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?

I think I'm close to tears

Today I had a helluva Calendar to work through. It is now 8PM and I am just getting back to my office. We worked out a lot of cases and some folks went home for the holidays. The other PD assigned to my courtroom got out "early" at 6:00 tonight. I got the late shift and am just finishing out my 12 hour day. I returned to my office for some news that has my stomach in a real knot. I'm not sure if I'm physically sick from my long day, or if this just scared the crap out of me. I opened my computer to the following email....

From my boss, the county public defender:

"We just received the recommended budget for our department and it is not good news. There is no easy way for me to say this, but the recommendation is that 13 positions be eliminated from our office. Please know that I will do everything possible to keep these positions. The budget is now up to the Commissioners and they have until March 1st to approve the budget. I have a plan of action, including meeting with each commissioner to impress upon them that we are constitutionally mandated to provide representation and that a crisis in the courts will result if positions are eliminated from the Public Defender’s Office. I have already received support from other departments that they will publicly support us keeping these positions. Unfortunately, we are not the only department to suffer these losses. The majority of departments are losing positions, such as the solicitor’s office who will apparently lose 16 positions.

I know this is terrible news to hear, but I believe it is important that everyone knows what we are facing in 2010. Also, nothing is final yet. Public Defenders know how to fight, so that’s what we will do! I will keep everyone updated ..."

Our office has less than 50 attorneys.

Three trials, three weeks

I am currently waiting on a jury in a 2 count burglary case. This marks the end of the third case I've tried in the three weeks of this trial calendar. First was that Armed Robbery I mentioned, then an Aggravated Assault (self-defense claim), finally this Burglary is the only one left to come in.

Jury selection had some humerour moments. One older juror was asleep during general questioning. I actually called him out on it too. "Juror number nine? ... Juror number nine? You need to try to stay awake sir, these are some important questions." The Judge told us later that he had never seen an attorney call out a juror for sleeping. We all had a good laugh.

Public Defenders with the C word

Tonight I found out that one of my closest friends at the office has cancer. Serious cancer. I hope that I am supportive enough, and helpful enough, and can do enough to .... I don't know what, I just hope I can help.

Batting .500

In a whirlwind of activity over the last two weeks I managed to have my first and second trials in Superior Court. First up was an armed robbery with pretty clear surveilance video. My client was arrested a week after this robbery, but there was hardly any evidence against him. I got an acquittal on the only charge!! Next was an aggravated assault with a self-defense claim. The jury didn't buy the self-defense argument, so she got convicted. I think they didn't like seeing the cut with the razor on the girl's back. Sentencing is tomorrow...

UPDATE: She got 15 years to serve 10 years. For a single cut with a razor blade. It didn't help that she ran down the stairs to fight this girl... she was 50 at the time and the victim was 17... and her children and grandchild were present to see her do it.... overall kinda ugly.

It's give your client your belt day!

My coworker was just ordered to give his belt to his client. The judge said, "I don't think your pants will fall down, but his are falling off."

In a cruel twist, his client was thrown out of the courtroom and, subsequently, the courthouse and the belt ended up in the trash can.

Ah, courthouse drama of the pettiest kind!!

I was having a good day when....

Today started of pretty well. A private attorney came to court and relieved me of a case that is on the current trial calendar. Several cases were called in for trial that were not mine, freeing up my weekend. Then a series of events put me in a bad mood.

First, my friend here at the office found out that her very recently ex-fiance got married to a dude. Well, not a dude, a woman who was very recently a dude.

Then I found out that my client who had been out on bond was just arrested for this:
http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/autopsy-due-friday-on-140351.html

Then a doctor that I have been trying to subpoena in a very serious case has diappeared and I haven't been able to track him down.

TGIF