2025-07-24 18.50.34 Tao of Law Class with Eddie Craig

Prep for Aug Mock Trial, Aug 7th 2025

Make a donation to Eddie (which is always appreciated):
https://www.ruleoflawradio.com/donations.htm

Purchase a class subscription here:
www.logosradionetwork.com or www.ruleoflawradio.com

Texas Codes & Rules Online:
State Statutes: http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/
Admin. Code: http://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.viewtac
Rules of Evidence: https://www.texasevidence.com
Rules of Civil Proc.: https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1446498/trcp-all-updated-with-amendments-effective-may-1-2020.pdf

Tao of Law is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

** NOTICE **
ALL Classes for the month of July 2025 are free and open to all.

Meeting ID: 870 6712 0504
Passcode: 868063

Meeting summary
Legal strategies and procedural guidance for defending against municipal charges, focusing on ordinance breakdown and courtroom tactics.

Highlights
1. Free Participation in Upcoming Classes and Mock Trial Preparation
• Eddie Craig announced that there are three more classes where everyone can participate for free, including next week's class and the first class of the following month, which will feature a mock trial.
• Participants were encouraged to use the two remaining workup sessions to prepare for the mock trial effectively.

2. Homework Assignment and Case Study Analysis
• Eddie Craig emphasized the importance of completing the homework assignment, which involved studying paperwork from Jane’s case, including documents filed by the prosecutor and motions filed in response.
• The assignment aimed to help participants understand legal language, arguments, and whether better arguments could be made.

3. Motion Filing and Judge's Response
• A participant raised concerns about not receiving a ruling from the judge on a motion filed during a pre-trial hearing on May 30th.
• Eddie Craig clarified that motions require a hearing for a ruling and suggested asking the judge directly about the motion during the next court appearance.

4. Criminal Complaint Requirements in Texas
• Eddie Craig explained that criminal complaints in Texas do not need to be signed under penalty of perjury, as the statute allows complaints to be signed based on "reason to believe."
• He detailed the process for filing complaints, conducting investigations, and issuing probable cause affidavits and warrants.

5. Framework for Cross-Examination and Legal Strategy
• Eddie Craig provided a detailed framework for cross-examination, emphasizing the importance of focusing on specific elements of the case and avoiding irrelevant side trails.
• Participants were advised to organize questions logically, starting with simple ones and building upon them to address key points effectively.

6. Ordinance Breakdown and Legal Elements
• Eddie Craig broke down the ordinance Jane was charged under, explaining the specific elements the prosecution must prove, such as danger to public health, destruction of property, or congregation of animals.
• He highlighted the lack of evidence in Jane’s case and the importance of challenging the prosecution's failure to prove these elements.

7. Importance of Maintaining Self-Control in Court
• Eddie Craig stressed the importance of maintaining self-control, thinking carefully before speaking, and staying focused on relevant points during court proceedings.
• Jane was specifically advised to avoid losing her temper and to stay on the main path of legal arguments.

8. Malicious Prosecution and Legal Immunity
• Eddie Craig discussed the concept of malicious prosecution and clarified that city attorneys lack qualified immunity, unlike elected county or district attorneys.
• He explained the conditions under which prosecutors can be sued, such as committing crimes during prosecution or lacking jurisdiction.

9. Challenges in Municipal Courts and Judge Bias
• Participants shared experiences of bias and procedural issues in municipal courts, including judges ignoring motions and making objections on behalf of prosecutors.
• Eddie Craig advised filing motions for recusal or disqualification under Chapter 29A of the Texas Government Code if judges act unfairly.

10. Study Materials and Resources for Legal Objections
• Eddie Craig recommended resources like the "Meeting Making Objections" pocket guide and other legal books to help participants understand and make proper objections in court.
• He shared tips on documenting court appearances and interactions with public servants for better case management.

11. Homework and Preparation for Next Class
• Eddie Craig assigned homework to participants, asking them to create cross-examination questions based on the ordinance and definitions provided.
• He encouraged participants to focus on proving the lack of evidence for the prosecution’s claims and to use the framework provided during the class.

Next steps
1. Download the "General Framework of Ordinance or Statute" document and use it to outline questions for each section of the ordinance related to Jane's case: Jane.
2. Work on creating cross-examination questions that follow the outline provided in the meeting, focusing on the ordinance sections and ensuring the questions are relevant and build upon each other: Jane.
3. Apply the breakdown method taught in the meeting to analyze the ordinance and identify the elements that need to be proven by the prosecution: Jane.
4. Review the ordinance and definitions provided in the meeting materials to prepare for the next class: All participants.
5. Complete the homework of filling out the list of questions in the provided document based on the ordinance sections and submit it in the next class: All participants.