Was Scotty Demarest Really Such a Good Lawyer?

[Angela Channing]

When Jenna Wade stood trial for the death of Naldo Marchetta, she was not convicted of murder, but of voluntary manslaughter, and sentenced to seven years in prison. The logic was questionable. The prosecution itself argued that Jenna shot Naldo to prevent him from raping her, in other words, they acknowledged her motive was self-defence. Normally, that line of reasoning would be grounds for full acquittal, or at worst, a suspended sentence given the mitigating circumstances. Yet her defence attorney, Scotty Demarest, who was supposed to be one of the sharpest lawyers in Dallas, failed to make this point effectively. Instead of preparing his defence to cover every possible outcome and hammering home the principle of self-defence, Scotty seemed to let the prosecution’s framing stand. A more capable lawyer would have ensured her freedom by undermining the prosecution case by putting forward arguments of justifiable self-defence.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

on the other hand, the prosecutor didn’t push back on Scotty’s entirely speculative “chloroform and silencer” theory one tiny bit. The whole storyline was painful.

Not to mention… “we can’t have Charlie testify because it’ll be too painful for her!” - as opposed to having her mom go to prison?!

At least Scotty was entertaining - the prosecutor and judge were infuriatingly sanctimonious.

 

[Angela Channing]

The judge was a disgrace too saying the taking of a life was the most heinous crime without taking into account any of the mitigating circumstances.

I think Jenna should have been jailed for crimes against acting, and not for killing Naldo. This is especially true because the prosecution presented a clear case of self-defence but that was totally ignored in the case for the defence, in reaching the verdict and in the sentencing.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

The judge was a disgrace too saying the taking of a life was the most heinous crime without taking into account any of the mitigating circumstances.

I think Jenna should have been jailed for crimes against acting, and not for killing Naldo, especially as the prosecution presented a clear case of self-defence but that was totally ignored in case for the defence, in reaching the verdict and in the sentencing.

seriously, the judge seemed to be especially offended that Jenna killed her *husband*! Was she asleep during the trial? Or maybe some sort of uber-traditionalist who believed a wife was a husband’s property and had no rights of her own?

I’d say Bobby should have let Jenna serve her sentence as a service to longtime viewers, but then we’d have been deprived of magical moments like this:

 

[Snarky Oracle!]

seriously, the judge seemed to be especially offended that Jenna killed her *husband*! Was she asleep during the trial? Or maybe some sort of uber-traditionalist who believed a wife was a husband’s property and had no rights of her own?

I’d say Bobby should have let Jenna serve her sentence as a service to longtime viewers, but then we’d have been deprived of magical moments like this:

That said, Jenna seemed like a slapper.

 

[Toni]

The judge was likely bought by Katherine, which would be her way of acting that season.

 

[Billy Wall]

No. I asked this same question years ago. Looked like Jock was going to jail until Digger confessed on his death bed and Jenna was cooked until detective Bobby solved the case.

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

No. I asked this same question years ago. Looked like Jock was going to jail until Digger confessed on his death bed and detective Jenna was cooked until detective Bobby solved the case.

I choose to believe that Scotty made subtle maneuvers behind the scenes to make those things happen. The flamboyant Southern Gentleman manner in the courtroom was largely a smokescreen. As he said, he deals in acquittals.

(I choose to believe a bunch of stupid things, though)

 

[CeeCee72]

No. I asked this same question years ago. Looked like Jock was going to jail until Digger confessed on his death bed and Jenna was cooked until detective Bobby solved the case.

In season ten after Calhoun was killed, when Pam told Bobby they would contact Scotty to see if he could recommend a good lawyer for them in California, I thought, "whelp they're all going to jail now."

 

[Toni]

No. I asked this same question years ago. Looked like Jock was going to jail until Digger confessed on his death bed and Jenna was cooked until detective Bobby solved the case.

Jenna spent enough time in jail to change her hairdo and have an affair with some guard (because Bobby could ever have impregnated her in "Swan Song" as infatuated with Pam he was again!).

 

[Swellin]

I think Priscilla should have gone to prison for terrible acting.

 

[CeeCee72]

I think Priscilla should have gone to prison for terrible acting.

Bobby LOVED emeralds!!!!

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Jenna spent enough time in jail to change her hairdo and have an affair with some guard (because Bobby could ever have impregnated her in "Swan Song" as infatuated with Pam he was again!).

hm, they never showed Jenna and Scotty leave that room after that intense interrogation scene, did they? When passions flare to that level you never know what might happen!

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

as the Last Kid Picked posted a few years back:

Bobby: We found Scotty Demarest. He is very good.
Ray: Scotty Demarest? He's great.
Clayton: Scotty Demarest? He's the best!
Bobby: Scotty is wonderful.
Ray: Scotty Demarest is very good.
Theresa: Esoces Demarest es muy buen.

who are we to argue with a lineup of experts like that?!?

 

[Taylor Bennett Jr.]

Bobby LOVED emeralds!!!!

the drama. the pathos.

 

[Laurie Marr]

Scotty was a hoot. The languid Southern drawl, the earnest advice to the defendants - and then the less than stellar success in the courtroom. That man could rock a pair of tinted glasses, though.

 

[Chris2]

Scotty is the type of character that we didn‘t see enough of in the last few seasons. Too much of the show’s Texas flavor disappeared.