prosecution. While not reported or discussed in the popular media as is the "CSI Effect," the other side of the coin, which I will call the "Reverse CSI Effect:' may be more damaging to the criminal justice system and the interests of justice than the opposite impact of which prosecutors complain. The "Reverse CSI Effect," as I call it, can be stated as follows: while jurors may have come to expect, as a result of CSI-type shows, high-tech forensic testimony in criminal cases, and may inappropriately acquit when such evidence is lacking, these same jurors, as a result of these same CSI-type shows, often place too much weight on forensic evidence in cases where forensic evidence IS in fact produced by the prosecution, resulting in convictions in cases where the defendant probably should have been acquitted.

Download the article from SSRN at the link.

USA To Air New Cop Series "Common Law"

USA Network is premiering a new series, Common Law, which features two police officers, one a former attorney. The series will debut "this winter" (next year?) Gimmick: the cops don't get along, so they have to attend couples therapy. Another series titled "Common Law" aired in 1996 on ABC; it was a thirty minute comedy show which starred Greg Giraldo.

Smile A (Very) Little Smile With(out) Me

So many of this season's (and last season's) comedies are seriously (and solemnly) unfunny. The New York Times' Neil Gerzlinger may have an explanation.

DVDs Of the Defenders?

I posted a question about the availability of the DVDs of the CBS series The Defenders (the one starring Jim Belushi) on the CBS website last week, both in the technical support section and in the customer service section. Technical support never answered, but customer service did, after a fashion. Here's the response from Randi, received November 15, 2011.

Thank you for your email. I regret that we do not currently stock the item that 
you have requested. However, we do appreciate your feedback. Please rest assured 
that we have forwarded your request to our merchandising group. We hope that you 
will continue to check back on at The CBS Store online for updates.

Note that this "item" was supposed to have been released August 30 of this year. Amazon Marketplace indicates that two sellers are offering copies for $999.00 each. (Seems rather pricey). Sets don't seem to be available from Wal-mart, Movies Unlimited, or Barnes and Noble. So, is The Defenders available? 

As for my feedback, here it is. CBS--please sell products you advertise in your online store, and/or distribute them to retail outlets. Thanks.

Jack the Cat Passes On

Poor lost kitty Jack, who escaped from his carrier in the baggage area at JFK Airport on August 25, when he was enroute to California with owner Karen Pascoe, and was found October 22nd, has died. His vets euthanized him November 6 after they looked at all options and concluded that infections and extensive liver damage after his lengthy disappearance just made it too difficult for him to recover. His human companion was with him at the end. Jack was five years old.