Toni Messina
Above the Law
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Toni:
'I’m Going To Do Something Crazy.' Rikers Crisis Grows Worse.
Politicians already called the situation at Rikers a 'humanitarian crisis' months ago -- and now it's even worse. → Read More
Why Ghislaine Maxwell’s Conviction Is Making Some People Very Nervous
There's only one card left to play. → Read More
The Debacle Inside Rikers, And Why Shutting It Down Isn’t Enough
The real problem that must be faced is the over-incarceration of mostly people of color, with little emphasis on rehabilitation once they’re 'warehoused.' → Read More
Lessons From The Cosby Case
Prosecutors might be more careful in making deals with people they suspect committed crimes. → Read More
First Department Spanks Rudy Guiliani. Does He Care? You Bet.
The court found that Giuliani committed such egregious violations of the rules of professional conduct that his immediate suspension was necessary to avoid 'continuing misconduct.' → Read More
When Going To Trial Isn’t Worth It
The trial penalty is neither fair nor necessary. → Read More
Solitary Confinement, The Cruelest Form Of Punishment
In decades of practicing criminal law, solitary confinement has been the go-to, knee-jerk response to inmate misbehavior. → Read More
How Police Body Cameras Help Police Behave
No longer is it just the defendant’s word against the cops. → Read More
Don’t Resign Gov. Cuomo, But It’s Time To Take Notice
While I decry Cuomo’s behavior, I also decry the quickness of judgment to condemn him. → Read More
The Girl Who Accused The Wrong Person And The Lawyer Who Threw Her Under The Bus
A lawyer’s job, even when her client acts like a complete jerk, is to stand by that person’s side except in the case of outright fraud or perjury. → Read More
Once Upon A Time In America
Watching Donald Trump spout his lies shows how easy it is for any nation to fall under the spell of a demagogue. → Read More
Will They Be Held Accountable, And If So For What?
While Donald Trump is only president for another few days, it’s important he be prosecuted. → Read More
Why Trump Won’t Pardon Himself
How was it that normally rational people fell so easily under his spell? → Read More
Quarantining For Criminal Defense Attorneys: What’s Great, What’s Bad
We all soldier on. → Read More
‘The Least Racist Person In The Room’
Our culture has long ignored some startling incidents relating to how Black people have been treated in our country -- and Trump is fueling incidents like these anew. → Read More
Practicing Law During COVID-19: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Post-COVID court adds features to trial work both sides will have to contend with. → Read More
The Way Women Are
The opinions in the book cover issues of equal rights, gender discrimination, separation of church and state, workers’ rights, voting powers, and abortion. → Read More
Got Kicked Out Of School On A Charge Of Sexual Harassment? Help Is On The Way.
The new standards set up specific procedures safeguarding the due process rights of the accused without diminishing the rights of the accuser. → Read More
What Overturning The Boston Bomber Death Sentence Means
The judge should have asked about not just about their degree of exposure to the case, but the kind of exposure. → Read More
The Journey To Self-Discovery In Prison
Some of the toughest issues my client has to face are after the trial’s over. → Read More