Excerpts

Sometimes, when I read my old notes, it is abundantly clear that at the time I took them, I just did not give a fuck.  I am re-reading my crim notes this afternoon/evening and there are some real gems.  Two examples:

IV. Continuing Trespass Doctrine
    1. One who takes another's property without authorization, intending only to use it temporarily before restoring it unconditionally to the owner, may nevertheless be guilty of larceny if she later changes her mind and decides not to return the property after all.
        a. Example: I borrow my neighbor's skis without asking.  Go on a dynamite ski trip.  After the trip, I love the skis -- I'm like, fuck it, I'm keeping 'em.  This is a) not cool, b) something I might actually do, and c) larceny.

II. Inchoate Crimes - Attempt
   1. blah blah blah definition of attempt blah blah substantial step blah
   2. Example: Husband decides to murder his wife for a $500k life insurance policy.  Husband TAKES OUT THE POLICY.  He plans to take his wife to Mexico to go on a kayak trip and throw her out of the boat and drown her. (Husband has clearly never seen CSI.)  Husband gets to Mexico, gets laid, decides he's really in love with his wife, decides not to kill her.  They go home and are living happily ever after until idiot husband tells his wife that lol, he was planning to kill her at one point.  Wife freaks out and calls the police.  Has husband committed attempted murder?
     a. NO! Apparently taking out the life insurance policy was mere preparation.
        i.  This is bullshit.
        ii. Second thought, maybe not bullshit because collecting the life insurance isn't part of the crime of murder.


Loooooots of learning happening here.  So fun.