January 5, 2009

Predictions for 2009

Posted: 03:17 PM ET

NEW YORK–So it’s 2009 and here are my predictions: This will be the year that law and politics intersect. I predict that in his first one hundred days President Barack Obama will shut down the detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, but not before he grapples with the same tough questions of what to do with the detainees still being held there.

Also, early on, one of the justices will step down, giving Obama an appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court almost immediately (and I'm thinking a possible three open seats during Obama's first term). And speaking of the Supreme Court, the decision last year that words from the grave violate a defendant's right to confront the witnesses against him will mean a new trial for Mark Jensen in Wisconsin. And this time around, his wife's letters won't come into evidence, but all the other stuff will and he'll be convicted again.

As for other state court matters: O.J. Simpson will win his appeal. And he should. Judge Jackie Glass unduly limited his lawyers in jury selection and on cross-examination. Also, I predict a new trial for Chris McCowen in Massachusetts based on the shocking racial bias in jury deliberations.

Rod Blagojevich is going down. But the guy he's just appointed to take Barack Obama's senate seat? He's going in. Because there is no evidence he did anything wrong. And comedian turned senate hopeful Al Franken is going to win that seat, but get set for a big legal battle before it's really over.

The best is yet to come. And we'll bring it all to you live. And with a look ahead to 2009, that's my Last Word.

–Jami Floyd, In Session anchor

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Joanne, Solvay, NY

January 5th, 2009 3:56 pm ET

Thanks for the heads up...what prediction do you have for Wall Street? Main Street?

jim Fallbrook CA

January 5th, 2009 6:26 pm ET

I agree president elect Barack Hussein Obama will close Guantanamo Bay. Being a muslim, he will set the terrorist free from there to commit terrorist acts on our country. He will make his intentions known after he is sworn in as president. I am hoping that no justice will step down in his first term. Then he won’t be able to appoint any supreme court justices because he won’t get re elected. Governor Blagojevich will be acquitted. The prosecutor should have waited until Blagojevich accepted a bribe. The only reason they arrested him was to keep from implicating Obama and Jesse Jackson Jr. in their attempts to bribe I agree president elect Barack Hussein Obama will close Guantanamo Bay. Being a muslim, he will set the terrorist free from there to commit terrorist acts on our country. He will make his intentions known after he is sworn in as president. I am hoping that no justice will step down in his first term. Then he won’t be able to appoint any supreme court justices because he won’t get re elected. Governor Blagojevich will be acquitted. The prosecutor should have waited until Blagojevich accepted a bribe. The only reason they arrested him was to keep from implicating Obama and Jesse Jackson Jr. in any bribe attemps.Blagojevich..

Debora Ireland

January 6th, 2009 6:49 am ET

Thanks for bringing it to us live. I only wish there was more of you all, more people and more hours. You do a service to show the justice system in American. Of course, you are still wrong about OJ Simpson. It should mean nothing one way or another to a jury if a member is black or white. What he did does not change, the laws do not change. It seems to me that what you want is two levels of justice, one for whites who should know better, and another for blacks who for some reason should not be held accountable for crime. Should all juries be half and half? Should they be strictly proportional to the area the crime was committed in? I don't understand. And I am glad I have you guys to argue it and explain it to me and everybody else.

james

January 6th, 2009 9:30 am ET

oj will win an appeal when hell freezes over??

Spider

January 7th, 2009 1:58 pm ET

"But not before he grapples with the same tough questions of what to do with the detainees still being held there."

That is a tough question. What to do, oh what to do.....

His political career tells us how Barack Obama "grapples" with tough questions.

"Present?"

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