Judge admonishes Lindsay Lohan lawyer, won't delay case
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge refused Friday to delay Lindsay Lohan's trial on reckless driving and other charges and admonished her attorney, saying he needs help on the case.
Superior Court Judge James R. Dabney advised New York lawyer Mark Heller that his pleadings weren't appropriate under California law.
Heller was told to get assistance from another attorney or Lohan would be required to attend hearings to gauge his ability to represent her.
The actress was not required to attend Friday's hearing. Heller did not comment after it ended.
Dabney also said there was no good reason to delay the March 18 trial, noting that he was skeptical that more time would allow Lohan to demonstrate she had changed after years of run-ins with the law.
"I don't know how the next two weeks is suddenly going to change the history of this case, these cases," Dabney said.
Lohan has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, lying to police and obstructing officers after her sports car crashed in June as she and a passenger headed to a movie shoot.
Lohan was on probation in a theft case at the time.
Heller had sought a delay as he works with prosecutors to reach a plea deal that could allow Lohan to pursue inspirational speaking or other community service.
Lohan could face a return to jail if she is convicted, or if a judge determines she violated the terms of her sentence in the 2011 necklace theft case.
Superior Court Judge James R. Dabney advised New York lawyer Mark Heller that his pleadings weren't appropriate under California law.
Heller was told to get assistance from another attorney or Lohan would be required to attend hearings to gauge his ability to represent her.
The actress was not required to attend Friday's hearing. Heller did not comment after it ended.
Dabney also said there was no good reason to delay the March 18 trial, noting that he was skeptical that more time would allow Lohan to demonstrate she had changed after years of run-ins with the law.
"I don't know how the next two weeks is suddenly going to change the history of this case, these cases," Dabney said.
Lohan has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving, lying to police and obstructing officers after her sports car crashed in June as she and a passenger headed to a movie shoot.
Lohan was on probation in a theft case at the time.
Heller had sought a delay as he works with prosecutors to reach a plea deal that could allow Lohan to pursue inspirational speaking or other community service.
Lohan could face a return to jail if she is convicted, or if a judge determines she violated the terms of her sentence in the 2011 necklace theft case.
Poor girl. Try as she may to join the system, she just can't seem to make a breakthrough. She just wants to be wanted but gets rejected at every turn. She's probably wondering just how far she's going to have to go to get what she wants: a prison sentence.
Inspiration? More like a horrible warning to others.
How long are they going to waste their time with this dope head nut job? Just toss the spoiled little brat in prison for a few years.
She could easily pass for being 40 in that picture rather than 26.
Ah yes, forever the inspiration of "Don't let this happen to you".
"Â Heller had sought a delay as he works with prosecutors to reach a plea deal that could allow Lohan to pursue inspirational speaking or other community service."
ARE you SERIOUS.... Inspirational speaker... HER... who is she going to inspire... 'don't bother answering I have a few ideas and they are ALL TERRIBLE.... If i were a judge and heard this I would have laughed this out of the court... inspirational my TAIL!
@Freespeech Are you kidding??? She's the poster child for why you should stay in school!
Heh - maybe she'll finally get what she deserves. A 6 X 9 box in the gray bar hotel with a rough prostitute doing time for drug dealing who prefers to go by the name Jim.
@Howard Beale Lovely visual of what should be, but this is "can't do wrong" Lindsay. Nice to know that there's a judge that's not in her pocket.......yet, but I have a strange feeling she's going to walk again. The only way this nitwit will learn, is if she kills someone else, or dies herself. I give her less than two years at the rate she's going.
Now if he would be just as stern with her.
Think about all the tax payer money that California has wasted on this idiot.Â
"Inspirational Speaking"?? Exactly WHAT would she be inspiring us lesser beings to do? I'd like to inspire her to grow the heck up!
She already turned down a plea deal yesterday because it would have required Rehab. Â Just lock her up and be done with it.
The need to put her out of our misery.
Until she gets some real jail time she will continue to think she is above the law. Put her in general population for six months and you will see her attitude change.
Its really sad. She is so talented (when she is clean) and could have done well for herself. But instead she has made (and continues to make) bad choices. I really hope she gets her crap together.
@The WA Mama I'm glad to see someone thinking with a logical and non-judgmental view for once. I was exactly like her when I was a teenager, my parents thought I was going to be in prison for life. I got a DUI when I was 18 in 1994, spent plenty of time in Juvi, got a minor in possession ticket a week after my DUI, things were not looking good. I cleaned up my act, joined the Army, and now Im a successful engineer. Yeah she is throwing her life away, but I really wish people would stop being so judgemental
@northwestsurfer @The WA Mama Logical and non-judgemental on this board? Good luck!
Time for OLDÂ Lilo to do some SERIOUS time in the Graybar Hotel.
Whoa, she is a VERY old 26. Â Life's about choices though.
Just wait until she starts doing some real jail time.
She seems to be one of those Hollyweirdos that don't live past their 20's.
@ZIPPYÂ If she ever does do jail time.........
I fear you are going to be proven correct on that last sentence.
The lawyer's paralegals probably drew up the pleadings. Heads will roll!
Poor little LeLo. She may have to park her little butt and big attitude in the Gray Bar motel for a while. Glad the judge slapped her high priced lawyer down trying to delay the trial. They need to jerk her parole and let her rest in jail till the trial for violating her parole. It is nice how money can change the rules.Â
"Possible plea deal?" Â What? No extensions etc. for this wasted piece of protoplasm. Her path was clearly projected at the onset by the judge and Lohan agreed with the consequences. And now with infractions a plea deal? Â If granted our world is being turned upside down. Think of the additional court time and money to plow the same field twice.Â
From what I've heard, Heller was called out as incompetent by the judge! Â He will not postpone the trial...
Does anybody really care? I don't think so
Oh goody more crap about the train wreck Lindsey Blowhand
I seriously wish KOMO would stop reporting every single thing that happens with her. SO WHAT!!!! Just because she's a celebrity (for all the wrong reasons) doesn't mean we give a rats behind about it.Â
Train wreck!
If Charles Manson had had the judge that LiLo has, he never would have been convicted.
The only difference between her and a lot of 26-year olds out there is that Lindsey also has "money and fame".
By "Fame" I mean everyone knows who she is.
Thats probably the best photo I have seen of her in the last couple of years.