History Headscratchers / MyCousinVinny

** Also, in total fairness, Lisa storms off ''before'' Vinny realises she can testify on the stand. So far as she's concerned, she's not in a position to help so isn't leaving anyone in the lurch. When she's getting dragged into the courtroom, she's got a head full of steam, is being deliberately difficult, and presumably thinks Vinny's just getting up to some desperate antics, so it doesn't fully click what Vinny's really thinking until she has a good look at the photograph.

** Also, in total fairness, Lisa storms off ''before'' Vinny realises she can testify on the stand. So far as she's concerned, she's not in a position to help so isn't leaving anyone in the lurch.

** The defense has the right to submit anything it wants (that it thinks will help its case) into evidence, including photos taken by someone who isn't an expert or investigator, as long as the prosecution doesn't object on reasonable grounds that the evidence in question shouldn't be entered. As noted above, if Trotter thought that there was any reasonable chance that Vinny was submitting doctored or faked photos, he had every right to object to their submission. Since he didn't, it was permissible for them to be included as evidence.

** The legal terminology is ''pro hac vice'', and it's determined by the judge on a quite literal case-by-case basis.

** Trials only happen if prosecutors ''make'' them happen. Even if the DA had the legal power to bring charges again, why would he? The boys are clearly innocent, and he knows it, and he's not some sort of villain who knowingly prosecutes innocent people. (Nor does he like to knowingly defend guilty people, as he mentions at one point). The real question is weather Vinny himself might be charged with fraud or something, assuming they discover the lie. But even then, I think the DA would be willing to give him a pass.

** 1) Trotter has the opportunity to object to the pictures being introduced as evidence and didn't. 2) It's not that they were that different (though it seems they were taken from the opposite direction of the prosecution's), it's that Vinny had them right in front of him when the idea of the Tempest occurred to him.

** Literally the first question the Sheriff asked Bill on walking into the room was 'Do you know why you are here?', and Bill told him that he did and wanted to confess and make it as painless as possible. The Sheriff thinks he's confessing to the murder, its a great demonstration of why you should NEVER take anything for granted in the legal system.

** Also, she's just had a major blowout with her fiancé. She's not a doormat, her feelings are hurt and she's in a huff. Those aren't the best emotional circumstances to consider the wider picture, or indeed anything much wider than how you'd like to put your fist through the face of the person who pissed you off, and case or no case she's entirely justified in feeling that way. Chances are, had she had a chance to go elsewhere and some time to cool down, she'd have probably realized herself that Vinny was just lashing out due to frustration and guilt and didn't really mean what he'd said, and returned of her own volition (or at least been willing to allow Vinny to drag her back after an amount of grovelling and fawning apology that she deemed suitable); it's just that Vinny has his EurekaMoment and needs to drag her back well before she's had time to get over her anger with him.

** Judge Malloy ''doesn't'' lie about Vinny's qualifications. Where did you get that idea? ''Vinny'' lied to the judge, and the judge was fooled. At first he takes Vinny at his word, but double-checks the records and finds that Vinny lied. So Vinny lies again, saying that his legal name is Jerry Gallow and his records are under that name. The judge believes that at first but double-checks again and discovers that Jerry Gallow is dead. So Vinny lies a ''third'' time, saying that the judge misheard him and his real name is "Jerry Callow", with a "C". The judge is ''very'' suspicious at this point and double-checks immediately. In the meantime, Mona calls in a favor from Vinny's mentor in New York to drum up some false records to confirm Vinny's lies. It works like a charm, and the judge is completely convinced that Vinny is legally "Jerry Callow" and he has an excellent trial record.

** Judge Malloy ''doesn't'' lie about Vinny's qualifications. Where did you get that idea? ''Vinny'' lied to the judge, and the judge was fooled. At first he takes Vinny at his word, but double-checks the records and finds that Vinny lied. So Vinny lies again, saying that his legal name is Jerry Gallow and his records are under that name. The judge believes that at first but double-checks again and discovers that Jerry Gallow is dead. So Vinny lies a ''third'' time, saying that the judge misheard him and his real name is "Jerry Callow", with a "C". The judge is ''very'' suspicious at this point and double-checks immediately. In the meantime, Mona calls in a favor from Vinny's mentor in New York to drum up some false records to confirm Vinny's lies. It works like a charge, and the judge is completely convinced that Vinny is legally "Jerry Callow" and he has an excellent trial record.