Have a happy holiday... preparing for trial

We just got notice that we will be on trial the week of Jan. 3rd. So, enjoy New Years... at the office. Have a fun Christmas... at the office. The office gives us an extra paid week off around the holidays, but now it looks like I won't be using that. I can't even bank it for later.

Awesome!!!!

A rough day

Today started out as a typical run-of-the-mill day. I got to a quiet office before most of the other attorneys. I finished up some paperwork leftover from Friday. I got ready for my 9:30 appointment who never showed up and didn't call. Pretty much standard for any day as a PD. Then, something unusual: my 9:30 called around 11:00 and said she would like to reschedule. I should have gone home in shock. Instead, I agreed to reschedule for 2:00. On the call she demanded discovery. That should have been my first clue....

At 2:15 my 9:20/2:00 showed up for her appointment(s). For some reason she brought a friend and also her 19 month old daughter. I've spoken to this client before on the phone and she is constantly yelling at her baby. I specifically scheduled this appointment rather than talking to her on the phone because she can't go more than 90 seconds without screaming into the phone at her baby. It's a constant barrage of "SIT DOWN!!!," "GET OFF THAT!!!" and "I'M ABOUT TO SMACK YOU!!" I scheduled this appointment with the words, "is there a time we can meet without anyone else to interrupt us?" Turns out the answer is no.

So, back to 2:15: client, baby and friend walk in and baby is screaming. I could hear it from the lobby, and had already made the connection that this was awaiting me. Sadly, there was nothing I could do. All three of them sat down in my office and it was several minutes before I could say word one. All I could do was sit and wait for baby to calm down and accept her mother's tootsie roll as solace... which it wasn't. My co-worker came in and offered some crackers which would have been a big help, except that my client almost immediately smacked the baby for not accepting the crackers fast enough... or maybe because of baby's attitude... or maybe just to smack her, I don't know, nor can I begin to know why... So, I politely asked baby and client's friend to wait in the lobby. Client's friend declined and said, "this isn't even my baby." Fair enough, not your baby, who cares. Co-worker to the rescue again: "I have some play puppies she can play with while you're in your meeting." Good, time to talk to the client. If only it were so simple....

Client's biggest issue with her stabbing case: the police report lists the wrong color car. That's going to blow the case wide open. Great. This is going to go so well!! 2nd biggest issue: She already gave her statement to another public defender, so she isn't about to tell it again. I tried everything to get her to tell me, "what happened that night?" Nothing doing. No answers. If I was going to represent her, I would have to magically figure out what happened, what her perspective was, and who was lying. No problem. Not at all interested in contributing to her own defense. I even told her, "it's not me who will go to prison, it's you. So if you want to defend this case with no preparation, that's fine with me." This did not phase her at all.

I was able to explain a jury trial, but that's about it. She really wanted to file a motion to suppress, but I don't know what she wanted to suppress. In the end, I had to force her to leave the office. Not in a nice way, but in a way that prompted her to ask for my supervisor. The only redeeming part of the day was a supervisor talking to her and not only backing me up, but chastising her for her behavior in our office. She was told by multiple people that she had to leave... several times.

New assignment

Fresh off the heels of my last trial victory, I've moved courtrooms. Every once and a while they have us rotate through different judges and I was selected this time. I'd been in one place for a year and a half, so the move was not unexpected. It's always a little work to get situated in a new place, so I'm expecting things to be hectic for a little while and then to settle into a groove.

I had a good experience in the courtroom that I'm leaving. The judge was more than fair and let us try cases however we wanted. For those reasons, I'll miss it. Though, I don't know much about my new assignment. I hear it is not too different, though a bit more predictable.

Whatever happens, I'll still be fighting on the same side....

Winning feels good

Despite the lack of decent clothing (see previous) I got a not-guilty on my last trial. It was short, but tiring, and it felt good. Facing a life sentence, but he walked out of jail a free man. He's heading to technical school to be a mechanic and said he's done hanging with the wrong crowd. I hope that's true because they really set him up for some serious stuff....

There has to be a better way.

I just spent too long picking out clothing for two clients who are going to be in court for trial tomorrow. Some things that annoyed me (even more than the last time I picked out clothing):

One of our clothing racks had collapsed, leaving heaps of suits, belts, ties and jackets all over the floor.

None of the suits are marked with sizes, so you have to try it on yourself, or guess at the size.

We only have a few pairs of shoes, and most of them are all the same size.

Everything is outdated and out of style.

These guys may be in jail, but they should at least have their basic dignity in court....

Death

I had a client die in the local jail. I only found out because the Medical Examiner called me to see if I knew of any next of kin. I didn't really know this client, except that it was a mental health case, suicide watch....

Wasted client

I have a client who is trashed out of his mind and he keeps calling me up this afternoon. He keeps trying to tell me how I just told him to call back.... no, I didn't tell you that sir. He also denies drinking when I ask about it. Dude, stop calling me!!

Death

I just learned that a prosecutor's young son was killed last night. I was heartbroken to hear this and I am very saddened by the news.

We spend a lot of time bitching at each other, fighting each other, fighting over cases, complaining about each other... but this is terrible news that nobody deserves to get.

It has been a sad, sad morning.

No trials yet

My aggravated stalking trial took a plea. My three cases called in for today's calendar all went away... though only temporarily. (One of them has a great suppression issue where the cop is in jail for violating of oath of officer). Hurry up and wait all over again.

Called in on Aggravated Stalking

My latest trial case has just been called on to start trial tomorrow. Aggravated Stalking, Simple Battery, and Terroristic Threats.

It should be an interesting case, only a few witnesses though.

Your office is on fire... now what?

You're suggesting my office cut 13 positions. You have a guy with a PhD running the safety department and he sends e-mails like this?

"Reminder!
The very popular class, “Your Office is on Fire…now what?!” is being held on Tuesday, January 12th from 8:30-9:30. Don’t miss this wonderful and eye-opening class."

How much can we save if we eliminate that office and the entire staff?