Wooten’s emphasis on witness integrity serves as a vital reminder that a prosecutor’s primary duty is to justice, not just securing convictions. It is a principled rejection of the "win-at-all-costs" mentality that often undermines the credibility of the legal system.
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FULTON COUNTY DEPUTY DA SPECIAL GUEST - WILL WOOTENAdded:
But otherwise, how's every everything's been going?
>> It's been like I don't I keep saying like I don't want to be like blindly optimistic, but I'm feeling good.
>> Okay, good.
>> And for 13 days out to be feeling good is a good thing.
>> Okay, good. Yeah.
>> Okay. So, we're live. So, do you have your volume on on your computer because I'm hearing double. Okay.
>> Are you hearing double?
>> Can you put Yeah. Can you put in your headphones?
>> Yeah, it is. I am on just headphones.
So, is it still double?
>> Um, maybe. Are you YouTube in the background?
>> No, I don't have anything any sound in the background.
>> Let me see. Oh, you know what? It could be me.
Let's let me see.
Okay, guys. Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome. We're having a little technical and it was me. It was user error. I had a screen open with volume. So, my bad.
Welcome, Will. Welcome back to Real Talk Bougie. I'm so glad you came back.
>> I was afraid. I was like, "Oh my god, we're going to be on the do not pick up the call list. We're going to be on the block list. All of the things."
>> Like, somebody asked me the other day, multiple people have asked me like, "What has been the most fun thing? What has been the highlight of the campaign?
And I swear I'm not making this up.
Being on last time was the most fun that I've had this entire campaign.
>> Oh my god.
>> And I think part of it is cuz like you know like it's personal like you know y'all been watching me for all these years. I've been watching y'all for all these years. And so >> our favorite prosecutor >> something just like >> something about connecting finally. It's just >> that's your nickname is our favorite prosecutor. you know, our favorite prosecutor will be coming um coming back to visit us. So, yeah, they know exactly who that is. And they say you woo woo woo. That's >> Yep. Yep. Yep. Yep. I do. And I've been getting that like on the campaign trail a little bit here and there, too.
>> Really? Okay. That's code.
>> Yes, >> that's code. So, you know where that's coming from. Okay.
>> And you know what's funny, too? Like >> couple of events and stuff that I've been to, I've been I've literally like looked around and been like, "Somebody is bougie gang out here." like I know it for sure. I know it for sure. They just don't want to say it.
>> It's so Yeah, because uh you know it's it's uh just just to be in the room.
>> So, okay. So, tell us so you say 13 days until the election. Oh my god. Are you nervous?
>> I spent some time at the beginning of the campaign where I would like think about like what's going to happen? Am I going to win this? And I'll get nervous.
But I've just I've just moved to the place of like what can I do today >> and what can I do tomorrow to like hit it as hard as I can. Make sure that I'm doing everything that I can to win. And >> because look what I know is this. We have done everything. We have done everything we can in this campaign. The numbers are looking good. The early numbers early voting numbers are looking good. And so that's why all you can do all you can do is the best that you can do. And if we win and I'm feeling good.
I don't want to jinx it. Um, that's going to be amazing. If we don't, we'll deal with that on May 21st. May 20th, I'll sleep all day and we'll deal with that on May 21st.
>> Okay. So, when you say early numbers, can you actually see returns for early numbers or is it like polling data or how do you when they say early, you know, or just the turnout for early voting? is the so we can see the total turnout and then we can see how many people have gotten a Democrat ballot, a Republican ballot or a nonpartisan ballot.
>> Okay?
>> And so obviously my race is my race is nonpartisan but it's on all three of those ballots no matter which one you get, right? Um, and you know, I can't associate with any specific political party, but based on the fact that the Democrats are outperforming in a huge way compared to 2022, um, that's a good sign for us. That's definitely a good sign for us. And it's like it's like something like >> there's like 50,000 at this compared to this point in time in 2022. I think we're on day nine of early voting, something like that. um it's like 50 or 60,000 more Democrats have voted compared to this time in 2022 and like 30,000 fewer Republican ballots have been cast since the same time in 2022.
So >> So what are we attributing to these numbers? Um >> I mean >> what's at stake on the Georgia ballot right now? We know judge there's judgeships. Um, what else is at stake in Georgia?
>> So, it's interesting. So, we have primaries right now on both sides for governor for basically everything. Governor, secretary of state, attorney general, lieutenant governor, labor commissioner, >> top jobs, Georgia top jobs, >> everything Senate, US Senate primaries, um, and US House, like congressional primary, literally everything.
Everything's on the ballot. But what's interesting is that, you know, and anybody in the chat that's in Georgia knows, y'all been seeing the ads. The Republicans are going at it. I mean, they are going for the throat. There's I mean, you turn on the TV and you're going to see a ton of Republican ads.
The Democrats has been a little bit sleepier. And so, you know, my campaign team, we were we weren't quite sure how that was going to >> like turn out in the numbers once early voting started. We were a little bit concerned that that might mean fewer Democrats show up. Um, but it's been the opposite. And I really think um I really think that that's because of kind of same reason why I stepped up to run.
It's people are like people are tired of what's going on. People are tired of the status quo. We all see, you know, all this crazy stuff that's happening in the world. We see that, you know, like the Voting Rights Act case that just came out last week. You know, our rights are being rolled back, all these things. And so I think that even though the Democratic primaries in Georgia aren't super hot right now, people are still mad and they're showing up and they want their voice to be heard. And we've been, you know, we've been getting the word out about these judicial races, too. And so people are showing up and responding to that as well.
>> Do you think people are realizing how important it is who is sitting in these seats? You know, >> I think now I'll admit that, you know, my perspective is is not completely objective because I'm in it. Um, so like I know everything that's going on, but the, you know, when I go on Twitter and I go on, you know, threads and Instagram and everything and just look at what people are saying, >> people are very engaged and very opinionated and very into it in a way that I have not seen before for appellet for Supreme Court races and definitely not for court of appeals races. I mean, >> okay.
>> I don't think anybody can tell you the last contested court of appeals race where people knew >> what was going on.
>> Yeah.
>> So, we're feeling good.
>> I think it's Yeah. And I think also just people are Oh, I didn't put the chat up.
My bad. I'm sorry, guys. Um, I feel like I don't know if it's like the true crime community or all of the, you know, maybe it's just a perfect storm of social media, all of the things and people having more interest in being engaged.
You know, maybe some people are super political, some people are more >> into news, some people are into social justice, some people want to watch legal affairs and cases. Everybody's got their own nuance. But I think when you observe the process even like yesterday we talked about a little bit um what happened with Stefon Diggs. Stefon Diggs is a rich guy. He's a football player.
He got he had a great legal team and there was a case against him that seemed like he might be in trouble.
>> Mhm. But honestly, as soon as they brought the first witness up, who was the actual complaining witness, she was the victim immmediately could tell, uhoh, there's a problem here. What when do you do you ever get to court? Like, do you ever get to trial and realize I might be in trouble with my witness or if what do you do if your witness is horrible? You might really know something happened in your gut like this is a prosecutable case, but my witnesses are so bad. They are not credible. She may even lie. I don't like you're not sure. What do you do? Do you just go ahead and just take it to the box or do you >> Not me. Not me. Okay. Cuz you know I I think a couple things. I don't want to beat up on those prosecutors because I don't know what was that.
>> This is just general. This is what what would do.
>> Yeah. Yeah. But I mean, I've had cases before where, you know, the case file is so strong, everything looks so good, everything, you know, on paper it's great, and then I always talk to I kind of have a rule where before I try a case, I'm going to have spoken to each of my witnesses, the main witnesses.
Now, maybe not like the the tiny little witnesses, I'm going to have spoken to every witness at least once, but my main witnesses I'm going to have spoken to at least three times. Like a full interview, go over all the facts three times, >> like the things that are putting your case together.
>> Yes. And pieces to the puzzle.
>> Exactly. And I'm, you know, tuned into is this person credible? I'm asking, I'm cross-examining them when I'm doing those things, seeing how they respond, confront them with things, pushing on things. And I've had situations before where in that process I'm like, we can't we can't do this. Like, we can't we can't prosecute. Like, I had one where um and it was an unfortunate case. The facts were bad and it was a fraud case.
And I think that the the defendant definitely um did something, but in a prior hearing, my victim had basically committed perjury.
>> Um and >> so, you know, you can't do any like that's going to come out of trial and that's just a fact a fact of it. And so I think you know when you look at >> so they'll impeach your witness basically and that doesn't look good for you as the prosecutor.
>> Now if you got other like evidence to back it got the receipts on it you sometimes you can work with that. But if it's just the word that person's word >> that's got to be part of your evaluation of can you even proceed on this case?
I've had I've had to that case I was talking about I I ended up just dismissing it because I knew like >> it's going to look >> and you couldn't come through with a good old plea plea deal or anything. It just wasn't >> I'll tell you like the way I do it is if I feel like the case can't even be tried. I feel like ethically I can't even >> get the right look. See look at Will what >> like I'mma chuck it if it's no good. if it's not a good so if it's bad facts >> and it's really not something >> like if I'm sitting there looking at it and I'm questioning like do I even believe this witness >> I'm not going to proceed. I'm just not going to proceed at all.
>> So what if you don't believe the witness but you do think something h like something happened here but this witness is not the witness that I can prosecute this case on >> there. Therefore you you have to let the case go. I mean, again, it just comes down to like what other evidence do I have? Can I explain to the jury why >> something might seem like it doesn't add up? Um, like >> I'm trying to think of some example. I mean, there has been >> I feel like I have an example. What if what if you have somebody who's been around the block and they have a a lot of null process and they just can't >> stay out of trouble >> and then you're able to put something together because they've just done so much >> and then you all of a sudden like how does that work when you have some uh someone who has just you know that there's stuff going on but there just isn't enough and then all of a sudden it's like it's the day the day happens where it's like, wow.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> This is a hell of a case now. It's just we've got a pattern >> of this or a pattern of that and now we've, you know, >> what do you what do you do with something like that?
>> You know, again, it just depend like really truly what it always comes down to for me is >> do I believe it? Do I believe like because I'm not going to stand up in front of a jury and >> advocate for something that I don't believe, right?
>> And so it's like, do I really believe?
Am I convinced beyond a reasonable doubt?
>> And if I'm convinced beyond a reasonable doubt based on all the evidence and knowing what evidence is going to come in, what evidence is going to be suppressed or whatever, if I look at the whole picture of the evidence that I've got, that's good evidence. And if I'm convinced beyond reasonable doubt, I'm gonna go for it >> if it's the right thing to do. I can't this woman. Uh, did you hear about this woman in uh, South Carolina? I think her name is Is it Rebecca Schwz? You know who I'm talking about?
>> She's been arrested like 16 times. She owns a boutique in South Carol like Anderson or something. She's been arrested 16 times since the beginning of the year.
>> Oh my god.
>> And she has been frauding people on the internet. Everybody is coming for her and they're forwarding it to the attorney general's office. When you have a situation like that, when you keep getting these fraud charges, she accepted payment online for goods and services. Goods and services never happened. She has mug shots all over South Carolina. I think her name is Rebecca Schance and literally since the beginning of the year, I think it's like 16 times. And she's got like a little signature boutique. And now they are forwarding it to I guess the attorney general's office.
>> Okay.
>> Because I guess each case by itself maybe isn't much. But I was thinking I wonder is that something that they could put together like a RICO because >> Yeah. Yeah.
>> That might be a RICO.
>> And I don't know if they have RICO in South Carolina or if they do like you know some states have it and it's not as strong as in Georgia. But so one of the things that I've told victims before like when um like say they're the first victim and it's like you're talking about where like that one situation by itself might not be enough. I still tell them like report it, document it because we might get to three victims, four victims, six victims and once >> 25 victims >> 25 victims >> 25 victims.
>> Yeah. Once it all comes together, like a gap in one person's case, you know, might be filled in by the strength of the other 10 people, right?
>> And next thing you know, you have a pattern of activity.
>> Exactly.
>> You got pattern of activity and we're we're learning so much from you, Will.
Um it's just we've learned a lot over the last year. Um cuz you know, you see um Yeah. How do you feel about that?
like the general public like people actually really being into your like maybe not that they want to be a lawyer but they're just like they're like into it like the pro like you know we're we're looking at it almost like a tennis match like you see kind of like oh yeah that's a win for whatever oh my god that was a great point that just like pushed >> the evidence forward you know or those things you juryy's not going to like that that evidence or things like that.
What do you think about the general public like kind of you know it's it's a we know it's not entertainment because these are people's lives. I think some people get annoyed by thinking that people feel like some of this is entertainment but I feel like you got to take your you can't pick your audience.
>> Right. Right.
>> However people are consuming it people I I almost feel like >> we're consuming it. I think it's a good thing rather than people ignoring the legal process. People are people are highly engaged in what you guys are doing.
>> No, I think it's great because you know the courtroom like before YouTube and before you know Zoom and everything you know the courtrooms have always been open to the public and people you know sometimes in my career before Zoom and everything people would sometimes just come up and wa show up and watch sit in court and just watch.
But now it's like you can open it up to hundreds, thousands of people. And I think that's important because, you know, the people should be checking in on what's going on to make sure that crazy stuff isn't going on. You know, I mean, if stuff is happening behind closed doors in the dark, >> you know, you hope justice is served, but >> you don't know. You don't know.
>> I also think it's a good deterrent, too.
Um because people are able to relay these stories to their children or you know >> people who they have influence with kind of like hey this is what happened kind of thing the word of mouth.
>> Um I feel like it it helps I I feel like it does a lot having it open and even further more televised >> and where people can where you don't actually have to always go to the courtroom. You can just turn, you know, get on your computer and see what happened. Um because oftentime we're inundated with all of this news and we never know how it turns out and when it's televised um or at least open court records you can kind of check in and see like okay well what happened with that you know I saw that happen we heard a lot about it and then it's been 2 years like did this person ever go to jail was this person ever found innocent you know what happened in the process so I think it really >> um is so important And it is it I feel like it's so interesting to see that people are really super engaged and like we know prosecutors names are like oh there's so and so or oh yeah this is going to be good.
>> Right. Right. Well and also too like a couple things too like number one to your point I think the deterrent effect is real. Um because I've had cases where I won't name specific ones, but people can probably use their imaginations and figure it out, but cases where, you know, somebody's doing something that's really harmful to the community and they're doing it in a big way and other people might be doing it at a smaller scale, too. But you go big on that big person to let people know that like we see what's going on and and don't play around too much because you could be next. you know, we could we could come for you next. If you're doing stuff that's really harming the community.
That's thing number one. And then thing number two is um you know, people will say like, and I'm not saying the justice system always gets it right because it definitely does not always get it right.
Um and historically has not always gotten it right. Very much so. But when you can watch what's going on and you can hear the witnesses and see the witnesses and see for yourself why the outcome was the way that it was, I think it, you know, restores a little bit of confidence in the system that we have.
>> Um, okay. So, let me ask, so someone's asking, can Neesto's case be televised?
Um, Wooten, so there was a gag, there was a motion for a gag order that did not make it. So, there's no gag order.
Um and Dunaway has allowed cameras in the courtroom. So what would it take for it to be televised? Would it be that case or any other? What would it take for >> um It would just take >> It's a rule of thumb. Yeah. And typically what happens like on the bigger cases where you know 10 different organizations might want to cover it.
Typically the judge will assign one like pool camera where everybody pulls from that one feed. Um but yeah, I mean all it would take is is a rule 22. And so far, um Judge Dunaway has been he's he's always granted them he's always granted at least one. He's not going to grant, you know, necessarily everybody's, but he's always granted at least one.
>> Okay.
>> Um Okay. So, let's get back to the election real quick and then we'll get into some other things. So, election day is what day? It's May >> May 19th and early vote is going on right now through next Friday. So >> you can vote from tomorrow all the way through next Friday or show >> if you're in Georgia. If you're in Georgia now through next Friday, um exercise your right to vote.
>> Yes.
>> Um statewide. If someone goes to the um if someone goes to the poll to vote and they are not a registered Democrat or Republican, do they have to ask for a nonpartisan ticket or will they just be offered a nonpartisan ticket?
>> So, Georgia's interesting. We actually don't have We don't You don't register with any party. So, you can go >> Oh, really? Okay.
>> You can Yeah, you can go and and when you walk in, they just ask you what ballot you want. So, do you want the Democrat, the Republican, or the nonpartisan? Um, and you can vote in whichever one you want to.
>> So, people should know because some people don't want I'm not any I don't want to. And that is okay. So, you have to ask >> you have to say I'd like the nonpartisan, please. Will they offer, okay, well, here you'll take the nonpartisan. Then, do they make the choice or offer it to you or do you sp You know, sometimes you have to if you don't ask, they don't give. Yeah, I think they actually I think if I recall it used to be on a little piece of cardboard and you just checked which one you wanted, but now I think it's on the little like iPad thing and I think you just click a box and then they like you never actually say it out loud but >> Oh, so it's in your voter thing. So when you do you check in at your >> Mhm.
>> at with your person, one of the nice retired people who are usually there, you sign in, they check your ID or they check whatever they needed to check in your state, and then they give you your little thing to go and check in at your at your spot.
>> Right.
>> And then you pick your ballot.
>> Right. Right.
>> Really? Okay.
>> Right. Right.
>> Okay. Interesting. And like, you know, there's been plenty of times where people have, you know, somebody might identify as a Democrat, but then they will vote in the Republican primary like to vote against somebody, right? Like you don't like you really hate this candidate on the other side. You really don't want them to win. So, and you're, you know, you're okay with whoever on your side, but you might pull the other ballot just to vote against the person that you don't like.
>> Really?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. So, let me think that out. Okay.
Number one, we have a friend I in uh in Michigan in Detroit. Um and I know that by the 313 and they're saying that her Georgia family, their Georgia family voted for Wooten.
>> Thank you. Look at that.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Y is that nice?
>> Um okay, so you're saying that people will pull another party's ballot >> to vote against. So if you don't like the Democratic person, you might get a Republican ballot just to as a vote against that person. Yeah. Like >> I never even thought to do something like that. That's absolutely >> like I remember in 24 was it 20? Yeah.
In 2024, there was a big push or it might have been in 2020, there was a big push for um like some Democrats had organized for people to vote in the Republican primary to vote against Donald Trump, to vote for Nikki Haley.
That was a thing like to switch sides just for that primary to vote, you know, >> the Okay, I understand. Um Wow.
>> It's, you know, it's a mind bender. I never really thought of that because but you got to I mean it's it's a strategy.
>> Yeah. Yeah. It's a it's definitely a strategy and you know >> and also split Yeah. split the votes too because if they if they took votes away from him and routed votes elsewhere and enough votes would have come through maybe on the Democratic side. It's still it still could have it would have diluted the vote some.
>> Yeah. Um, so yeah, interesting. It's so it's so interesting to hear strategy. I feel like the first time I really heard strategy and got it was when we really kind of learned the Obama road map.
That's when politics kind of got a little bit more interesting to me hearing about how they used analytics for the road map >> and that was like oh wow okay that was that was just a very interesting strategy that they used and that was kind of the first time I really it was articulated so easy that it was kind of like wow and they just and they applied it and just and did it and won two times. Yeah. And then other people took it as a blueprint and have been replicating it ever since.
>> Um so um did you guys create a little bit of a road map for yourself or what what do you >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah, definitely. I mean you you got to you know the budget's limited, right? I mean I've been very fortunate. I've been very fortunate.
We've had really good backing and really good fundraising. Um but you're still limited, right? I mean we're not spending $10 million or anything like that. And so you got to figure out where, you know, where is the money that you raise going to do the most work for you and and identify those areas. And so we definitely, you know, >> on a smaller scale had a had and continue to have a strategy for where we think we can reach the most the most voters that, you know, my my message will resonate with.
>> Okay.
>> So, how has it been being off from work?
Have you had a block of time like so you're I mean you are working because you're running for your office, right?
Um, but do you feel like do you feel like you're on a little bit of a sbatical right now? Are you kind of >> I'm so ready to go back to work.
>> You ready to go back to work? Oh my god.
You're not Are you a workaholic?
>> Well, here's the thing, you know, at work. Now, not all the time, like, but technically my hours are 8:30 to 5. And most of the time I get out of there, you know, on when I'm doing normal work, you know, five or six, something like that.
Not always. Sometimes you work till midnight, but um it's more predictable when you're campaigning.
>> You wake up in campaign mode and you fall asleep in campaign mode. And so it's a whole >> it's it's a whole I've learned a lot in my first campaign. Have you had any challenges? Like, have you had any challenges that you've had to like, oh my god, they there's a rumor or they said that you did this or have you had to come out and set the record straight? Have you had to do any kind of >> I mean, okay, so here's I have gotten people that have messaged me >> on Facebook or made comments saying like some pretty bad stuff, pretty terrible stuff.
>> Some of them are probably bots. So, you know, whatever. But it has been very I mean, y'all, Bougie Gang knows like I like to clap back from time to time in things in certain things that I write and file. It has been very hard not to >> uh just to push block and move on because there's been times where I want to be like, well, actually, let me tell you, let me let me >> Right. Let me drop you a couple of receipts.
>> But, I mean, on the that's all very small, you know, small potatoes >> on the on the large scale. No, I mean it's it's been pretty smooth.
>> It's been pretty Okay. Now, did you What about you and your opponent? Do you guys ever match up? Do you guys There's no There's no debating. There's no nothing.
>> No, I did I was at one event and I did see a judge, another judge on the court of appeals.
Um but it was, you know, it was fine. It was fine. Did you have did you get a chance to meet and shake hands or >> shake hands and it was very cordable cordial? Cordial.
>> It was very cordial and very professional and you know >> that's about it. Just a hello, nice to meet you, how are you kind of thing.
>> Okay.
>> So, um Okay. Interesting. All right. So, anything else? So, we need to know you can early vote between now and Friday.
After Friday, um which what's Friday's date? Friday is the 15th. Then the election day is Tuesday the 19th. And what time can you vote on the 19th? If you end up waiting to the last minute, what what are the voting times? Like 6:00 to 6.
>> I should know that. I think the polls close at 7. I think I should know that, but I think it's seven.
>> It's okay.
>> Well, nobody should wait till the last minute. Don't wait till the last minute.
If you're going to wait to the last day, >> go get up. Go before work. Mhm.
>> or go at lunchtime. And it really shouldn't be too bad. Even though it's a midterm election, midterms usually are pretty in, you know, they're not so bad.
I feel like since things have gotten more automated, even presidential elections, it's not I It's not like I remember when I was a kid and I went voting with my parents >> and there would be like a 2 or threehour line >> outside the high school. like you would be way into the parking lot and there would just be lines of people and they had big like newspaper size sheet >> that you you know that >> it was it was a mess y >> um back then but I mean it worked it worked but you know it's not it's this is not then so yeah I feel like it's not it shouldn't be that bad anymore >> it shouldn't be it shouldn't be >> okay so you're getting lots of I'm voting for wills okay awesome and this is statewide election ction. So, anybody can It's not You don't just have to be in Fulton County or in that particular district or area of the state. It's a statewide situation. Um, okay. So, we did get a we did get some questions. I did drop in um I'll bring those to the forefront. Uh we have some questions. Um I think someone asked, let me see. I feel like someone asked I'm going to get the gist of it, but I feel like they asked, "What would you be doing if you weren't doing your current job?" Do you do you play like guitar or something?
Were you like destined to be in like >> That's a good question.
>> in a band or something? No, definitely not.
>> Do you write poetry?
>> No, definitely not that. You know, like, you know, I probably wrote a couple songs at like ninth grade.
>> Really? Interesting fun fact.
Actually, you know what's funny? I took a poetry class in freshman year of college >> and you know like poured my soul into it like really really tapped into >> and then there was a couple years after that like at I didn't go home for like Thanksgiving or Easter or something and in the I guess this before group chats but somebody called my mom or somebody was like yeah like we we found your poetry and the whole family read it at Thanksgiving and I'm like how embarrassing. Oh my god.
>> I know. I know. So, I would not be a poet. I would not, you know, >> someone saying modeling.
>> Definitely not that. I would be so bored.
>> I was gonna do um I wanted to be a marine biologist at one point.
>> Oh, really?
>> That was my my dream. And you know what?
I still have days where I'm like, man, like I could be getting paid to like play with dolphins and stuff, like be one of the people at SeaWorld swimming around with the with the dolphins. That would be nice.
>> So, are you a science guy? Did you enjoy um biology? I'm sorry, the dogs.
>> Oh, you're good.
>> Yeah. No, I definitely like I was I I preferred the science stuff over like, you know, English class. I had my spark notes and my cliff notes and all that.
>> Um Okay. So, someone says, "What are the mo what are you looking forward to most?
What are you most looking forward to once you become judge?"
>> Yeah. No, that's a great question.
Honestly, what I'm most looking forward to is getting these cases. Um, and you know, I don't want trial judges to have made mistakes, but in situations where they have and somebody has gone up on appeal, you know, setting the record straight, making it right, and and explaining why. I mean, every y'all know I like to write, and so, um, being able to sit down and explain the law in a way that makes sense to regular people. Um because I think sometimes when judges write their opinions, you read it even and it's for lawyers it's hard to understand sometimes and I really want to make sure you know once I'm there I'm writing opinions that an everyday person can understand. Um, >> so did you have so did you participate like in law review and things like that in your in your um is law review kind of like the peer-to-peer >> uh appeals >> type of thing like where they're reviewing kind of >> what happened and >> it's definitely the prestigious thing and I'll tell you like I Um, I've really struggled the f first year of law school. Like not grades, like the grades were okay and everything, but I struggled to find like what is this the right thing, right? Is this what I like?
Is this is this interesting? Um, so I did not I was very checked out. I was very checked out the first year. And so if you don't get into law review your first year, that's pretty much it. Like you it's very rare to get into it after that first year. You have to apply for it the first year. and I was just not particularly involved. Um, >> and tell every so Law Review basically are they they're just pulling random cases however they see fit to pull cases and they basically go top to bottom.
>> Yeah, they'll usually what they usually do is they'll they'll write like it's like articles basically. They'll write an article about some legal topic. So it might be like you know I mean I'll tell you I had thought about writing a law review article after the Trump case. I thought about writing one about um the fact that the criminal code, the criminal law is not set up to deal with election tampering. Um and talk about how in the in that prosecution, we had to dig into I mean there's a whole section of laws about election fraud, but they didn't apply to anything that happened really in the case. Um they're more like, you know, handing out snacks to people waiting in line to vote. like these very kind of not what you think >> it could be seen as a bribe but not necessarily 2026 version of what >> exactly >> or 2020 whatever current modernday >> um problems that >> so I thought about like writing an article about like what states actually have laws on the books that can adequately address these issues if something like 2020 were to happen again. So that's just one example. So do you think that because it was so political um that the opportunities for precedent setting law or like were the opportunities missed to create laws around this type of situation because of the political nature and all of the noise >> to >> Yeah, I think that's definitely fair to say. too much noise uh >> to be able to even create anything that if something were like something like that were to happen again that there actually now are laws on the books.
There's still no there's still been no progress. Nobody got prosecuted and there's no laws to address. I like and there were laws like let me be let me like make sure I'm clear that like there were laws that we were able to use and we were able to use them in a good in a in a strong and appropriate way but they were more like general crimes instead of specific election crimes and so yeah no I think you're spot on. I think the fact that it things got so political that like you know in Georgia for example the legislature didn't want to say that crimes had happened. So there was no reason, no motivation for them to turn around and try to address the situation, which which is a shame because this stuff could happen on either side of the aisle at some point in the future. And and if it happens, regardless of what side, they should be prosecuted, I think.
>> Right.
>> Okay. Um, so let's see. What will you what will you miss about your current position once you become a judge?
>> Oh my gosh. That's the biggest thing.
That's the biggest thing.
>> You might miss us. Oh my god. I mean, you know, when you're a judge, you gota you can't >> you can't be out in the streets. You know, you got to be they say that the bench is lonely, right? Because you can't >> Okay.
>> You know, you can't speak out about political views. You can't, you know, associate with or identify with any political side of anything. You've got to be very neutral. Very, and you should, judges should be very neutral.
But I think it will be an adjustment.
um not a not an insurmountable adjustment, but an adjustment to move from an advocate to a judge, right?
Because I spent my whole career advocating from one side of the other.
Um but I've always tried to do I think I think a prosecutor there is some elements of being a judge because you you have to judge yourself, right? You have to judge your own facts and make sure you're doing what you believe the law is versus, you know, trying to get your client off the hook. Um, so I don't think it's going to be a huge adjustment, but I'll miss, you know, I'll absolutely miss my all I love my job. I love my job. I love the people that I work with. It's it's wonderful.
But, you know, you got to sometimes move on at the at the high point, right? End it on a high note.
>> Um, hey, Will, I have to come to court on June 15th for an improper turn. I need you to meet me when I get there. Oh gosh. I wonder if it's like, you know, I know Will Wooten. Will that help get her to hook up?
>> No, don't do that.
>> I know. You know, everybody in the building. I need a hookup. Okay.
>> No, don't do that. Nobody gets You know, nobody gets gets advantage.
>> What was the improper turn? Were you Did you What was I wonder?
>> I got one of those. It was a no turn sign >> and I like a no turn on red or something and I turned anyway. Yeah.
Yeah.
>> How can they prove that you didn't we weren't on the arrow?
>> It was like a Okay, so I have a bone to pick about this whole situation. I was an intern in Los Angeles in 2008 >> and I was going I was going to Panda Express.
>> Good old Panda Express.
>> Good old Panda. I had to get me some orange chicken and I was turning left into the parking lot, but there was just a big sign up there on the right side, I guess, that said no left turn and they got me.
>> Did you cross over a double solid line?
I don't know. I can't remember. I do not recall.
>> If it's no left, I would imagine it would be a double solid line. I don't know. I have a very random awareness of driving regulations. I don't um the person who taught me, namely my older sister, was very much like, "That's a double solid line." Like, she just grilled me because I was like, "No left turn. If it's a no left turn, it would probably be a double solid line." So, that would be So, yeah. Okay. Well, and you got your ticket.
>> I got my ticket. My only ticket I ever had >> paid in really $400.
>> So, no speeding in the very very clean as a whistle.
>> You want to hear like this is embarrassing. I don't want >> You're opening up You're opening up a certain line of questioning. Well, we weren't even asking you any of that, but since you opened the door, I mean, do tell.
>> Like, this is really lame and embarrassing. I got pulled over one time for my tail light or tag light. One of them was out and it was me and my two grandmas in the car. I had taken taken them to dinner and that's when I got pulled over >> the one time. And then one time I got pulled over at the airport in Fort Lauderdale for speeding. I was going 20 and a 15 and I was like, "Yo, come on."
>> And did you get the ticket or they gave you a warning?
>> No. So it was it was a the cop pulled me over and I had my friend in the passenger seat because we were dro it was college. We were dropping off our other friend of the airport and he goes, I'll never forget. He goes, "Pick a number between one and three." And I'm like, "Huh?" Like, so I said, "Two." And he said, "Do you want two tickets today?" And I'm like, "No, sir. I don't want any tickets." And he's just like, "Okay, slow down." I'm like, "Okay, yes, sir."
>> Uh, okay. So, real very mild. Okay.
>> Mild.
>> Okay. Um, let me ask you this. If you Okay. Why does it take Oh gosh. Okay.
This is a good one. Why does it take Fulton County so long for cases to close?
>> That's a great question. That's a great question. So, there's a lot of factors, right? I mean, number one, I mean, let's just be real. The system doesn't have enough prosecutors, doesn't have enough defense attorneys, and doesn't have enough judges. And so, it's not, you know, every every courtroom is just so backlogged.
>> You know, some of them less so than others. But the other thing too is that, and this is this makes sense, um the judges typically will try the people in custody first. Now, we know in certain cases that doesn't always happen.
>> Um but so that can mean if you're not in custody, sometimes it takes a lot longer for your case to make its way up >> um to to to be called for trial. But I mean, it's just, you know, they move as fast as they can. And I give them credit. All the judges in Fulton County, like they are moving those cases as fast as they can. There's no shortage of court. I mean, they're in court all the time, but there's just so many cases cases.
>> Um, so why uh the why so this you may have just answered this, but why the long gap between appearances? Again, >> probably your the >> I think it just it just depends. You know, some now I will say when I was in I used to be in Clayton County on the south side and my judge would do it where like basically let's say you got indicted like January 15th. You would come in the first week of February for arraignment. So you would arraign the January cases in February and then the December cases would come in for motions, pre-trial conference, final plea like back to back to back.
So, like Monday was arraignment, Tuesday was pre-trial motion or no pre-trial conference, Wednesday was motions, Thursday was final plea, and then you go to trial the next week. And so, they would move it really, really quick. But, >> you know, just every judge does a little bit different, a little bit different.
>> Um, and I think so this person also said, "Do they lack enough judges and prosecutors?" So, I think you you answered that as already. Um, so, okay, this is a question. When will the unindicted when will Okay, so I think in Oh, so I'm going to just I'm not sure if they're specific. I'm assuming they're asking maybe about Ernest Williams case. Um, so I'm I'm going to just say when will the unindicted be So when when you have a situation where you may have an unindicted co-conspirator or an unindicted a unnamed >> Mhm.
>> individual what does that mean? Tell us what what does that mean?
>> That's a great That's a great question.
So >> is that what's that person doing in the case?
>> Yeah. Like it can come up in a couple of different ways, right? Like sometimes sometimes you'll have an unindicted co-conspirator because um there's just not enough, right?
There's just not enough to prosecute that person, but what they did is part of the story. Or maybe it's that there is enough, but it just doesn't make sense to prosecute them because what they did is so minor compared to the whole thing. Right? That's kind of situation number one. Situation number two could be like um you have enough to prosecute that person and like you will if it comes down to it, but you basically put them on the indictment.
Number one, to tell the story, right? To tell the full story of what happened, but number two, also to kind of let them know, you might reach out to that person or their lawyer and let them know like, hey, I've got enough to to prosecute you. So, do you want to work out a deal?
um or do you want me to turn around and and get a superseding indictment and put you on it? So that happens too. That definitely happens too.
>> Those are the two main reasons though that I would say >> when you when you have situations like that are when you are you driving into work like oh yeah today I'm getting ready to lay I'm getting ready to ruin a couple people's weekends. Like do you know >> I mean you have a a big circle of influence there. I mean people are like you know let me ask you this. So, I'm thinking of this as I'm asking the question. Do you call the defense attorney? Do you let them know like you're getting ready to do a superseding or you've got additional charges? Do you make a courtesy call? Do you send an email like, "Hey, you might want to check your notifications, something's coming through or like how does that do you notify them or do you just let them get their alert however they get alerts and figure it out?" I would say in most of my cases, I let them know ahead of time. Like I won't necessarily say like, "Oh, it's coming tomorrow." But most of the time, I'm going to say like, "Hey, >> I've got this part." Like for instance, I can give an example of a case. I won't name what case it was, but for instance, I had a case where um some of the victims in the case, like the statute of limitations was getting kind of close.
And so it was like, all right, I need to go with what I've got right now and get this indicted knowing that I've got this other piece of it that is still coming together. So like I indicted that first part and then let the defense know, hey, we're going to supersede this. Like there's going to be a version two of this indictment. We're just not ready to do it yet. So, just as a heads up, but I typically won't do like a um I won't do like a hey, I'm indicting them tomorrow unless it's a situation where there's going to be another arrest warrant. Like if the person's been arrested, they bonded out and then they're going to get arrested again because of the new charges.
>> Um that in that situation, I'll usually work out with them, you know, just to be courteous and make it make it, >> you know, not messy. try to work out like a time for them to turn themselves in and and all that good stuff.
>> If you um so um if so in any of your current So when would we find out who an unindicted co-conspirator is? Like when will that ever come out? Will that come out >> in trial? Will that will we ever you know if someone is following your current case load and there just happens to be a unindicted co-conspirator are we ever going to know?
>> That's a tough one because it could be that like I said in some cases it could be that that person gets indicted at some point.
>> Um but it also could be that nobody knows until trial because you know it will come out in the evidence or it could also be that nobody ever knows you know. Um now the >> in discovery >> it's in discovery. It's in discovery. It is always in discover county um release discovery once someone is uh prosecuted.
>> So the way >> they will they release the full discovery packet. So >> underingiring minds can deep dive into it. people like me >> under the open records act and once a case is closed then you can request the file and we under open records the DA's office has to turn over the case file you redact out you know certain PII >> oh it'll just it'll the undicted co-conspirator's name will be >> No I don't think that would be redacted >> sharpie on it no the only the things that get redacted is like you know social security numbers and birth dates and >> yeah we don't want that we want we want the we want the tea okay Um, okay.
Someone asked, I think Miss Piggy asked, um, if you could teach at any university, um, >> or teach law. I I lost the question. Oh, there it is. I think if you could teach law at any university, where would it be?
>> Oh, that's a good question.
>> I'm going be honest.
>> I went to Miami for undergrad. I would go back to Miami just so I could live in Miami >> because you you like Well, that's it's a very outside culture there. So, you want to kind of you like it. You like it's a it's a nice it's I feel like it's a city where you could feel like you're on vacation all the time.
>> All the time.
>> It's it's got a a vibe where it's just very relaxed. It's the the temperature.
It's just it's a really >> You got to be careful because like a city >> Yeah. When I lived there, it was kind of like you didn't know what >> like you would lose track of what season it was because the seasons don't change like that. And so >> that was always kind of a weird thing.
But yeah, I think there was a time where I would have been like, Harvard, I want to teach at Harvard. But now, you know, I just turned 39 yesterday and so I'm getting close to >> Really? I had no idea. I would never Y'all, did you guys know Will is almost 40?
>> Almost. Wow.
>> And so, as I as I'm getting a little more up there, I'm like, you know what?
Life's got to be about enjoying enjoying your time a little bit. For sure. So, someone is asking how long do you think so and this is um so this is a specific question um how long do you think the trial will be and with what's being said what is the chance that Mr. Williams takes a plea. So, let's just say on a in a big RICO case. Oh, did you just say you just had a birthday?
>> Yeah, yesterday.
>> I Why did that go over my head? Oh my god. Happy birthday. How rude. Cuz I was like, wait a second. Why am I getting happy birthdays? I think I was reading the answer. So, I was like two brains.
>> Happy birthday. So, wow. So, what did you did you do anything fun for your birthday?
>> Yes. So, I took the day off the campaign. I said, "I'm not doing campaign stuff today." Um, just went to dinner with some friends. Went to >> had, you know, had a couple drinks. A couple drinky drinks. And then, do y'all have Jenny's in Charlotte?
>> I don't >> Jenny's ice cream.
>> Uh, >> it's so good. Like, oh my gosh.
>> Is it G I N Y?
>> It's J E N I.
>> J E N Ice Cream. Okay.
>> Yeah. It is so good.
>> I have a sweet tooth. I have like a terrible sweet tooth.
>> I don't know if we have it in Charlotte.
Uh I'll have to You know what? We do.
>> Jenny's Splendid Ice Cream.
>> That's the one.
>> We actually have three. Go figure.
>> I'm so out of the loop. Um okay, I see what it looks like now. I'll have to try it out and then I'll let you know.
>> So, get the gooey buttercake >> and the um what is it like? Brown butter almond brittle, something like that.
>> It is delightful. I will tell them that I was referred by a future judge. Um, okay. I will definitely try. So, yeah, we do have it. I just didn't know anything about it. Um, okay. But happy birthday. So, you turned 39. So, that's a big birthday for you.
>> Yeah. Last one in the 30s.
>> It's okay. 40 is fun. 40's 40 I think is very cool. And also, you're a guy, too.
And then you say you're 40. It's like a whole It's a whole status. It's a It's a thing. I mean, I remember thinking 30 like I turned 30 in Mexico on Cinco de Mayo and I was like, "Oh my god, I'm so old." And now I'm like >> You're a Cinco de Mayo baby. It's okay.
>> Okay. So, did you go eat Mexican food?
>> No, this year. Normally I do. Normally I do, but this year we went and got Italian food.
>> Okay.
>> It was good. It was good.
>> I I respect that. There's nothing. Yeah, it's good. Um Okay. So, again, everybody is saying lots and lots of happy birthdays.
>> Thank you. Thank you. I'm still thinking about the person who said like your alternate career would be modeling. I cannot I cannot I try to keep like a a straight face, but that was cute.
Someone said you should be doing modeling. That was very cute. Okay. Um I'm I feel like there's lots of um Ernest Williams inquiries here. In your opinion, do you think Oh gosh. Do you know who Ponytail is?
>> Of course.
>> My god. Okay. Do you think do you think that ponytail should get time for taking down Neesto's Instagram page and and tampering with evidence? I'm just going to let this one I can't answer with evidence, i.e. talking to victims.
>> No comment on that one.
>> Okay, I'm sorry. Okay, let's keep going.
Why is the indictment time so long in Atlanta? Okay, just more time constraints questions, but we know we do. We have verified who you know who ponytail is. Okay, that was funny. My bad. I was really reading that as I was going along. Okay. Do you have a link for Will's donations? I will drop the link to this person. I'm sorry I did not answer sooner, but somebody is asking because they want to donate money. Um I will get that over to them in just a minute.
>> And if you go to if you go to wootenforjah.com, it'll take you you'll see it. Just wooten www.
Wen 4 and it's not letter. It's not number four. It's F O R.
>> So actually all of them. You can do the number four, the written out for.
>> You bought everything.
>> Yeah, we got them all. Just >> Wow. Okay. Woo. W O T N F O R Ga.com.
Right.
>> These questions in the chat.
>> They are so funny.
>> They are so funny. They are they are like a bunch of comedians in the chat.
Um, okay. What kind of time does he think? Okay. I guess so. We have to look at this. So, you're asking a potential sentence for someone who's facing crimes like this person who's in question in your comment. Um, uh, let me see. I'm hitting the like button on your question right now. So, you know, I'm answering. Um, we'd have to look at the statutes. We'll look at the statutes. And if we look at the statutes, the statute will give us a frame of time and we can guesstimate from that. But then you know in order of law, aren't I so smart? If you in order of law with the most serious cases, then depending on if they are concurrent or consecutive things like that, then we can kind of guesstimate what's going to happen. Aren't we so smart?
>> Yes. Yes.
>> So yes, we'll have to look it up if you want to. Well, but if you if somebody has like 75 of something, it's probable that it's they're facing a lot of time.
I would just it's safe to assume that if some the more cases someone h more charges someone has in a case then the opportunity for long stretches of time are there. Is that would that be a fair thing to say? Potentially in order of law >> if they do it concurrently then maybe not right. It just depends. I think generally the more the more most of the time generally the more charges are on the that are on the indictment the more times somebody >> one would assume. Okay. Um and then when it's a complex case complexes are serious felonies.
>> Yes.
>> Versus the non-complex.
>> Yes.
>> Okay. Um what kind of time? Okay. We already asked that based on the evidence you have in your opinion. They asked so many questions that I that I I'm just I can't ask because I mean I guess we can ask but you don't you know you we can't talk on um a any specific person's case.
>> Umh so when you get back to work what do you have to do? Do you have Let me ask you a question. if you so right before you went on sbatical let's say your your current situation um there was an ask what are the benefits of merging a case of merging cases so if you have a big case and then you have other little cases and you're like hey let's merge the case and then someone says well no I don't want to merge the case what's the b isn't there like a cost-effective benefit from merging a case. Do you think it's kind of >> potentially stretching out an incarcerated person's time if they don't?
>> I mean, I think I think there's, you know, on the defense side, in any case, there's always a strategy, right? And so, >> you know, without talking about any specific case, sometimes the strategy might be like, >> you know, >> if you have separate trials, then you can you know what a witness is going to say. You can end.
>> My bad.
>> Okay. Sorry about that.
>> Oh, you're good. You're good. But, you know, the other thing is, and I can't remember the specific like um the specific language, but there's a there's a there's a standard for when you can combine multiple indictments together.
And it's generally just got to be part of the same scheme or part of the same pattern of activity >> or um so linked up together that it just makes sense that they go together if that makes sense.
>> Okay.
>> Okay. Um so when you get back, how do you do you check your dockets to see, hey, this wasn't scheduled yet? Right.
>> Does that fall on the attorney who requested the hearing or the let's have a chat about this? Like the person who requested it, is that the person who needs to follow up to make sure something gets scheduled?
>> Yeah, generally.
>> And if you notice that something's not getting scheduled, do you ever say anything about it just so that your your work log isn't getting like backed up?
>> Yeah. No, for sure. And especially too because like there's certain on the prosecution side, there's certain um well on the defense side too, there's certain things that if you lose a motion, if the judge rules against you, sometimes you automatically get the right to appeal. And so I'll always want to make sure that we get it scheduled so that if we lose, we can we can then appeal and get it get it sorted out on appeal before we go to trial >> and appeal where it goes to the appeals court.
>> Yes. Yes. Like for instance on the prosecution side, if any charges of that are part of an indictment, even if the whole indictment doesn't get dismissed, if certain charges get dismissed before trial, you automatically get to appeal that up. Or if evidence gets suppressed, you automatically get to appeal that up.
You don't have to do the whole asking for permission thing. You just you automatically have a right to appeal. So um or anytime the judge doesn't allow certain evidence in. So like for instance in a certain case where I may have moved to have you know evidence of other crimes admitted at trial if you're if the judge rules against you on a motion like that the state you have the right to appeal that.
So, um, like when you the uh motion for intrinsic evidence that >> now there's some timing though where it's like if you wait and do it at the last minute, like if you if the judge doesn't schedule it and you don't say anything and you wait and ask for it to be heard right before trial and then you lose, >> then you can't use that strategically to delay things. But there's some timing requirements in there. So, you got to make sure that you that you get it scheduled ahead of time.
I feel like there's a lot of project management.
>> Yes.
>> In do is there a missing is there a gap missing or is that the judicial assistant that kind of looks over the docket to see like what's open, what's pending? Like sometimes I feel like the project manager side of my brain >> feels like there's a missing piece somewhere like a non party member who keep you know it just doesn't seem like I don't know if the judge is really responsible for that because they're supposed to be nonpartisan but it seems like there is a management piece of the workflow right >> that seems to be incumbent on one side or another side that they prevent the judge's staff >> going as fast as it could.
>> Like the judge's staff, they'll have a person like a litigation manager who's managing all that stuff, >> but it still is ultimately >> some are better than others or some are faster than others or more on it than others. Okay. Cuz it just doesn't it seems like there's a missing piece somewhere maybe and it does seem like some courts are faster than other courts. So maybe that's what it is. Um because I'm like is there like a project manager here that's because it's like I cannot imagine a lawyer who has tons of cases has time to like oh this didn't this this needs to be you know they they haven't scheduled this or let me it's like lots of scheduling going on who's managing the scheduling the calendars the submissions I need this back this and then so the judicial assistant or you say the litigation manager who's actually looking those things over and managing those moving parts and sending the emails or the alerts that these things need to be in or >> but it is ultimately on the lawyer. You know, you got to keep track of what you filed and >> a lot.
>> It's a lot. It's a lot. But, you know, that's part of the part of the job.
>> You have to be um I'm I'm sure you're going to say this. Are were you always a highly organized, highly efficient individual or did you have to become that?
>> Yeah. Like if I I got to stay organized or I just I can't keep up. So, I've got like I know it's oldfashioned, but my thing is just like to-do list. I'm always making a list of, >> you know, >> I've got like an app on my phone that's the to-do list and I'll just put stuff in there so I don't forget and then go in and check off what's been done. But yeah, you got to stay organized. You got to stay organized.
>> Okay.
>> Especially with appeal stuff because if those deadlines for anything appeals related are very very strict.
We know, we know, we we we learned a few things uh during this past cycle of seeing uh some deadline situations.
>> Um what about Fonnie Willis? Is she is she um does she like Excel spreadsheets?
She seems like the type where she likes lots of reports.
>> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
>> Very much so.
>> What's her favorite report?
>> What's the one you are going to hear about?
>> One that is that is to the point. She wants the report to be efficient, to the point.
>> She wants to drill down. She wants >> Tell her what's going on and move it along.
>> What do I So, like, what do I need to know here?
>> Exactly. Exactly.
>> Okay. Um, so do you guys meet like weekly, monthly? How do you guys get um how do you get rated in your office as an individual team? How does that work?
So each of the units we meet with her usually about once a month or once every other month and just give an update. You know, these are the cases that we brought in. This is what pled out. This is what went to trial. This is what was dismissed. Um these are the high-profile cases that you need to know what's going on. Um and so, you know, for us it's pretty it's pretty quick. We're in and out pretty quick. Usually >> it's like a a highle standup.
>> Yes. Basically.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Okay. Um, what do you when do you know that a case is in trouble? Like when is it kind of just like I'm just >> I mean I'll tell you what, like >> or five reporters called me. What you know, something's going on here?
>> I for me, I think partly it's because I was a defense attorney. Like I know pretty quick. Like I can pick up a case file and if there's holes in it when I read that warrant, I'm just like, "Wait a minute. What about this? What about that? How did we prove that? How do we know that happened? What witness is gonna say this? And so, and you know, in my unit, in the white collar unit, we are very, >> we're very heavy on the front end. So, we do our, you know, we make sure that that before we indict a case, we make sure that it is good to go. And if it's not good to go, we're going to not proceed on it.
>> Okay.
>> Um, let's see.
>> And we talk to all the witnesses ahead of time. you know, we make sure that it's that it is what we think it is. And there's been many times where, you know, you get that report and it sounds good and then you get the case file and you start talking to the witnesses and it's like, wait a minute, this does not add up. Or like one of the things that I've had happen before is like somebody will be charged and the money like they for stealing money and then the money goes into their spouse's bank account and sometimes the police will charge both of them. But then we look at it and we're like,"Well, how do how do we know that the spouse knew what was going on or how do we prove that the spouse knew what's going what was going on?" And so that's like I would say more often than not it's like maybe one defendant will get cut off of a case because we just don't feel like there's enough evidence there. That type of thing.
>> Is that sometimes a tactic to get the spouse to potentially just be forth? I mean, sometimes some people are ready to just say, "I'm sorry. I did something wrong." Some or do you have that happen where it's like, "Look, I >> I've had like detectives, >> I messed up. I've just, you know, I'm sorry. Like, what can we do?" Like, >> I mean, I've just they're ready to they're ready to confess and is like, "Look, look, Janice, I need for you to you know what I'm saying? Like, I wasn't sure what was going on. I thought something was weird. Um, but she's going to tell you ex whatever, you know, we want to make this right type of thing.
Do you have people like immediately just are like, "Look, we're not >> Sometimes >> that was not our intent."
>> But I've also had sometimes where a detective is like, "Oh, can I charge this person and just see if that makes them spill the beans?" And I'm like, "No, you no you cannot. If you don't have the evidence, like, we're not playing that game. Like if you don't have the evidence, >> we're not going to arrest somebody just to see if we can see what happens, you know?
>> Right.
>> Um >> and that does happen from time. I've had to have those conversations before with detective detectives. Not often, but a few times and say like, "Uh-uh, we're not we're not."
>> They use the good old under suspicion type. You're you're under suspicion or you you >> Yeah. or like they'll just think. I've had a couple times where, you know, a detective to them there's probable cause, but that's as far as it goes, right? And I'm like, I want to see how is this going to play out all the way to to trial, >> right? I mean, and so probable cause to me is not enough.
>> I mean, it is under the law enough to arrest somebody, but to me it's not enough to to >> to prosecute >> Okay. Um, let's see what kind of Okay.
Um, why is Okay. Um, what else? So, okay.
So, I think I asked you about So, what were your thoughts? I asked you to check on the David case. What did you What do you What are your thoughts? I mean, it's a lot. It's a little bit It's complicated.
>> It's complicated. I just have like a very high level understanding of the facts. So my my it's very I have like not dug super deep into it. What I know and tell me if I'm wrong because >> my brain's been pulled off on campaign like everything for the past two months basically. But um >> the allegation right is it he's like 21 or something like that.
>> He just turned 21.
>> Just turned 21 and was dating like a 14year-old girl. Something like that.
>> I think she would have been 14 at the time of her death. But yeah, she was she was let's just say there was a six-year age gap.
>> Mhm.
>> And he's the senior of the two. So she was definitely a minor, >> right?
>> Um Yes. Absolutely.
>> And then and then was she her body was found in his vehicle, right?
>> In the in the front of the of the Tesla.
Yeah, she was in the frunk.
>> Yeah, that's I mean >> decomposed and dismembered.
>> Horrible facts, >> right? Yeah. Horrible facts. I mean that's There's a lot of questions there, right?
I mean, like >> 40 data.
>> I mean, I haven't seen the file, so I can't say, you know, if somebody's guilty or if they're not guilty, but >> starting with that fact alone, >> that's a tough that's a tough spot to be in on the defense side, right?
>> Yeah.
It's It's not looking very good. I mean, I don't I don't know. It's It's not looking very good. They said they have 40 terabytes of of information >> um from the Tesla, the iCloud lot. So, it's I mean his to me his demeanor obviously he's not happy he's sitting in jail right now, but it definitely was giving >> they found everything. You know what I mean? Like I just you know we want to give him the benefit of the doubt but it just you know >> where would you get 40 data uh terabytes of nothing? You know what I mean? like to me 40 terab is sir they they went into all your stuff and they've got lots of information to corroborate um but at the like I said at the end of at the period we know that they had a relationship right >> and whether they're able to be able to prove a case that he actually killed her we do know that there was some sort of inappropriate relationship with lots of witnesses and interact interaction, text messages between them. So, there was something going on. There were intimate photos that they were sharing with each other. So, he's already cpped to not well, I'm not going to say he's coped to it, but there is some physical evidence in his personal devices and there's interaction between the two of them. So whether he admits to it or not, >> um there are things that he can't >> deny >> that h that are that tie him to a inappropriate relationship with this young lady that could send him to jail for a very long time. So >> you know >> cuz we just saw that in the uh in the Jarvis Butts case, which I was talking to you about before we went live. right?
>> Um who was he's now deceased, but he was um adjudicated guilty in Wayne County and he plead guilty to he had six different cases. So there were like six different victims.
I'm going to just say two close family members.
Okay. one young lady who was the first cousin of one of the close family members who was also the homicide of the group of cases. So, he was a really bad guy. They they called him a serial predator, serial sexual predator. Um, but his jail calls recently got released. I don't know if we have time to do it tonight, but I would love for you to come back and do a jail call reaction with us from from the prosecutor's standpoint of, okay, you guys are listening. Do you guys have a phone room? Like, what is the setup? Do they do you guys just go in a conference room and are like, "Look, we got 10 jail calls to listen to." How does that work?
Is there a special room?
>> Do you guys get a download to your computer?
So, it's everybody does a little bit different. I think there is.
>> Is there popcorn involved >> sometimes? I think there is. Um I think there is I think we do have like a a jail call like lab. I don't ever I don't ever use >> Oh my god. Can we get a tour?
>> Yeah, we have like we do have a jail call >> guest that come through. Like can we can >> probably not. Probably not. Probably not.
>> People come to the DA's office. Do people ever come to the DA's office to visit?
>> Not to tour it. Like you you can't get Now the grand jury can the grand jury tours it like every two years or something like that. They inspect the office. But but when I'm listening to jail calls typically I'm either just I have it on in the background while I'm doing other stuff and I'm just kind of listening while or >> I've been slacking on the gym lately, but I will listen to it at listen to them at the gym sometimes. Like if I'm really in like if it's like it's good stuff and like I'm really into it and I really need to know what's going on right now. There's been times where I'm just like on the treadmill listening to the listening to the >> calls. Okay.
>> And are you having to go back like you hear something are you going back then getting your notes and >> we can make notes on the system.
>> We can make notes on the system.
>> Really? So tell me about the So the system you're listening to the So is it an app?
>> It's a It's like a website interface.
>> So you can do annotations. You can say >> you can like tag them and stuff.
>> So a time stamp you can annotate.
>> Yep.
>> Look into this >> and then go back and said that >> like whatever you annotated.
>> Wow.
>> Yeah, >> that is so cool. Um, >> and then there's even like a a um there's a program, now I've only used it once or twice, but where you can upload all the calls. It's like an AI thing.
You can upload all the calls into it and it will like parse out like it'll transcribe everything and you can search for it and it'll like identify, you know, based on the language like you should listen to this call, you should listen to that call to, you know, that type of thing. Now, that's all new. It was very very kind of cutting edge, but I've played around with it a little bit.
>> So, um, and when you hear that, like what have you gotten like major leads from?
>> Oh, yeah.
>> From the Okay. Major major.
>> Absolutely. Absolutely. Like I'm trying to think. Um, I mean there's the biggest one that has come up has been like people will make an admission, maybe not a full-blown confession, but people will will make admissions like you know for instance like oh like they're gonna like I'm trying to think of an example that I can say um sometimes it'll be like they shouldn't have charged me with that and then implication is, "But they did charge me with this and so and I did do it." If that makes sense. Does that make sense at all? Like sometimes you read between the lines and you can kind of pick apart what somebody says because most people I think do know that they're being recorded. So there's a little bit of talking in code and talking around things and stuff like that. But um >> how are people talking in code? This is what I don't understand. How are you talking in code and thinking that the experts of listening to people on jail codes are not jail calls are not picking up?
>> I mean, what I would say is somebody is nervous or >> like sometimes we can't wrap our heads around why certain people commit certain crimes, right? Mhm. And >> it's because sometimes people that are just in this constant cycle of committing crimes, like our brains just don't work the same way, right? I don't know if it's the the um >> the what's the word, like the the the actions and consequences thing. They don't think the consequences through. But this that same type of thinking sometimes happens on the phone, right? like they think they're going to get away with something or they think that we're not going to know what it means or whatever, but and it just doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense if you're thinking about something logically, but if somebody's in jail for, you know, committing a 100 crimes, maybe they're not always thinking logically.
>> Someone's saying low IQ and narcissism.
Um, >> some narcissism for sure.
>> But also, I do think that there's just this sheer kind of there's a thousand people in here.
>> Mhm.
>> They're not listening to my calls. I think some people feel not arrogance, but just like they don't not that they're not taking it serious either. I just think sometimes they see the the volume, but then when you think about it, you have a prosecutor designated to your case. So, are they listening to a thousand people right now? Probably not.
But doesn't mean that your prosecutor didn't just pull your calls. So, I think they're not thinking >> like for instance, >> um I kind of want to play this, but there's a this so Jarvis Buds, one of his girlfriends, one of his many women.
Um, this woman says that the Detroit police came to see her and she's just like and they came to my door and they had a picture of my driver's license and she's like, "How did they get that?" And I'm thinking to myself, "You can't be serious. How did the police get a picture of your They have access to all the information." Girl, they they >> I mean, how did they find you? Well, he's calling you on the phone, >> right? If they didn't know who you were, they know based on the list of people he's calling and also they got his phone from a search >> and they're already mapping the numbers of or the places that he was on the day that the individual who is missing went missing.
>> Right. Right.
>> So if he called or went to six places, those are the first six places that they're going to and looking at. But she's like mystified as to why they're at her house, but he's calling her actively. He's, you know what I mean?
All of these things and she's mystified.
But the funny thing is is that in this um so he's trying to he's hearing that all of a sudden Detroit police is like knocking on a bunch of people's doors.
They're coming to people's houses.
They're doing searches. They're looking closets. They're searching vehicles. All of these things. He finds out that the police just went to the shop where him and his friend work who is also one of the last people who saw this young lady alive. And the girl tells him, "Yeah, they were at the shop." And he's like, "How do you know?" He's like, "She's like, "I drove past there and I saw them at the shop or there were police out there." And he's like, "Call them now." And she's like, "You want me to call them on the phone with you?" And he's like, "No." You know, and I guess she called on three-way, whatever. She got the guy on the phone. He said that the police had been there and then she tries to call him back two times with the guy on the phone and then he doesn't pick up the phone. But when they did the preliminary hearing, they actually did connect at some point because there was a jail call where they did connect and he tells him to go to the back seat of so and so's truck and that his phone is like wrapped up in a shirt. Little did he know that the police had already gotten it >> and you know his friend never went to go get it. But that was a huge piece of information because when they got his phone, they were able to map all the the coordinates. They created a map of his travels in 36 hours. Yeah. And they were able to like that whole thing. But yeah, that's that's the interesting thing >> I think for a lot of us. Some of us, we just want to hear the tea and the gossip and the lies. But um it is interesting to hear in all of that kind of the cover up >> and the subcontext of the crime. It kind of lets you in a little bit on the criminal mind a little bit of it.
>> Absolutely. And then think about how >> what you're working with.
>> And think about how like you know exactly how you're you receive it is exactly how somebody on the jury would receive it. So >> it's so interesting. Like it's so interesting. That's, you know, a lot of, at least our group here, um, we love like the body cam, >> interrogation videos, jail calls, the warrants, >> right? Right.
>> The all of those. We just, we love that.
It's like, oh my god, we got something juicy.
>> I know. I know.
And sometimes they are so juicy. Like sometimes, >> oh my god.
>> And sometimes the jail calls make the whole case. I mean, >> oh my god. or I can actually talk about this one because it's over, but I had a case um with this guy that I prosecuted for basically um threatening a bunch of women like to do terrible things, horrible, horrible things. And I won't even repeat what those things are. But all of the threats were on email and text message.
>> Wow. But what we had was when he was in jail, he was talking to his parents and there was a few times that he blew up on his parents. And so even though those were he was not blown up on the victims being able to and he he ultimately plead guilty but if we had gone to trial those jail calls even though what he what he actually said wasn't necessarily didn't really matter.
>> Being able to show the jury like this is what this man sounds like when he is being threatening when he is being >> in this way. allowing them to hear it, really hear it firsthand. Like that's just incredible evidence, you know, >> much more than even these. I mean, the emails were horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible. But to hear him in his own voice say these things is just like, >> did he get a lot of jail time?
>> I'll just say this. Um, I recommended, what did I recommend?
I think like 15 years in prison. I mean, it was bad. Mhm. Mhm.
>> And he ended up getting two years, which um >> no >> was a lot less than what I recommended and I was a little bit surprised, but you know, um >> judges do what they're going to do and they all have different reasons and we all advocate for our side and our position and what we think is right, but it's ultimately up to the judge. So, and that's why it's so important that we elect judges that we think are going to do, you know, what we think they should do under the law. Just to throw in a little campaign plug there. Do you think um do you know if this person is so did they get out like are they out now? Like it's >> No, they're they're incarcerated.
>> Yeah, they got transferred to the prison and we'll have to do there was an aggravated stalking charge with I think which I think you have to serve like 85% on that. Okay.
>> And so they'll still have to do, you know, a good bit of time.
>> They've been in for about just about a year >> right now. So they'll have to do another probably like nine months, something like that. Well, you know, some people just can't get out of their own way, and I would hate it for another potential victim out here, but, you know, sometimes people are just going to go right back to what they know, >> right?
>> So, hopefully no one will get hurt, but, you know, um yeah, that's, you know, it's that's unfortunate when you don't get the I don't know. I've I feel like the judges have been coming with it lately. Um I don't know. I haven't seen I'm sure that there are some light sentences happening, but I don't know.
It seems like everything that ends up on YouTube, it's like whoa.
Um, like they're they're laying the smackdowns. They're at least making doing stuff that makes sense and beyond.
So, I guess that's a good thing. I think also um with the Ireina's law, I don't know if that's national or not, but I know it's here in North Carolina, the girl that got stabbed on the on the link train. um with the guy Carlos Brown, that whole thing. Um >> when I've gone downtown to court, violent offenders, they are not getting bond at all. That's the if you're if you have a violent offense, they are not obligated to give you any bond. They're actually mandated to not.
>> Oh, wow.
>> Um at this Well, with the I it's a law now with the violent offense, no bond.
Um also because our current president likes to shout out judges. So if someone is if someone lets someone out and someone does something, you might get a shout out in a press conference and not the most favor. And there are judges sometimes that don't even have all the information. So it's not always the judge's fault, you know, the the the magistrate or whoever is uh responsible for giving someone bond. But yeah, um I feel like jud, you know, from what I've seen, I feel like some of the judges are more engaged in giving lengthier, weightier sentences. Like, do you feel like that's happening?
>> It depends, you know? Um I mean, there's definitely been times where I'm like, "Wow, I did not think it was going to be that severe of a sentence." And times when I'm like, "Wow, I thought it was going to be way harsher." So it's I think it's hard for me to say because I just think immediately of my cases and so I can't be objective in the same way um in in some sense but um I do think you know the violent stuff people are getting pretty pretty hefty sentences.
>> Yeah.
So, um, okay. So, white collar, >> I will say like with our with our white collar cases, we have we have generally gotten pretty appropriate sentences. I mean, there's only been a couple >> I'm trying to think if there's even one that comes to mind where I was like, "Wow, I can't believe they got what they got." on the white collar stuff. Our judges, you know, we we really have have in Fulton County have made that a priority to make sure that we are getting the sentences that are appropriate because historically white collar cases didn't get appropriate sentences. I mean, historically, they were lighter sentences even though, you know, these folks can ruin someone's life just as much as as a violent case.
Um, but you know, I think the judges have been pretty good about about giving appropriate sentences in our cases.
Um, so one of uh, so Miss Fine's asking about uh, the Stefon Diggs case. We talked a little bit about it before we hit the go live. Um, so you saw something about it, but you weren't really following it.
>> Yeah, I saw something about like somebody commented about I think that the prosecutor got up in the closing argument and was basically just like, "Look, our witness, you know, we didn't have the best witness, but still convict, please," type of thing.
>> It was It was interesting. I think they were trying to they were he was asking for them to kind of not hold it against her that she wasn't, you know, >> right?
>> She wasn't super I wouldn't say she wasn't cooperative, but she just I she just to me she just didn't do herself any favors as a victim, you know? It just it was >> it it just >> um it was hard to be able to feel anything for her. Um cuz I I feel like everybody was giving as much of a chance as possible. Um and you know it just it was difficult. Uh let me see. Will AI interpret Oh my gosh. Will AI interpret Mushmouth's conversation? Um, so if you have somebody who has an interesting speech pattern or an interesting way of articulating themselves, is your AI capable of deciphering interesting uh colloquialisms like >> Probably not. Honestly, >> can they read between the lines?
>> Probably not. But, you know, like I grew up in South Carolina, so I've heard a lot of different ways of speaking and, you know, so I know like I'm I can understand a lot better than AI probably, you know.
Okay, so let's so this is an interesting question. Is it an admission when someone says they did something but it should be considered civil?
I would say I mean if they're saying I did it I would say so I would say so >> because they're partying it to another aspect of the law >> right >> but I don't know okay so get them saying it's civil they but we do know that things can be civil and criminal at the same time. Um, so yes, it's civil, but just because your mind doesn't connect to the fact that it's it could maybe it is civil, but it could also be criminal, >> right? I mean, maybe think of it like if somebody says like take it to a different type of charge, right?
Something like um if somebody says like, "Yeah, like I shot them, but I didn't mean to kill them." Well, you just admitted that you shot them and they died. So, you just admitted to murder even if you don't realize it as murder.
Right. Right.
>> That's how I would think about that.
>> Or uh what did So when So I hate to go back to OJ because people pull that one all the time, but he was acquitted of murder, but he was found liable >> in the wrongful death.
>> Um >> they were able to find reason to feel to that he was involved in the murder of his wife some way. I I wasn't I was young at that point. I really I remember it happening, but I was not following it like >> I would have followed it today, right?
>> Um but I do remember that the Browns got a settlement and are still trying to recoup those monies.
>> Um >> I think it's two things with that though. Like one is you know the burden of proof is lower in a civil case, right? Criminal you have to prove it be beyond a reasonable doubt. Civil you just have to prove it you know by a prepoundonderance of the evidence. So just that it's essentially more likely than not >> that um that the person killed somebody versus beyond a reasonable doubt that the person killed somebody. But also, I think part of it is, you know, juries know, I think jury, especially in a murder case, juries know that if you convict, that person's going away for the rest of their life.
>> And that's going to, I think, make them a little bit more hesitant >> to convict in a criminal case than in a civil case where the consequence they know is just going to be money.
>> So, I think that, you know, the juryy's not supposed to consider that, but realistically, of course, a jury considers that, you know.
Um, do you have a favorite sports team?
>> I mean, I went to the U, so it's got to be the U.
>> Okay.
>> And we hit the national championship this year. It didn't quite turn out how we wanted, but just to be there.
>> Okay. So, >> it was nice.
>> Okay. And then, let me see. I know that juries are to decide based on evidence, but how much does the a defendant's likability affect outcomes as well?
>> It definitely does. I mean, there's no you can't you can't deny that it does. I mean, there's, you know, the best example I would give and and I hate that this is the way that it is, but this is just the reality. In some like essay cases, you know, defendant or juries will look at literally like physically how does the defendant look versus physically how does the victim look and we'll make determinations based on that sometimes, which is just not fair, not right.
They're not supposed to do it. But, you know, humans do humans do human stuff, right?
>> I mean, we have eyeballs. I mean, I think it's almost impossible to not make judgments, >> right?
>> Um, or just your brain to separate what it's finding as information. I mean, you're the jury isn't a blind jury, right?
>> So, if they really wanted people to not see and just hear the evidence, then maybe they wouldn't have them be able to see the defendant or see. So, if you wanted people to not judge on appearance, I don't want to say judge on appearance, but not have the ability to take someone's appearance into account, >> then they should be behind. They should be they should have some sort of a blinder on.
>> But that's not the way our that's not the way our system works.
>> Right. Right. And and it's ultimately and in any trial, if you listen to the jury instructions before the jury goes and deliberates, the judge will tell them that, you know, the jury is the jury's job to determine credibility and that the jury can look at anything that they want to to make that determination.
And so, you know, likability certainly goes into that for sure. And that's just human nature. I feel like that's where it comes having a balanced jury because I feel like women will defend like if someone finds someone particularly attractive and they feel like that could have been a motivating factor but that doesn't necessarily that doesn't make it necessarily the woman's fault.
>> Some people have lack of control or lack of uh you know they're they're unable to control their impulses and they have they're they're just a murdering fool.
Um you know there's just lots of factors at play. So, I don't know. I feel like having a balanced jury of ages, different um places in life, different multigenerational, different uh you know, just having a full diverse panel.
>> Absolutely.
>> Bring in those arguments where no, we're not going to judge on that. We can't, you know, I'm not holding someone to that ex, you know, we're not going to that's not a deciding factor for me.
that might be a deciding factor for you, but that's not going to be a deciding factor for me or something like that.
So, I guess that's where you have to come in and you bring your experiences to the table.
>> Um, because some people may be very >> isolated. They may, you know, everyone doesn't have the same experiences. So, I guess that's where, you know, having a well- balanced jury comes in. Um, okay.
So, interesting question. So, um, Dr. Pat wants to know, can you woo woo woo?
That's my question. Man, I did not ask that one. I'm sorry.
>> Uh, it depends on the day.
>> I feel like I read everything now.
Someone said I missed something. Miss Piggy, thank you so much for the memberships. Thank you everybody for the supers. I appreciate it. I hope I got everybody. Um, I was trying to focus.
Um, I feel like I got everybody, but if I miss someone, can you please let me know? But I think so far I think we're caught up now. I think. Um, okay. And let me go back to the chat. Someone was asking something else and I missed it.
So, if your question got missed, please drop it again. Um, does circumstantial evidence hold much weight with jurors?
>> That's a great question. That's a great question. So, under the law, somebody can be convicted on just circumstantial evidence if there's no other reasonable explanation for what happened, right?
like if the you got to be able to prove, you know, every you got to be able to basically disprove every other possibility other than what the circumstantial evidence um points to.
But, you know, I would say circumstantial evidence like you hear it on TV and stuff as if like on like law and order and they say, "Oh, it's just circumstantial." But circumstantial evidence is strong sometimes. It's very strong sometimes. Like for instance, it would be like, you know, um in a murder case, like nobody saw like the defendant killed the victim, but the defendant had the victim's bloody clothes in their in the trunk of their car, right? I mean, that's circumstantial evidence and they might say, "Oh, somebody else just planted it there, but you know, is that a reasonable explanation?" So, yeah. No, I think I think circumstantial evidence gets a bad rap sometimes because it can be very strong evidence. It can be very strong circumstantial evidence. Um, you know, it's >> well, circumstantial evidence, can you can you define I mean, circumstantial evidence doesn't mean like it just came out of thin air, right?
>> It's just it's more like theoretical evidence, right?
>> It's more like you have to you have to explain it. Explain how it >> like >> you were in place. This occurred.
>> Nobody else was there.
>> No one else was there. We can't find the weapon.
>> Mhm. Like >> hasn't been seen in in a year, >> right?
>> All accounts, but we found the person's blood in your drain.
>> Right.
>> Like there's a guy DeAndre Booker in Mcome County, Michigan.
The girl he was dating has vanished.
They have not found her body. Um, a remnant of one of her earrings was found in the drain and blood was found in the drains. And there's video of him probably making 20 or so trips from his apartment with trash bags. He went next door to the grocery store, got a grocery cart. He was transporting things back and forth from his apartment, going to a dumpster here, going to a dumpster there. And he called his gods um to come and help him move a car >> that just so coincidentally happens to the young lady belonged to the young lady who's missing and left it over somewhere else. So, I mean, I think a lot of that is circumstantial evidence because they don't have a smoking gun.
They don't have video of him killing her, but there's no reason why the amount of blood and the luminol test >> would. So, that's circumstantial evidence and they don't have a body, but she hasn't been seen. She's a mother.
>> Um there's all communication has ceased.
There was no reason to believe that she would take off. And they found enough physical evidence in the apartment without finding her body to know that there was cleanup and there was all these things. So, I feel like circumstantial evidence is really real.
It's there >> just don't have >> all of the pieces, right?
>> But there's no other explanation >> for why you're the common denominator.
like you're the whole common denominator.
>> Like the example that when I go to trial and I'm explaining, you know, in the closing arguments and I'm giving the example of what circumstantial evidence is and how you can trust it if it makes sense is I give I give this example every time it is that all right, let's say you're at work and you're inside and your office doesn't have a window. Um, but you hear you're in your office and you hear these loud bangs outside, right? Like boom. And then you walk outside because it's right before lunch and you walk outside and when you walk outside the ground is wet and it has this smell that you know this smell that happens after it rains and that there's dark clouds like over there. It's sunny over here but you see the dark clouds over there like you didn't see it rain.
You weren't out so you didn't get wet.
You weren't out there but you you heard the thunder. You see the ground is wet.
You see the clouds over there. you know that smell that it is when it rains on the asphalt. Um I always explain that that's that is circumstantial evidence.
It could have been that you know a marching band went by and the drums were going boom boom boom and it could have been that a fire truck came by and sprayed the fire hose everywhere and it could have been that it just happens to be some clouds over there. But does that make sense? No. Right? I mean we know we all know when we see those things that it rained even if we didn't actually see the rain come down. So that's the way that I always explain it to the jury.
>> Um, if is an armed robbery suspect considered or even somebody who was an armed someone who was convicted of an armed robbery um considered dangerous even if they didn't kill someone.
That's a that's a dangerous situation, right? When you >> Well, so I'm gonna give a real lawyer answer. give a real lawyer answer >> because and this is a kind of one of the it's something that I've always had a little bit of a bone to pick um with in the law in Georgia armed robbery you don't actually have to have a weapon.
You just have to make the person believe that you have a weapon. So you could have a jacket on and put your hand in your pocket like this and hold your pocket up with your hand in it and make it look like you have a gun and take some stuff and that's armed robbery, right?
>> So like a credible threat. Exactly.
Exactly. And so, um, that, you know, that's such a lawyer answer, but like to me, you know, that person might not be dangerous, but if they pulled the gun out and said like, "Give me all your money." Or I actually saw a video on TikTok yesterday where a lady was robbing a um like a convenience store and she shot the gun like off to the side just to be like, you know, I'll shoot if you don't give me the stuff.
Like, pretty dangerous right there, I would say. Um, I know juries are to decide based on evidence, but how much does a defendant Okay, I think we asked this question. Defendants liability affect the outcomes as well. Okay.
>> Um, let me see. What does it take for a person to get Oh, what does it take >> for a person to get in trouble for witness tampering? Can you tell us what witness tampering is and when does it become problematic that you actually have to like say, "Hey, you know, >> or have you ever had to intervene with someone who's being I guess either a defendant or even just a meddling a medddler?"
>> So, it's a that's a great question and I've charged witness tampering several times.
>> Okay.
>> Um and it's a very long and complicated statute. Um, but you know, it basically comes down to are you using are you intentionally using some kind of force or threats or threat to harm somebody or to harm somebody's family or threaten their job? Like there's a bunch of different ways you can do it, but there's specific things that you have to do. You either have to threaten them physically, threaten to hurt someone that they care about, threaten to commit a crime, threaten to hurt their, you know, make them lose their job. if they don't stop testifying or if they go to the police, if that makes sense. So, it's like it's very specific stuff. It's got to be and there they have to be intending to tamper with the witness, too. It can't just be like they're doing something that might result in tampering, but they didn't >> some sort of coercion, right?
>> Some sort of coercion with the intent to prevent someone from testifying or influence their testimony or delay their testimony.
>> Okay? So they're not just it's not just a threat, but it's also a threat for specific outcome.
>> Right. Right.
>> On Okay. Then you have to be able to prove that, >> right?
>> Um >> do you >> I had one and actually in that case that we were talking about where the the guy that threatened the all those women, one of the charges was witness tampering because he said basically said like if you go to the police, I'm going to make it worse.
>> You know.
>> Wow.
Okay. How do we decide concurrent versus consecutive? So, is that that doesn't that fall in your >> is that only a judge uh the judge decides that?
>> Yeah, that's a great question. Um, so generally the presumption is that a sentence is going to be concurrent. So you start out that it's going to be concurrent, but it can just be, you know, it depends on, you know, does the sentence like if each of the charges only carries a year, but one year isn't enough to make sense for what the whole scheme was, then you might make it consecutive.
Or like if when I was in Tennessee, they had a law that if you were on bond for a felony and then you committed another felony while you were on bond for a felony and you're convicted of both felonies, they have to be consecutive. That was a Tennessee law. We don't I don't think we have that in Georgia, but that's just one example.
>> I I don't I wouldn't have a problem with that.
>> Yeah, it makes sense. It makes some sense. I mean, you would just the arrogance of committing another felony while you're out on bond. That's number one. Number two, it's two separate occurrences, right?
>> And why should you get the courtesy of a concurrent, >> which that's, you know, that that would be it's a kind of another Yeah, it's Yeah, exactly. So, right. So, I think that would be actually, you know, look, don't get in trouble. Oh, this next question.
>> What's the next one?
>> I'm almost embarrassed.
>> We don't see it.
>> About going up against a defendant that represented themselves, believe it or not.
>> Why am I not seeing that one?
Have you ever Oh, is this right here?
Have you ever went up against Oh, my bad. Have you ever went up against a defendant that represented themselves?
So, a prosay >> or pro, right? Mhm.
>> Um, and if ever you do, would I don't you have something like I mean I feel like you might have something on your roster right now, don't you? Don't you have someone who's defending themselves?
>> I feel like there's someone in there that might be defending themsel.
>> I don't know if I do. I don't think I think I I definitely know I have somebody that's prosay right now only because they haven't been arrested yet and so they haven't got a lawyer yet.
>> Okay. Okay. Okay. Well, I actually had a trial against a prosay defendant and lost, believe it or not.
>> It was a domestic violence trial >> and he um I'll never forget he and did we we might have talked about this last time. Is that the Yeah.
>> He got arrested in a Miami Dolphins jersey and the first day of the trial dressed out into his Miami Dolphins jersey because he was still in custody and he represented himself and it was domestic violence and the jury acquitted it and um >> why >> because >> I feel like >> they were they were basically like she keeps going back to him so it can't be that bad type of thing. and very unfortunate situation. And she did go back to him again after and he was trying to tamper with her from the jail, sending her postcards from the jail saying like, "Don't testify or I'mma hurt you type of thing." And the jury was just like, "Eh." Like I remember one of the jurors said, "It's okay. God's going to get him." And I'm like, "No."
Like, "No." Like y'all are supposed to get him. Like if y'all knew that he did it like but >> I feel like I saw something like that recently in Mc Bernie's court a couple of months ago.
>> Like within the last month there was somebody who was tampering with a with a um with the vict with the complaining witness >> and um I don't know how it turned out though. I can't remember. But >> this was in Clayton County. The one I was in Clayco.
>> Okay. Um, interesting. Okay. Uh, let's see.
A defendant who represents himself has a fool for a client. Okay. Um, let's see.
Okay. I feel like we've asked if I missed something. Definitely. You guys go ahead and bubble it up now. Um, so I can get I'm sure there were some more questions. I should have done a question cue. Um, so my bad you guys. If there's anything else you guys have, have you ever had someone that impersonated a lawyer defending themselves? That would be crazy. It so they had criminal charges for maybe identity theft or something like that and then so someone who impersonates a lawyer defending themselves. That would be interesting.
>> You mean like like >> some sort of identity fraud? like they didn't have a lawyer, but maybe they were filing stuff, pretending it was it was a lawyer filing it.
>> I wonder. So, I'm wondering if someone who is impersonating a lawyer >> and they are on charges for impersonating a lawyer and then they decide to be prosay. Would that not be like epic? That's absolutely >> got those facts before.
Do you as the prosecutor get the opportunity to motion for someone to have a psych evaluation? Oh yeah.
>> Or is that strictly the defense?
>> No. Anyone anyone can raise that? The defense, the prosecution or the judge themselves can raise it on their own.
>> Um >> when do you think it's appropriate to throw that out there? Like when you're just like I mean do you do you hold that card dear as a pro? Like do you you don't throw that out all the time?
>> No.
>> No. No. Very rare. very rare. Like I'm trying to think as a prosecutor I've probably only done it maybe two or three times.
>> Maybe two or three times. Um and it's I can't think of like every situation that I can think of. It's been like I've gone to the defense attorney and I'm like, "Hey, I think we need you to get we need to get your client evaluated." And they've always been like, "Yeah, we agree."
>> So >> why would it take you saying that though? Wouldn't they already know that somebody might be in in trouble or somebody is not? I think you know the one that comes to mind I think it was just in the dis when we first spoke about the case the topic just came up because I was thinking of it from the perspective of like I want to make sure that this person is competent so that if we do go to trial and they do get convicted they can't turn around and on appeal say that they were not competent you know >> right um and also even if someone does show signs of you know some unhealthy mental health or unhealthy behavior doesn't necessarily make them not competent to stand trial because that's really what they're gauging is their competency. We're not trying to check everyone off as a fit and whole human.
So some people do make bad decisions, some people are very narcissistic, but they are totally able >> to assist in their defense and take their behind to court.
>> So absolutely. Um, I think that's where people get the, you know, kind of hear something and feel like, oh, well, that's that shouldn't be. Okay, let me ask you this. Um, what challenges have you faced when handling highly publicized cases?
>> Yeah, that's a great question. Um, I mean, I would go to the Trump case, right? I mean, I think that's the best example. And there's a lot of challenges. I mean I mean that's that's like highly publicized to the to the highest level, right? But I mean it's things like you know you have to watch you have to watch what you do as a person first of all like you can't like I can't go out to the club and act a mess you know when I know that the world is watching for one. Um, but also, you know, it's a challenge to Now, I haven't experienced this as much because I just kind of don't care as much. But I've I've some other prosecutors have been on high-profile cases and they go read the comments and people are critical of them and they just really have a hard time with that. But like, >> you know, you got to just put your head down and do do the job, right? Do what you believe is the right thing. And um I think those are probably the biggest challen the biggest challenges like know knowing that you're in the spotlight now and people are looking at what you're doing and you have to act a certain way and behave a certain way and and be aware of that people are watching right that can be an adjustment for sure.
We've seen some prosecutors. I mean, I've seen on like the top of my head I can think of. There was a woman I think in New York um who I don't know what she did. She did something, but the sheriff or the police officer called her out like she did something. He followed her to the house. She was walking in. I think she was actually the DA maybe for her area and then she was trying to call the police chief or whatever was like, "Tell this guy to go home." And he's like, "I can't do that.
um that that a situation with that. Then there was another prosecutor. She may not have been the DA, but she was like a assistant DA >> and was out with her husband and some friends and she was pissy drunk falling all over the place. I think that was like in Massachusetts.
>> Yeah, I think I saw that.
>> And um she was like, I'm a DA. What are you talking about?
>> Right. Right. Right. And it's like, you can't do that.
>> And I think she got fired like the next day.
>> Right. Right. um just bad. Um do you have any regrets about your chosen career path?
>> No. I mean there are days of course >> days of course where I'm like you know >> this is I'm stressed out. This is crazy.
But no no I love what I do. I absolutely love what I do.
>> Love it.
>> Are are you familiar with the Nancy Guthrie situation? Savannah Guthy's mom who's gone missing.
>> Just generally just generally. Why do you think it's taken so long to find Nancy Guthrie? Does he have other Does he have other thoughts on that case?
>> You know, I'm not sure. I mean, that's a it's a it's a very sad case. It's a and the fact that, you know, nothing has come out publicly yet is surprising, but you never know what's going on behind the scenes, right? Um, so I don't know.
I am surprised it's taken this long, but like there's a case for example in Atlanta that a woman was was killed in Pedmont Park a few years ago. Horrible, horrible case. She was stabbed and and was walking her dog and they killed her dog as well. It was just terrible case.
And and that has not been solved, which is shocking, you know. I mean, you think something like that in a in a in a park that's like at the heart of the city, you think people would be able >> There's no cams. They just couldn't catch it on the camera.
>> They have not. They have >> What about tracking phones in the area at the time? They weren't able to pull >> I assume they did all that stuff, but I don't know. I just don't know.
>> What's the difference between having enough evidence to charge someone versus enough evidence to successfully convict them? That's a great question, too. So, it's it's it's probable cause versus proof beyond a reasonable doubt, right?
So, probable cause is, >> you know, you have evidence that a crime was committed and that this person probably is the one that did it essentially >> versus you have evidence that, you know, you can go to bed at night, you can convict them and go to bed at night and know that you got it right. That's the kind of difference. One is like, I think they did it, they probably did it. um versus I know for sure they did it.
That's the difference in the evidence.
>> So, okay.
And al like I guess in some form of receipts. So, you have you have you have actual physical evidence or circumstantial evidence um versus just like a gut hunch or we saw some, you know, they saw they saw you in that place or something, >> right?
>> Um I know that the case uh I know that case in Pon Park. It was crazy. terrible case.
>> Um, what about that case? I can't think of who, but it was the young lady who got killed in her apartment by a her roommate and the boyfriend, and it's been on appeal.
Um, I guess it's an active open case. I think it's in Fton County, too. So, I guess I probably can't ask you about that. I don't It's a weird It's an interesting case, but they it keeps going back to the appeals court for something. Um, >> oh, it was at it was at the at the AU at one of the AU schools, I think. Is that the one?
>> Yes, it's a college student and the young lady was a roommate. It was a whole sorted situation. Very sad and unfortunate.
>> Yeah, that one's pending, so I can't I can't talk.
>> Yeah. No, I get it. Um, but do you think anything of like what's going on with Nancy? I mean, I don't know. It's possible Nancy could be deceased, you know?
>> I I don't know. Oh, I mean they're very close to the border. Not that it has anything to do with Mexico, but anybody could go anywhere in this country and disappear. You can go to a state park.
You can go to anywhere. Um, sometimes I think they find dead bodies by luck.
>> Lately, we've heard people doing weird things like leaving people in parks and things like that and people are walking with their good old dog and the dogs smell everything. Um, so I don't know. I I don't know what they did with her. I mean, if Nancy is alive somewhere and they're keeping her alive and she's she's somewhere not with her kids, I'm sure she's not happy. Um, cuz it sounds like her happy place was with her grandchildren and her children. Um, I I hope that they did not harm that woman, but she's, you know, she's probably deceased. They probably took her across the border or took her deeper into United States somewhere and she's um I feel really bad for her children. It's >> very sad. Um very sad case.
>> Who did it? We don't know. Um I'm it'll come up eventually. You know, it could be two years from now. It could be 20 years from now. Somebody is going to happen upon her remains. Um especially if her body is in the United States. If she's still alive, God bless her. And I hope that she gets home to her kids. I I don't know. It's It is very strange.
>> Very strange case. Very strange case.
>> It's awful. Um I I mean, do you some I mean, you don't really get cases where they have not sort of figured it out yet. Do you do you guys actually solve cases in the DA's office or are you actually pretty much getting >> We definitely do. you know, cases where it's kind of already been figured out by the detectives.
>> We have So, we have a cold case unit where part of what they do is they'll get a case that's or they'll get mult, you know, they get these cases that are cold.
>> Um, and they try to help crack the case.
Um, >> okay.
>> And then, you know, my unit a lot of times, it's not that we get it before it's been solved, but like sometimes we'll bring in our own cases. Um like you know we talked about the the veneer case that you know came from Tik Tok um or um uh sometimes the detectives will reach out to us early on and we help guide it you know early on. So that does happen for sure.
>> Wow. Okay. Um so Will, what else can we do? I know you're still needing donations. You need support. You need votes.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Um word of mouth. Um if you're not following Will on social media, he would love some shares.
>> Yes.
>> Um he would love for people to repost.
Hit the little >> It's like the recycle sign >> and that kind of reshares to your audience. Um so shares shares his stories, reposts, things of that nature.
um your dollars, >> you know, if people are able to make a contribution. I'll tell y'all like we are I I guess I'll give the update on that. So, you know, we just hit TV yesterday. So, we're on broadcast TV um in Atlanta and a couple other markets in Georgia. We're on the radio throughout the state of Georgia. And so, everything has been paid for except we've got to do a wire on Monday for about $28,000, which we're almost there. We've got to raise a few more thousand dollars to to complete that um purchase. And so once we um I think we've got about we've got to raise about $5,000 more dollars between today and Monday to be able to make that wire.
>> And so that's it. You know, that's our last bit and then anything. So any money that we're raising between now and then is going to that radio and then anything that we raise beyond that will just add more and more radio um to the airways between now and election day. And so, um, yeah, last time Bougie Gang came through, so I appreciate y'all. I mean, really, it was it's just >> it means so much the contributions coming not just from Georgia, but from everywhere. I mean, it's huge.
>> And, um, you know, like you said, like if folks can follow on Instagram, we're we're at like 880 followers, something like that. if I really want to get it up to a thousand before election day. Um, and just, you know, share some of those posts, like the post, comment on them, help them help with the engagement algorithm. That's the best thing that people can do for sure.
>> Um, our friend here is asking, "Do grand juries cover multiple cases each session since they are only held sporadically or do you have grand juries that sit for long periods of time?"
>> Yeah. Yes. So the way it works is every judicial circuit um the grand the term of the grand jury is determined by statute right so in some counties the grand jury is impanled for like six months and they'll meet like once a month or once a week or whatever it is um in Fulton County the grand jury term is two months long so we get a new grand jury every two months but they meet on Monday Tuesday there's we have two grand juries we have one that meets on Monday and Tuesday and one that meets on Thursday and Friday and so they're meeting four days a week, every week of the year. And they're usually hearing in any given day probably between 20 and 40 cases. So they move they're moving a lot of cases. A lot of cases.
>> So 20 and 40 different cases every day typically.
>> Um what kind of evidence? So, I guess grand jury or just a actual jury, trial jury, what kinds of evidence tend to have the biggest impact with juries?
>> That's, you know, it comes in different flavors, right? I mean, definitely obviously if you have it on video, right, that the defendant doing whatever you're accusing them of doing, that's going to be the biggest thing. Um, but you know, I would say evidence that just makes it make sense. It makes it an an evidence of motive. Like even though you don't have to necessarily prove motive under the law, juries really want to know why somebody did or why somebody would have done what you're accusing them of doing. I think that's probably the most most compelling evidence outside of, you know, if you have it on video or whatever.
I don't look I don't I guess for me I don't feel like that get is enough of a why because some people just are homicidal maniacs.
>> Yeah. No, you're right.
>> Some people just have a thirst to kill.
Some people are just greedy and steal.
>> Um >> if it's always nice if you can explain why it definitely >> if they were having financial trouble, does it make it any different? You know what I mean? Like if you're going to steal from a bunch of people but you needed to pay your mortgage, does that make you know what I'm saying? Like I don't know. For me, I don't need, you know, I wouldn't I guess I'm I maybe I'm different. I wouldn't care about the why so much because then you're looking for an explainer. I feel like it's almost an explainer to justify >> the crime >> whether but it's still a crime. Like you did something wrong there. What is the why? Cuz you >> That's true.
>> You know what I mean? She got on your nerves. Okay. Does that make it better?
I was mad. she talked too much or I was sick of her. Um, she's mean to me. She's not the wife I wanted. I want to date somebody else. I don't think anything you can say to to give the reason. I don't think there's ever a why that is going to be good enough. I think it makes it it solidifies we're sending your behind. You know what I mean? I feel like it's a solidifier. Most of the time when you don't know why, they know why. But if they tell you you're going to give them a one-way ticket to LWAP.
>> Yeah.
>> It's just it's not going to ever be good. Some people just want to date and they don't know how to get out of their marriage and they're they they you know, >> absolutely.
>> The why is probably going to come from a psychiatrist sitting down and saying, "This person has personality disorder and they duh and they they don't cope well and they're a narcissist and they're all of those things that aren't going to matter.
in in making the decision, you know. Um, right.
>> So, um, let me ask you this question really quick. How long does it the state keep inmates on death row? Do we even have death row in Georgia? Do you guys put people to death?
>> Yeah. So, that the Tiffany Moss case is a horrible, horrible case. And I'll just for those who don't know about it, because I watched a lot of that trial and she was actually a prosay defendant.
So horrible case um where um the defendant basically allowed her stepdaughter to starve to death >> and then she placed her in a trash can and set her on set her body on fire.
>> Um a horrible case. And and what the what had happened that led up to all this is the defendant had some stepchildren and then some biolog biological children with the with the child's father and the stepchild who was the victim in the murder case had gone to school and said that she was being beaten and the defendant I believe was an educator and lost her license because of the allegation.
And then that's when she allowed the child to starve to death. And then she represented herself at trial. Um, and didn't call any witnesses, didn't do anything. And then the jury, it was it was a death verdict. Um, and so I think she did have attorneys put on the case on appeal. Um, and I want to say I think she's exhausted all of her appeals. I think that the appeal is done in that case if I recall. And so, you know, I don't know exactly like what um I don't know exactly what would keep them from setting the execution date, but you know, those cases have to go like they'll be appealed to the US Supreme Court and and go through, you know, a lot lots of procedural steps before there's ever actually an execution.
And so people can be on death row for decades.
>> He um Black but not Bitter said, "I voted for Wooten and everyone on the ballot with the name Kesha."
>> Is there is is there anyone on the ballot named Kesha? Is it Kesha?
>> Yeah, Kesha, I believe, is running like >> labor commissioner or something or insurance commissioner.
>> Um okay. What about if there is a disgraced ex mayor from a whole another state all of a sudden trying to get on commission?
>> What could you be talking about that? I can't >> I heard there is a person that there's uh a situation where someone used to be a mayor somewhere and now I guess we'll talk about another time, another place another time. I was like what's going on here?
>> What is going on? Okay, look, people are keeping it interesting. You can't you can't fault people for just doing what they love and what they know. I'm just going to put it that way.
>> Hey, people have a right to run.
Everybody has a right to run for office and >> absolutely.
>> You know, >> it's so funny. Um, okay. I feel like gosh, Will, we've we have asked you a ton of questions. Another we've did an easy two hours. Next time you come back, maybe after the election.
>> Yes. Yes. Yes.
>> And then we can talk um some jail calls or something. Maybe there'll be something interesting and we'll ask you for your professional prosetorial.
I'm listening in the gym with my earphones on. Tell me or maybe I'll send it to you in advance and you can go you can listen to it and tell me like immediately you want to do it live like what immediately are your actions. Okay.
here. This is what I would if I heard this. This is what I'm or like annot.
Can you annotate it live for us? Like, okay, this comes through.
>> I am making a note for this, right?
>> And tell us why and all of the things so we can get like the prosecutor like teach us your talent.
>> That's what we want to know. Okay. Yes.
Okay.
>> Oh, so will we wish you the best of luck.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're just a fabulous candidate. I think, you know, you deserve to have all the votes in my opinion, but you know, at the end of the day, hopefully you're going to get just enough to handle the business.
And I mean, we miss you in Fulton County. Um, but we're not we're not selfish.
>> We're not selfish. No matter what happens, I'm going still be around till the end of the year.
>> Right. Right.
>> We got that. We got that.
>> Do you see yourself like Have you had any dreams of you driving to work to your new office? Have you felt it yet?
>> Not yet. Not yet.
Not yet.
>> You might want to take a drive and like manifest part going into the uh going into the parking deck.
>> You know, I might do that. your first day of work outfit, like what's your what's your attire's going to be?
>> And when I drive to the DA's office to the courthouse, like the court of appeals is just right over to the left.
Like I see it every day on the way to work.
>> Have you ever been in the building?
>> I have not been in the new building.
I've been in the old building, but they just moved to a new building a couple years ago, and I've not been in the new building.
>> Do you have to have credentials to get in there, or is it open to the public?
>> It's open to the public. All the courouses, >> do they have a cafeteria in there? You should go. You should go at the time that you know the other judge is going to lunch and go and get like a really obnoxious lunch and go sit and eat and enjoy the surroundings of like >> we'll see. We'll see. We'll see.
>> Go have a nice go just visit.
>> Yeah.
>> Go take a look.
>> Manifest.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> Um what else could Will do to put himself in the mind frame of some habits? Are you gonna have to develop some new habits as a judge versus what you're currently doing?
>> I don't think so. You know, I mean, I think just, you know, I'm gonna have to learn the pro like the >> like >> where's the bathroom in the building?
>> Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay.
>> What's my like office processes and stuff like that? But, you know, at the end of the day, like my job now is to follow the law, and the job on January 1st will be to follow the law. So, >> I think it'll be good. It'll be good.
>> Okay. Interesting. So, yeah, we'll see you. I'll be in touch um after the election. Hopefully, everything turns out in your favor. We hope that you get exactly what you want.
Um >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
>> And we're definitely supporting Um, will you be able to come and speak to Bougie Gang? Well, before he takes his seat, probably. Yes.
>> Then after I don't know how we, you know, >> I guess as long as we're not talking about maybe Georgia cases, we can still be friends as long as we're not talking about Georgia cases.
>> We could contact him about stuff that's happening like in other places.
So, okay.
Okay. Um, anything else, guys? Will for the win. Okay. Um, let's see. You're from the south. Do you have a choir robe in your closet?
>> I don't. I don't.
>> I don't.
>> When you wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and greet yourself as Judge Will Wooten.
>> I'm going do it tomorrow.
>> Will you have them call you like William? What's your is Don't you have another name?
>> My first name is John.
>> John? Yes. Will you have them call you JW?
>> Well, what I've been >> Oh, that's fancy. JW Wooten.
>> Ever since the Trump case, I I everything is John W. Will in quotation marks.
>> Yeah.
>> So that might how that might be how it is. We'll see.
>> Yeah. Like totally like Yeah. I'm not Will anymore. I'm >> I'm always >> JW JW or sign. Do you have a fancy signature? So when you sign your appeal documents >> John, which is weird. Do you use blue ink? Is that the Is that the protocol for blue? Okay. Yes. Okay. Okay.
>> Always blue.
>> Okay. If we think of anything else, we'll just send you some notes. Go back to the last interview. They gave you so I mean, you had the best comments. I don't know if your campaign manager read them, but um you had excellent comments over there. I don't think you got any bad comments. And even if you did, it doesn't matter, but it's okay.
>> Um but yeah, quite a favorable uh read from everyone. Someone sent a gift. Is that Sassy Jewel? Thank you. Oh, someone sent me a happy Mother's Day. Thank you.
>> A >> Thank you very much. I'm excited about that. I love Mother's Day. It's always It's always like It's my excuse to be absolutely I'm not getting out of bed.
I'm being totally lazy. I don't want to do anything. Getting my food >> as you should.
>> Absolutely. Thank you so much. Okay.
Bougie Gang knows the knows the appellet judge Wooten personally. Yes. Let me in.
Let me in. I'm here. Do you guys actually hear oral arguments and stuff like that?
>> Yes.
>> Or is it mostly a paperwork job?
>> It's it most cases don't have oral arguments, but there are regular oral arguments on on quite a few cases.
Absolutely.
>> Okay. Okay. Interesting. Okay. We're excited. We can't wait. Um, and are the oral arguments open to the public or Okay.
>> Well, you never know.
never see a you might see a field trip one day when we know that you're sitting. Do you guys rotate >> so they argument >> judges and they they break into like divisions? So there's panels of three judges that hear >> um each case gets assigned to a panel of three judges and primarily they're here in Atlanta but sometimes the oral arguments are held in other places um around the state. Someone said, "Will, you are so handsome." Respectfully.
Respectfully. Okay.
Okay. All right. Well, I think you know you've got a bunch of fans here.
Everyone loves our favorite our absolute favorite prosecutor in the whole world.
>> Um, good luck with your election. You're going to get lots of votes.
>> Um, and we're going to share share. Yes.
And um if it's on your heart and in your pockets and you would like to help um we'll pay for his radio spot and we can help with a couple of dollars. Um feel free to do so. Sharing on your social media is free. Reminding anybody that you might know in Georgia to go and vote however they decide to vote. You know, we're not asking anybody to, you know, I'm sure will you're asking for their vote, but I'm not telling anyone how to vote. Just go vote. It's important. Be engaged.
>> Be engaged. And um Will is asking for your vote.
>> Um but definitely exercise your right in this um in our democracy to um turn in a ballot and vote with your heart and and your friends. Okay.
>> Um Okay. I think we've covered everything.
Will won't he do it? Okay. Thanks, Bougie Gang, for reading my comment. Oh, you're welcome. You're welcome. You're welcome. If I missed anyone's comment, my bad, y'all. I love you guys. Um, but you guys were highly engaged, which is a wonderful thing, but if I missed your comment, my bad. U, maybe we'll come back and read some comments just in case. So, if there was something that was missed, please comment it and then I'll try to get an answer for you. Okay.
Um, we have a friend that said they just donated. So, that's awesome. Okay.
>> And I'll go back, too. Like, I can go on my official campaign account if there's comments once the video is posted. I can go through and answer them, too. So, just just Okay.
>> Look out for me in the comments once it's posted, too.
>> Okay. Awesome. Okay, you guys. Yeah.
Post post. If you have a question, post and we'll we'll respond.
>> Um and I guess that's it. Well, thank you so much for joining us tonight. This was wonderful. We we love you over here.
So much fun. and um anything we can do to help. If you need to come back before um you want to come back the before election time and you have time, you want us to another reminder, a little gentle reminder to go vote, just let us know.
>> I will.
>> All right. Okay. Well, take care. Have a good night.
>> All right. Appreciate y'all. Y'all be safe.
>> All right. Okay. Bye, Will. Take care.
>> Okay, guys. That was so much fun. Um Bougie Gang is a little bit of a pack.
um a little bit of a political action committee. I feel like we have a we carry girl, y'all. We're heavy out here, okay? I feel like we carry some influence and some weight. Don't, you know, don't don't underestimate that. Um but yeah, will good luck with everything. Um you're going to do amazing and um we will be paying attention and watching and supporting and all of the things. Okay, you guys, it's been a long day for your girl. Um, it it absolutely has. I'm getting ready to go and go to bed. You guys have a wonderful evening. Thank you for coming through tonight. Thank you for all of the donations. Anything you donate to Will, thank you so much. Um, I will be gathering up what you guys sent me tonight and I will be definitely making a donation. Um, so I appreciate anything that you guys sent to me. I'll be flipping it right on back to sir um to help support because you know he's provided us so much entertainment over the past unknowingly um we have enjoyed thoroughly his writings his briefs his emotions all of the things um so I mean absolutely you guys so I appreciate y'all um for bubbling for contributing to me and I will flip that back in a contribution to will um on this evening.
So, I thank you guys so much for doing that and um you guys are sweet. Okay, y'all. I'm fading fast. I'm getting tired. Um another great interview. Thank you. Thank you so much. Um you guys are He really Will is like a He's a friend to the show. It's like talking to you guys. Um all right, you guys. Let me see.
This was so entertaining for my ride home. Oh, thank you so much, J Breezy.
You guys are super sweet. Okay. All right, you guys. We'll talk at lunchtime tomorrow. We'll get back into and we'll finish we'll finish call five and call six. I really wanted Will to listen to call six. Listen to those Shannon calls.
Um, but I'm going to send it to him in prep for when he comes. Oh, he says he wants to do it cold and live. Okay.
So yeah, when we unless there's something better than call six of the Jarvis Buds calls, baby, that's going to be the one that we're going to have him do live. I think it's going to be amazing to hear from a prosecutor's standpoint. When you hear a call like this, go tell us everything. What are you thinking? What are you writing? What are you prepping? What are you listing?
All of the things. Okay. All right, you guys. Love you guys. Have a wonderful evening. I'll see you guys tomorrow.
Bye.
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