EMAIL DETAILS

Thanks for taking the time to reply, and my intention with today’s email was not to re-open old wounds. I understand completely (and kind of admire) the control and the ruthlessness of the Obama folks. That’s how they got elected president in the first place, and if only they would govern that way.
My reason today was to point out that in the middle of a hearing on a state district court judgeship the VP’s name come in a favorable way. After the hearing, there was more favorable talk. The VP has plenty of goodwill and support, and in my view, it’s a mistake not to send out any signals of interest in running for President. I know and grasp not wanting to upset the Obama folks and the overwhelming support for Hillary (though lot of negative stories lately and some missteps ). Still... (For example Mike Whouley of Kerry campaign fame etc and now secretly plotting Hillary’s run told me if Hillary doesn’t go, he would support Biden.)
There may be more reasons for not making any noise that I don’t know, but what’s wrong with playing some hardball (for a change)?
Just my thoughts...and there’s nothing to be sorry about. Thanks again.

From: Hunter Biden
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2014 10:59 AM
To: Richard Vitali
Subject: Re: NOMINEE FOR BROCKTON COURT COMES FROM LYNN POLITICAL FAMILY

Rick-
I didn't respond because I don't know what to say. I wish I could could control WH staff but I can't. The VP gets to choose about 10 people all the rest are Obama people. The reality of being VP. I wish I could be there to make sure all our friends were taken care of with the proper respect, but that's a full time job and now that Fran is gone there is literally no one traveling with him that i have a personal relationship with. So sorry you feel the way you do about it but I have given up trying to change it.

RHB
202.333.1880

On Dec 4, 2014, at 8:53 AM, Richard Vitali <rvitali@comcast.net> wrote:


Hi Hunter, I wouldn’t have responded to my last email either.
Hope all is well.
My nephew had a state house hearing on a judgeship and the VP came up. See the emails below. Lots of folks wanting to know what his intentions are etc. (and would be supporters).
Thanks.


From: Richard Vitali
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2014 8:40 AM
To: gcronin@rasky.com ; lrasky@rasky.com
Subject: Re: NOMINEE FOR BROCKTON COURT COMES FROM LYNN POLITICAL FAMILY

Thanks. I not only saw it, but I was there. The Biden stuff got a little confusing. Sam, Mike’s father, was Iowa coordinator for John Glenn in 83. I was in Iowa in 87 traveling with Biden etc. I was going to email you this article because after the hearing I spoke to a bunch of folks, including Councilor Albano, who is a former Mayor of Springfield, and he brought up Biden at the hearing. He and others told me they want Biden to run and would be supporters. Everywhere I go, Biden comes up.
On another matter, I’m told Kinder Morgan still deciding what to do. Hope all is well.
From: George Cronin
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2014 8:25 AM
To: Rick Vitali
Subject: Fw: NOMINEE FOR BROCKTON COURT COMES FROM LYNN POLITICAL FAMILY

Rick
I'm sure u saw this but forwarding in case u didn't.

George

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: State House News Service <news@statehousenews.com>
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2014 17:33:54 -0500
To: <NEWS@STATEHOUSENEWS.COM>
Subject: NOMINEE FOR BROCKTON COURT COMES FROM LYNN POLITICAL FAMILY


NOMINEE FOR BROCKTON COURT COMES FROM LYNN POLITICAL FAMILY

By Andy Metzger
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, DEC. 3, 2014.....A legal educator and criminal defense attorney from a Lynn political family faced the Governor's Council on Wednesday as part of his effort to become a Brockton District Court judge.

"I loved to argue," said Michael Vitali, a 1998 graduate of Boston University Law School, recalling his legal career. He said, "I wanted to represent the underserved. I wanted to represent the indigent population, and I wanted to be in court."

Vitali said in 1987 his father had been the Iowa coordinator for Joe Biden, who was then a U.S. senator and candidate for president, and his father had also done advance work for Geraldine Ferraro, Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale's running mate in 1984. His uncle worked on Biden's campaign in 2007. Biden became President Barack Obama's running mate in 2008 and is now the vice president.

Vitali, a 42-year-old Lynn native who now lives in Westwood, said he would like to continue teaching a criminal law class at Stonehill College, if confirmed to the bench. He said he opposes mandatory minimum sentences and said there should be more treatment available for drug addicts.

Councilor Terrence Kennedy, a Lynnfield Democrat, noted that Vitali's family provided some political help to him in his campaign. Councilor Jen Caissie, the lone Republican on the council, pressed Vitali on the Democratic leanings made apparent by his contributions.

"Let's start with your donations," Caissie said. "I don't see any donations to Mitt Romney or Scott Brown. Is there a reason for that?"

Vitali said he "grew up in a very Democratic family" and "when I became of age that I could contribute, I thought that's what you are supposed to do and I have done that."

Vitali received mostly friendly inquiries from members of eight-person elected council, along with some philosophical sparring.

Councilor Michael Albano asked how people of modest means can receive representation from the most expensive attorneys.

"You're entitled to an attorney, but you're not entitled to an attorney of your choice," said Vitali, who said there are many exceptional attorneys working as public defenders or charging relatively modest fees.

Before being sworn in by Gov. Deval Patrick, Vitali would need the support of a majority of the councilors.

Vitali said if he becomes a judge he would not hold off-record lobby conferences with attorneys, preferring on-record sidebar discussions, and said he would conduct bench trials if a defendant waives the right to a jury. Vitali said his father and his uncle are lawyers and had warned him not to follow them into the demanding line of work.

Vitali, who assisted in the defense of two murder cases over his career, said the last murder case he tried - a fatal shooting in Plymouth that resulted in a second degree murder conviction - was "one of the most taxing cases I've ever dealt with in my career." He said he still has dreams about the other murder case, a shaken-baby homicide.

Though he has done some civil work, Vitali said he would need to brush up on the rules of civil procedure and would not be afraid to ask for help from more knowledgeable colleagues.

A Dartmouth College graduate, Vitali went to work for the Committee for Public Counsel Services after receiving his law degree, working in Hampden and Plymouth counties from 1998 to 2003. Vitali then joined the firm Pavlos & Vitali and worked for the Pilgrim Advocates, overseeing lawyers taking court-appointed cases. In 2011, he started a solo practice and more recently he has lectured at Boston University Law School, Suffolk Law School and Stonehill College.

Since 2013 he has also supervised court-appointed attorneys in Suffolk County.

Vitali said he speaks Spanish, but has become rusty because fewer clients are Spanish speakers. He said his attitude toward representing people without the means to hire someone on their own was, "I wanted them to be lucky that they had me."

END
12/03/2014

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