In a stunning about-face prosecutors in the trial of Sen. Ted Stevens found themselves subject to criminal contempt proceedings. As he dismissed the indictment against the former Alaska senator, an outraged Judge Emmett Sullivan appointed a non-government lawyer, Janis, Schuelke & Wechsler partner Henry Schuelke III, to prosecute the prosecutors.
Nightly News aired the story with sketches, but as usual some of the better drawings are never used. Here’s one of Stevens’ defense attorney Brendan Sullivan addressing the Judge at yesterday’s hearing. Ted Stevens is lightly sketched in the left background.
WaPo story here.
Courtroom sketching is a form of visual journalism or reportage drawing that is slowly dying out. Where once upon a time news organization each had their own artist covering a story, today a “pool” artist often sketches for all. It is a demanding and stressful discipline where the drawing is often done directly and under tight deadline.
After forty-five years of news sketching in courtrooms and congress I’m calling it quits. It’s been sometimes fun, sometimes frustrating, almost always interesting. I’ve been lucky to work with some really great people. Don’t think I’ll miss it, but a little scared of not having a deadline.
While I won’t be sketching in court anymore, I may continue to post to this blog from time to time. Not sure what that might be. I’m about to start a new assignment documenting infrastructure and construction. Could be interesting.
You are so cool! I don’t believe I’ve read through something like that before.
So nice to find somebody with a few original thoughts on this subject matter.
Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is required
on the web, someone with a little originality!
Thank you, Kathaleen.