Publicity Seeking Judge

I really don't follow the new O.J. Simpson case in Las Vegas, but today a judge doubled his bond for violating a condition of his original bond. And it looked like she was playing before the cameras as she said, "I don't know if it's just arrogance. I don't know if it's ignorance. But you've been locked up at the Clark County Detention Center since Friday because of arrogance or ignorance or both." Sheesh. Did you consult with a publicist before you crafted that 10 second sound bite? It worked. You've been on TV all day.

His bond condition that he allegedly violated was, and I'm paraphrasing, "Do not make contact with any co-defendant."

Yeah, I know I practice law in little old Wise County, but I've never heard of such a bond condition. And, quite frankly, it sounds a little crazy. Hypothetically, if the government charges you and a buddy with a crime, does the government have the right to say, "And in preparation for your trial, you two don't talk to each other."?

(Simpson's contact, admittedly, was a bit goofy. He told his bail bondsman to tell the co-defendant he was upset with him for his testimony during a preliminary hearing.)