Los Angeles, CA. FULL DISCLOSURE NETWORK® presents a five minute Video News Blog covering the controversial civil rights attorney Stephen Yagman who claims to be a 20 year friend of U.S. Judge Steven V. Wilson who presided over the Federal trial where Yagman was convicted of 19 counts of tax evasion and fraud earlier this year.
This five minute video reveals: the fact Judge Wilson recently dismissed six out of 19 counts of tax evasion and fraud after the jury found Yagman guilty on all counts and features Loyola Law School Professor Stanley Goldman who provides legal background and commentary. The Court Order, issued by Judge Wilson on August 17, 2007 was never reported in the mainstream media, nor was it posted on the U. S. Attorney's website along with a usual press release. This extraordinary development was only found on the www.patterico.com website.
Conflict of Interest? The 2001 video clip of Stephen Yagman describing his friendship with Judge Wilson, raises questions as to whether or not their friendship posed a conflict or if it had been properly disclosed to the prosecutors.
VIEWERS ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN OPINION SURVEY:
Following the online video, viewers are asked to vote in an opinion poll on the following questions:
- Do you think that Judge Wilson should have recused himself from the trial of his friend Stephen Yagman? Yes or no.
- Do you think the media and the press deliberately did not report Judge Wilson's acquittal of several counts against Yagman? Yes or no.
- Are there sufficient checks and balances in the judicial systems to assure judicial integrity? Yes or no.
Known as "the news behind the news" Full Disclosure Network®® cable television programs are featured on 45 cable systems and the Internet since 1992 and produced by host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston. In 2002 the Full Disclosure® special series "L. A.'s War Against Terrorism" was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a local Emmy Award for a public affairs, informational series. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website at www.fulldisclosure.net.
Comments to date: 22. This is page 1 of 3.
Andrew Roles Phoenix AZ
Posted: 01:08 pm [PST] on July 10 2009
Very unethical.
Fred Sottile Los Angeles
Posted: 09:21 pm [PST] on July 07 2009
See Caperton v. Massey. The U.S. Supreme Court has seen so much corruption that it had to actually state that appearences of impropriety by judges can no longer be tolerated. Well, they are right. This case stinks of impropriety. Judge Wilson has demonstrated his inability to be responsible for his own behavior. How can he judge others. Judge Wilson has got to go. It's simple logic. His qualification to hold his job is that he is trusted. He has betrayed that trust. He is no longer qualified. He can no longer be called "your honor." The questionable Judge Wilson must step down. If he is not compelled to do this by his superiors, then they are disqualified from their job. See how simple it is. Someone must have integrity at some point or you will end up with.........uh oh, you will end up with what we've got.
Beleagured Attorney 111 N. Hill St, L.A. CA
Posted: 08:57 am [PST] on July 03 2009
Judge Chalfant does not always disclose his conflicts of interests. He has connections with some of the major L.A. firms but he does not disclose these connections, making it impossible for opposing counsel to inquire whether Judge Chalfant's associations with these law firms might prejudice his decisions. When Chalfant covers up his associations, even after being asked many time for full disclosure, one may reasonably believe that those associations did bias him. If the associations were non-prejudicial, then they could have withstood the light of day.
There is also an apparent conflict with the Association of City Attorneys making campaign contributions to councilmen who can improve or worsen their working conditions and then supporting the councilmens' friends and other campaign contributors in court. Citizens have a right to expect that the City Attorneys are acting impartially and not doing the special bidding of developers and councilmen. The courts are simply a moral cesspool. A corrupt city hall requires a corrupt judiciary.
Leslie Dutton Los Angeles
Posted: 02:26 pm [PST] on June 04 2008
The State Bar charges against Mr. Yagman had nothing to do with his Federal convition on 19 counts of tax evasion, bankruptcy fraud, etc. Check the LATimes archives for all the details.
Dawn Esparza Venice
Posted: 01:47 pm [PST] on June 04 2008
Did they pursue Yagman because he was willing to represent the student who was tasered over and over by the powerful University of California ucla?
Sgt. Rock OC
Posted: 06:44 am [PST] on May 14 2008
I hope Yagman has been enjoying his much deserved stay in prison. He thought he was above the law. He found out he is not.
Michael los angeles
Posted: 07:29 pm [PST] on April 13 2008
I love your show and website. You are a great watchdog for the state of California. I also wanted to comment about your program regarding Federal Indictments..
The people always want justice in their state, but it seems that that news media is always trying to make it easier for criminals to beat a charge or conviction. People are tired of attorneys using legal manuevering to allow their clients to escape justice. So you ask the question... are there enough checks and balances in the precess of indictements? Yes. What are they? The courts themselves.
The court is supposed to feret out the cases where a crime has not been committed. The court is supposed to listen to the arguments on both sides and make the correct decision. The evidence is supposed to be exposed and the charges justified in court. And the court performs this task in most cases.
I have personally witnessed the problems with prosecuting the wrongdoing of persons in the taxation system and it is very... very... very... difficult to prosecute this wrongdoing. If any person ever goes to prison... it is a fortunate occurence for the people of the state and country. It is fortunate because for too often people get convicted and they get home detention or they get probation. Is that fair? No But this is the Federal prosecution system. In the state courts... prosecution is easier and going to prison for tax evasion is far more certain.
So when you hear these attorneys telling you that the system is flawed and it may not be fair... they may be correct. However, that inequity could be easily illustrated by the prosecuters side as well. Just look at the Yagman decision to understand this point. But I did not see any representative from the prosecuter's side on your program. I did not see any attorney from the US Attorney's Office to tell you about the system. A former prosecuter does not count.
Keep up the good work... You are doing a great service for the people and the state of California. Thank you!!!
jennifer lynn caldwell san agabriel
Posted: 12:22 am [PST] on April 02 2008
i think yagman should've been aquitted.
Phil N. Hollywood
Posted: 06:19 am [PST] on March 30 2008
One more instance of the judicial system exposed as haven and tool of protection for the wealthy gentry class and corporations...the middle class be damned!
Jonathan Fischbach Hollywood
Posted: 11:21 pm [PST] on March 21 2008
Yagman is a True American ! Someone needs to take on the LAPD. The LAPD's Affirmative Action Policies have led to extreme negligence, which results in numerous lawsuits against the CITY OF LA. And rightly so !