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Andy Newman / Getty Images North America
Charles Bicht is congratulated by previous winners of the annual Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest in Key West, Fla., on July 24, 2010.
A Florida attorney representing a man accused in a murder-for-hire plot filed for a trial suspension for an unusual reason: He wanted a day off to participate in an Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest.
Frank Louderback, of St. Petersburg, asked U.S. District Court Judge Steven Merryday to suspend the trial on Friday, July 20, so he could drive to Key West to participate in the annual competition, The Miami Herald reported.
Louderback represents Jerry Bottorff, who's accused of conspiracy to commit murder for hire in the 2007 killing of 37-year-old Thomas Lee Sehorne.
The Herald reported that Bottorff and his wife, Christie, who is the victim's widow, and alleged gunman Luis Lopez will stand tria starting July 9.
Louderback's plan was to be in Key West on July 21 for the crowning of the winner who most resembled the influential American author who penned "For Whom The Bell Tolls," "The Old Man and the Sea," and other works of fiction.
He has already paid non-refundable deposits for hotel rooms for friends and family members, according to the Herald.
Judges have been known not to hold court on Fridays during lengthy trials, the Tampa Bay Times reported. But Judge Merryday wasn't persuaded by Louderback's request.
Louderback told msnbc.com that he thought his motion had a chance of being granted.
"Instead he came with his literary gem," Louderback said.
Merryday wrote: "Between a murder-for-hire trial and an annual look-alike contest, surely Hemingway, a perfervid admirer of grace under pressure, would choose the trial."
He quoted poet Dorothy Parker, who once wrote that Hemingway "works like hell and through it."
After quoting from "The Sun Also Rises," Merryday made his decision: "Best of luck to counsel in next year’s contest. The motion is denied."
In response, Louderback told The Times, "It'll give me another year to get older, fatter and grayer."
Watch the most-viewed videos on msnbc.com
The Times reported that Louderback has already competed in the contest three times, which is part of Key West's annual Hemingway Days festival. The festival pays homage to the Nobel Prize winner, who lived and wrote in Key West during the 1930s.
Last year, more than 120 competitors participated in the contest.
Louderback told msnbc.com he was "disappointed" by Merryday's ruling but will still keep his place in the contest in case he can make it.
His son is a pilot and had offered to fly Louderback to Key West in case he gets out of court early.
"I'll ask them (contest officials) to put me in the back somewhere even though it's done alphabetically," Louderback said. "That may buy me an hour or so."
A call to Merryday's office was not immediately returned.
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Leave a Comment:
wow... there's a guy i wouldn't want representing me. if his mind is on the contest, how well will he be able to defend this guy?
me, i'd grant his wish... permanently.
The name probably fits you to a tee, until it gets to your clothes. So you are saying it is uncommon and not so normal to have multiple things on your mind? Lets be honest here, if the defendant was so worried about his freedom, you'd think he would have thought twice about entering into a murder for hire plot to begin with.
Yes, jerk a one day break will definitely mess up the entire court system. It was the judges choice from a lawyer's request. The judge denied it move on this is much to do abotu nothing.
you're assuming an AWFUL lot, peeps. what you're saying is that he's guilty of the charge already: "he would have thought twice about entering into a murder for hire plot to begin with". his lawyer's job, and the one he should be focused on, is to defend his client against these charges. he should NOT be distracted by worrying about some deposits for a contest he's entered. he should be focused on defending this guy.
i'm willing to bet that if you were this defendant, you'd see things completely different. you'd want your lawyer's mind on dealing with these charges, not on some contest that comes around every year.
or to put it another way, are you willing to risk a year of your life ON THE CHANCE that your lawyer might make it to his contest? if your answer is yes, feel free to type away...
So...lawyers, judges and jurors have distractions all the time; a sick parent, cheating spouse, cousin's wedding, kid's baseball game. One excuse isn't any better than another in my book; you either HAVE to be at work, or you don't. His request for a day off was denied. Fine. I hope if some lawyer wants a suspension during the next trial, the judge treats him/her equally.
According to the article, almost always the court is off on Friday, therefore he planned on going, no problem. Problem though, this case is the exception, and I don't remember reading if all those deposits were refundable.
That judge is simply an aszhole. A one day delay in a trial wouldn't have made any difference, and judges routinely grant motions like that for lesser reasons. But when somebody had already paid non-refundable deposits on a vacation, regardless of the theme of the vacation, it's almost unheard of for a judge to refuse to grant a delay.
I am kind of in the middle with this one. I believe in "all work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy". Everybody needs a break, a hobby to enjoy. I actually think that this is pretty cool, a totally unnexpected "hobby" from a lawyer (it seems really fun!). I mean come on, it only happens once a year (literally one day in a year), can't they give him a break?
He's lucky the Judge didn't throw him out of his court room.
Considering trials can last from a day till who knows, isn't the guy allowed to have a life?
Epidemic why it was a request? It was denied. Case closed. The lawyer did nothing against the practices of the court. One day would not effect the lawyers ability to do their job.
Wait till the actual day and watch the judge recess court for the weekend early. (most do)
Another moron who thinks the world evolves around him? When did you ever see trials being held on weekends. I worked rotating shifts for thirty years and gave up the better part of a personal life. This guy is really clueless.
Another guy who thought, since court is usually not held on Friday, that he could make plans for that day. Could have happened to anyone.
Give they guy a day off, the jail ain't going anywhere.
Again, MSNBC... way to report about much to do about nothing.
I suppose that since he also looks like Santa Claus he thinks he should get Christmas day off, too?!!!
Oh, wait. My bad. Never-mind ....
;-)
Got to have the red suit for that day off!
What should the rest of the court do while he's off playing his games? Stand around and wait for him? He sounds like one incompetent attorney. his client must be really happy with him.
So you are saying people shouldn't get a day off? I might not care for attorneys all that much, but they are human just like everyone else that works all year, and because people cannot foretell the future, some people like to enjoys certain things in life and not necessarily become a slave to the system. Tell me, do you work all year long without taking days off for things you enjoy? Ya, I didn't think so.
You mean to say that the courts today don't have overloaded cases to resolve. Are you incapable of understanding that there are more people and cases that have to be tried too. If the lawyer is there, then the other cases have to wait there turn. One day isn't affecting anyone.
At one time or another, I'll bet we've all asked our boss for a day off that might seem silly to someone else. They cancel court days when the judge has something else on schedule. I don't see anything wrong with the lawyer asking for the day off. It's not like he pitched a fit and complained about not getting it. I had a boss that actually told me, "We need you HERE." And that was after I told him I needed to attend my father's funeral.
Really? Instead he contacted a national news outlet. The contest is Saturday and he's out of court at the latest by 4pm Friday. He expects everyone else involved with this trial to be inconvenienced for an additional day? He can fly down or is he just too cheap to be put out a few bucks. Let his son fly him down.
Maybe he finally realizes that the world doesn't revolve around lawyers.
Give him every day off for the contest. It's called termination.
Ya, and when your snot nose brat breaks a leg or your whiny ass wife goes into labor, you should be terminated if you take the day off. IF you have a job, wife or kid that is.
The Hemingway Look-Alike contest IS a big deal in FL ..... I say the judge was narrowminded in denying this simple request.
As was posted by others who are the more reasonable thinkers here, who asked or implied the same thing ... what's a one day delay going to hurt?
You think they are going to schedule a trial uin this one open day? The lawyer knows the schedule long before this event. If it means that much, quit the law and go into acting. The trial was only scheduled to start on July 9th. Did he not know it would last at least two weeks? Pass it off to another lawyer...but wait..he doesn't want to lose any money..But everyone else can wait.
Should we be pissed because this Judge expects everyone to work at least five days a week? Quite frankly this guy sounds like he doesn't have a clue.
t accept the case so your time is free. No one forced him to take the case.
I'm sure the jury, witnesses and everyone else involved won't mind spending one more day in court...
He asked and it was denied. Did he run to the press to whine?
If it influences people to read better literature, then support it. Today's concept of intellect is daily spoon-size doses of gossip columns and third-rate novels about vampires fighting ufo conspiracies--not good.
Best of luck to each contestant!
Looking at the picture, my first thought was that Santa Clause should definitely be allowed have the day off for the Hemingway contest.......
I would place a wager on if the judge wanted the day off, the judge would give himself the day off.
If it's an annual contest, then the dates are probably established a year in advance. And trial dates are established with plenty of time in advance as well.
So why did he wait until a month before trial to make his request?
He knew the dates and made the reservations. Why did he take the case and simply not take the week off? Because he doesn't want to lose a buck but everyone else shoul;d bend.
He's the reason that courts are backed up for months or years.
We have become such mean spirited people. Amazing how I waste my time here reading all these worthless comments. Like everyone here is in a penis contest! Its sad, so much hate...........................
All of you hating on the guy, I am sure none of you have EVER wanted to do anything for yourself and had work get in the way right? Ohh you have? That is what I thought...
Didn't Hem write a story along those lines called "The Short Happy Life of Francis McComber"? Whose life is ended by his wife.
nice story. people pretty divided. argues well for a brief adjournment, when the court and the others can clean up business piling up while everything is suspended for the trial. the defendant wouldnt be compromised. but, it is certainly the judge's prerogative, and no one sems to be questioning that.
Attorneys -well generally don't deserve consideration like this.
Oh no, its the Hemingway defense...
Funny no one commented about the judge being so flippant and sarcastic in his response. I'd guess this judge had it in for this lawyer. In Washington state courts it is not uncommon for trials to be moved or days taken off for convenience of counsel, although if it's a jury trial in progress the judge may be reluctant to delay the trial for a personal holiday. I'd expect the judge be be more judicious in his choice of words, however. This judge was just being a smartass.
He should have used a better excuse - like having a relative in the hospital, to get his day off, apparently, in order to get time off...even if it means lying.
Once again we see a judge self-bloating as he rises above sea level.
You are all missing the important point here. Forget the judge, courtroom, other lawyers et al. The thing to focus on is a Hemingway Look-a-Like contest. Really? And I thought it was just something made up by Tim Dorsey. My appologies Serge.
I have always thought that a person had to be a bit tilted to want to be a lawyer.