"We the Jury find the Defendant ... Not Guilty."
You will never know how hard I worked on that appointed case, how many times I threw up from stress, how many hours I put in which I will never be paid for, or how should-be-embarrassing-to-society low I will be paid. It was the single hardest felony case I have ever fought. I was advised to withdraw as counsel by three judges and every lawyer I know. I stopped counting how many times my client threatened to fire me. Her family hated everything about me. I didn't care that it was hopeless. I flatly refused to give up on her, because I actually believed her. I had my appellate brief (appeal) drafted before trial was over and explained to her I would personally file it ASAP if we lost.... We were left for dead; we damn well knew it; we were expecting it.
A local newspaper does not ordinarily send a photographer and a journalist to a case like this. Nobody dead; no reader interest. I can't prove it, but I bet my life I know the lawyer who arranged for that. He was aiming to immortalize what was certain to be an absolute and embarrassing defeat. After we started breathing again, my client and I cried and held each other after the verdict; I don't know for how long. No real celebration, just sobbing and it could've gone on forever. I just don't care how long it was or that everyone saw. For one brief moment, I did not hate my job. Dead silence and camera flashes told me there are pictures of it. I am having the newspaper article/photo mounted on a wall-plaque along with the certified mailing receipt I'll get from sending a copy of the article to that lawyer with a thank you letter....
Some, more naive types, go to law school solely for the chance at the honor and the privilege of representing a truly innocent person.... I'm going to let her throw away the appellate brief if she wants. Let's see if I can get her her job and apartment back....
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Topic: [MILK] There were 12 eggs here what did you do with them? (Happy thread?!) (Read 16173579 times)