I thought Johnny Yuma was a rebel
This is pretty funny, The American Bar Associaton features the Lionel Hutz of the peace lawyers, James Branum, in their Legal Rebels column this issue.
“I’ve had clients confess to me things that would be war crimes, like having to kill children who came too close to their vehicle when they were in combat,” Branum says. “On the other hand, I hear about soldiers who take tremendous risks to do the right things.”
Clients, many of whom find Branum on the Internet through Google ads or the blog on his website GIRightsLawyer.com, pay a sliding fee, usually between $60 and $150 an hour.
A lawyer who is aware of crimes and doesn’t report them? Isn’t that unethical? $150/hour? For soldiers and their familes? I notice he didn’t mention that sometimes he lives with his clients, eats them out of house and home and then when his clients get evicted because they can’t pay their rent, Branum moves on to the next patsy.
Branum estimates that last year he earned about $20,000, and he is hoping to earn $25,000 this year. An active member of the Joy Mennonite Church in Oklahoma City, he lives in an apartment owned by the congregation and serves as their minister of peace and justice.
I should apply to be that church’s War and Torture minister so I can get me a free house.
He also decided a law degree would serve his faith more than protesting and agitating, although he still does that too, often just outside army bases where his clients are detained. “I came to the conclusion that the best thing I could do to make the world a more peaceful place was to help one soldier at a time get out,” he says
Well, they all get out of the service, alright, after a quick trip through a hoosegow. Speaking of which, Victor Agosto, one of Branum’s clients and a former inmate at Bell County, Texas jail has nothing but praise for Branum, the leech. I wonder if they’re as happy about Branum’s performance as their lawyer while they’re in jail.
Category: Antiwar crowd, Iraq Veterans Against the War
James Branum took money from me and did nothing. People raised money for me and he tried to take it. Slimy. *shudders*
Careful, Sara, you’re going to be accused of being one of my ninjas because you read TAH and comment here.
Sara – FILE A BAR COMPLAINT. What he did to you can get him disbarred – but only if you file the paperwork. Until somebody he has wronged stands up to him, he will continue to be a leach.
However, no it is not unethical to not report a crime disclosed to him as an attorney – it is the basis for the attorney/client privilege. He is not allowed to discuss it (he should not be talking about it in a publication) or disclose it unless it is an ongoing crime.
I saw the issue and thought that it would be a cool article to read…then I saw Branum’s face. I wonder how much digging the ABA journal did before writing the article. Someone should at least write a letter to the editor about this nutjob.
Sara, Susan is right. I would not ask you to do something I would not do myself, and last year I filed against Branum. However, I was never a client, so my claim did not go very far.
That is also not the first I’ve heard of him taking money and then never getting back to the client again. Please file against him if he has done you wrong.
An attorney should only report wrongdoing when informed of an immediate crime involving imminent bodily injury. But Branum is the best lawyer to feature? There’s got to be someone else out there who represents these kind of clients yet knows a thing or two about… You know… The law. Like a lawyer whose clients don’t always go to jail.
Ok, so I forced myself to read the article. I like how they mentioned he was “treading water” on loans without mentioning that he is staying in CC to avoid paying his just and lawfule debts (a/k/a his student loans). This is pathetic. If I hadn’t already resigned from the ABA because of its political stance, I would now.
Branum was my lawyer in 2009 before I got out of the military, despite his short comings, He was A very nice, polite, christian like man. Further more for my case I had 3 charges worst of them all being aggravated assault. The case was handled at Fort Hood, I did not receive any jail time. The entire possess only cost $300.00
James is a better person than any of you could ever be.
I had a unicorn as a pet once upon a time, too, Chase. He ate Lucky Charms for breakfast and Skittles for lunch.
Anon, if this is true then great. Every case that Branum has had publicly has gone to shit. Bishop, Agosto, Jasinski, all off them he’s lost.
My lawyer who rep’d me during my time of making my Iraq films has also rep’d several AWOL cases, and not one of them went to jail. Most never even went to trail. So why did Bishop? Because Branum tanked it, and really bad in his closing statement. Why did I not get a bad discharge? Why didn’t Selena Coppa, who has the same lawyer? There is a long list of people who resisted on active duty and never went to jail or got a bad discharge. But when Branum and UtH gets a hold of them they manage to end up in jail, and they shouldn’t. Before Branum and UtH came on the scene, you had people who refused to deploy, or spoke out while on active duty like Colby Buzzel, Hart Viges, myself, and many others and we all walked away with good discharges and no jail time.
Branum has been asked time and time again to show proof that he doesn’t loose ever case and he can’t pony up any facts. He sites confidentiality but the outcome of his cases are public record.
Chase, no matter how I might feel about a Soldier or a case, they deserve the best representation they can get. Personal feeling must be set aside and fairness must be given. Branum is not good for Soldiers or their futures.
Chase:
You’ve never met me.
Casey, no need for the introductions, I know of your videos online. No no no … not in the good way ether, I’m mean there really really bad. I’m also really surprised you decided to go to throw your life away and go to … what FSU?… for film lol. I am also really surprised to see you on here after the shit you have talked about the people that post on here and John L. himself.
I will not speak about Bishop’s case since I have never talked to the defendant personally. I have in fact had the pleasure of meeting Victor and Eric, they told me themselves that the out come of the case does not reflect Branum’s capability’s because of the fact that THEY did the case the way THEY wanted to. Branum was selected by both defendants to represent then in court. What kind of representation would Branum be if he essentially didn’t fallow the directions of his own boss being the defendant[s].
Furthermore I find it funny to see how many people are so interested in people at Under the hood and that “group” activists. The only reason I know of Under the Hood and have been there before is because of this site so good job with all the free advertisement you do for every little thing they do… dumnbass’s
“The only reason I know of Under the Hood and have been there before is because of this site so good job with all the free advertisement you do for every little thing they do… ”
I hope you’re independently wealthy and generous with it; otherwise, you’re most likely hastening the inevitable demise of Under the Hood just by going there, since its business model is something akin to “Hopefully we sell some stuff, and we’ll make up the difference by begging from people with real jobs.”
Since we’re trading ha-ha’s, what I find funny is that TAH has, according to you, done a better job “advertising” Under the Hood, than Under the Hood itself.
Well, if a person who will not post his name doesn’t like my films, or accuses me of slander, it really doesn’t much bother me.
I treated you with respect, clearly you can not do the same.
I may be completely wrong here but isn’t that the way A (501 C3)non-profit organization is suppose to work?
Casey my name is irrelevant, I am not trying to make a public statement about you films, if I was I would gladly attach my name to that.
John L. don’t bother trying to scan where my I.P. address is coming from nether…. its Tor’ed
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US
Yeah, I recognized you on your first visit, DeWald. Your Viking/Sniper presence is distinctive.
You did make a public statement, and accused me of slander. You do know this is an open site?
Have a good day, Jon DeWald.
I find it quite telling that DeWald is attacking Casey for going to college in a field of his choice. His comments lost any semblance of credibility right then and there. It’s not like he was citing a friendly rivalry… Attacking someone for getting an education is very reflective of a closed-minded snot. However, I doubt this clown as attacking the likes of Matthis who rail on everything but then hypocritically enjoy those same benefits ie GI Bill.
What are you crazy fuckers up to now????
Who is DeWald
Casey Shut up
I am not attacking Casey for going to school I was stating observations that his films are ridiculous. He should go to school for something other than film because it is proven he has no skill in that.
Soon to be followed up by a comment from DeWald telling us that this ain’t him. What other spastic retard uses an anonomizer to post on this blog? And announces, nay, brags about it? Did the Foreign Legion give you the day off,, DeWald?
Part of the issue is that part of the job of a lawyer involves negotiating, cutting deals, and a lot of back-room phone calls. They need to aggressively advocate for their client, even when the client wants something different. Of course they do, they’re generally not knowledgeable. I certainly wasn’t, that’s why I went for the best GI Rights lawyer in the country. I told him what I wanted, what my ideal circumstance was, what I was willing to take, and what my needs were. Within that, he arranged that all the charges I cared about would be dropped. He also advised against going to the press as a first resort, he said it forced the Army into taking a position that might not be favorable to me. Lo and behold, I followed his advice and was very happy with the results. No money loss, no rank loss.
It’s important not to be friends with your clients in part so you can say those hard things.
By the way though, no way that’s De Wald. He hasn’t dropped any c-bombs on any women yet.
Ahhhh Selena Coppa, I believe you have misconceptions about Mr. Branum, but like you and every other Right wing nut job on this site, there is no changing your mind. Honestly tho Selena C. isnt your presence on this site a slap in the face to all of your “comrades” in IVAW?
John L. It is not a web anonomizer, it is web anonymity (Tor Project), sucks for people on your end doesn’t it. Anyways thanks for letting me know who DeWald is, and by the way I take offense to that.