Helping us get set for sentencing is David Rudolf -- attorney, author, and lead counsel in the acclaimed Netflix documentary, "The Staircase", which is now a controversial HBO mini-series.

Mr. Rudolf has been on the front lines of justice for decades as one of the nation's preeminent trial lawyers. He has dedicated his life to giving voice and vindication to a special class of victims in our system -- those convicted and sentenced for crimes they did not commit.

He recently published a riveting look at our dysfunctional system, American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System.

In this whirlwind discussion, we cover:

• Rudolf's new Book, American Injustice;
• The Staircase documentary and the new, highly fictionalized HBO miniseries;
• Draconian sentencing statutes and guidelines;
• How confirmation bias and tunnel vision can corrupt every aspect of the criminal justice process;
• The need for accountability for prosecutors and police when the innocent are wrongfully convicted;
• How becoming a client made him a better lawyer;
• Advice for criminal defense lawyers struggling with work life balance;
• The coercive nature of plea bargaining;
• How to handle sentencing when your client maintains innocence;
• AND, the very best ways to inject humanity back into our broken system;

Oh, yes, for all you diehard Staircase fans, we do discuss "the owl theory"!

LINKS:

David Rudolf's Website: https://davidsrudolf.com/

Abuse of Power Podcast:

https://www.audible.com/pd/Abuse-of-Power-with-David-Rudolf-and-Sonya-Pfeiffer-Podcast/

Incredible 3-hour CLE offering on the Staircase:

https://www.nacdl.org/Event/The-Staircase-Lessons-from-the-Michael-Peterson-Mu

https://vimeo.com/332364136 (staircase CLE teaser)

HBO Rebuttals:

https://www-newsweek-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.newsweek.com/i-was-michael-peterson-lawyer-still-believe-hes-innocent-1708072?amp=1

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/staircase-michael-peterson-lawyer-david-rudolf-criticizes-hbo-max-show-1235279215/?fbclid=IwAR2rJLrLZWlNLhQZtQTYKNXanxTANQU9H6MtA6kEpTibXBmbTJjzJKlO2Ew#

the owl theory:

https://amp-charlotteobserver-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/tv/article261821775.html