Let’s rewind, shall we?
Lindsay Lohan was convicted of drunk driving and cocaine possession back in 2007. She was initially given a one day jail sentence (of which she served a grueling 86 minutes) and three years probation, which included attending alcohol education classes. Her probation was extended last year after missing some of her classes and earlier this year she blew off a court appearance and more classes. She was sentenced to 90 days jail for violations of her probation. During the hearings, Lohan was represented by celebrity lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley. Holley quit after the sentencing, which seems reasonable since there didn’t appear to be grounds for appeal and Lohan’s in court antics were making her an increasingly difficult client to represent. The LA Sheriff’s office said that Lohan hired newly barred lawyer Tiffany Feder-Cohen but Feder-Cohen seems to have disappeared into the woodwork. Lohan cast around for a new lawyer and Chicago attorney Stuart Goldberg flew out to meet with the family. Goldberg eventually declined to represent Lohan, but not until after making some condescending remarks to the press. Finally Lohan hired another member of the OJ Simpson “Dream Team”, Robert Shapiro, who only agreed to take the case on the condition that she serve her time in jail and enter treatment for alcohol addiction. Last week, prior to beginning her jail term, Lohan checked in at the Pickford Lofts, a private rehabilitation facility conveniently owned by Shapiro. It appeared that everything was set for a smooth transition from rehab to jail back to rehab (where Lohan will have to spend another court mandated 90 days following her release from jail) but the wheels apparently came off the bus once more and the night before Lindsay was to report to jail Shapiro quit.
So who was standing with her when she reported to court on Tuesday morning? It was Shawn Chapman Holley, her original lawyer, who apparently never signed the substitution of attorney form and was still on the hook to represent her client.