Toxic Toxicologists

This has been around on the PD Blogs and list serves but the perjury in the state toxicology lab is really starting to be a pain in the ass. I had one of our Superior Court Attorney's come in and ask me what was up w/ the whole BAC deal b/c he has a pending vehicular assault (blood test). I had no answer for him. We are all just waiting around to see what happens. That, and continuing all our cases which is creating some intersting calenders for the months of November and December.

We are all waiting for one of the private attorney's from a big DUI firm to argue the motion in front of one of our more progressive judges. I know it will be better for clients if one of the private attorneys with the time and reasources to fully litigate these issues gets the first crack at this. However, it is frustrating to be precluded from simply noting up a motion and getting it resolved. Until then I have a hard time even explaining to my clients what is going on.

Client Control

I have a "hypothetical client" who is insisting on taking his reckless driving to trial. Normally, I am all for my clients exercising their trial rights. However, when the underlying allegations are that my client was doing wheelies on his crotch rocket it shakes my confidence just a smidge. I spent the weekend attempting to formulate a credible theory of defense.

Crazy Clients

Had a really sad "hypothetical client" today. In on a DUI, Dis-con, indecent exposure, Assault IV. The guy just lost it one day. He was running up and down the highway naked screaming and yelling and jumping on cars, assaulting folks etc...

He is a young guy, showed up in totally soiled clothes. Clearly he struggles with some serious mental health issues. I asked him if he wanted me to put him in touch with some mental health services. He was nice but didn't want any services. I know that we don't get to play social worker but at times its really hard not to try and help folks in need.

Client Control

I had a client hang up on my assistant today when she informed him that I was only available for appointments M-F 9-5. He said he works all day and cant get a day off work to meet with me. When she informed him that he was going to have to figure out a way to make it in he freaked and hung up on her. My assistant works her butt off to help clients, I am tempted to tell this F%$^er that he is going to have to figure out how to get a day off work for the day he is going to spend in jail when he gets convicted. I can handle clients cussing me out but our staff get paid less and have to put up with more crap than we do. Plus, lawyers develop alligator skins and can handle the occasional epitaph.

All Work and No Play

Well, the honeymoon is over and I am back were I belong, in jail! Its a great feeling to be back at work (and after years of borrowing money to be making a little scratch again).

I feel really good about work so far. Doing all the clinic and intern work during school has really paid off. I feel like I have been able to step in and really work my cases right away. Of course I have only been working a few days, hopefully I wont find out next week that I actually don't know shit! The people in my office are great as well and have gone out of their way to be supportive.

The court I am working out of now is much less confrontational than I am accustomed to. The PA's actually give fairly reasonable offers most of the time and we work at maintaining a good relationship with them. It was a little weird when folks around the office were talking to me about giving the PAs a heads up before filing a motion. Apparently the PAs here are good about dismissing cases with good suppression issues. It makes sense but it was just not what I am accustomed to. I have gotten used to spending my free time plotting how to lay in the weeds.

THANK GOD

Well, its all over. That was a seriously miserable experience. I guess its a rite of passage that all of us share. Still god awful.

I am getting married tomorrow and leave for a bike trip around Spain Monday. I am really looking forward to getting to work when I get back. Hopefully, when my posting starts back up in 3 weeks it will start actually relating to public defender work.

Wrongful Discharge

Got my tickets to sit for the bar today