Get Ur Blog On

I worked on Wednesday morning. I feel like I should have a separate blog for my crazy Public Defender (PD) stories.

I was in Courtroom 10 doing Trials. By Trials I mean, we settle with the prosecutor and the defendant takes a plea. It rarely goes to trial for real. Anyway, there was a guy who was charged with something. I don't know what, but it was an M4 or a misdemeanor of the fourth degree which can carry up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine. Well, I talked with him about what happened and tried to get him to settle. The prosecutor recommended an MM or Minor Misdemeanor which carries no jail time and a $150 fine maximum. He was very angry and said that he was unfairly charged and was screaming at me and telling me that it was wrong. I explained that he could only pay a $50 fine or something, and $150 at most. He thought this was wrong. He said he has no money and has to pay for his medical bills. Then he showed me his collastomy bag. I've never seen one before, but it was disgusting as i'm sure you can imagine. Why do they have to be clear? Anyway, he decided to go to trial, but he wanted a Jury Trial. Well, he has a right to a jury trial, but if he's found guilty, then he could be required to pay court costs. It costs $800 just to seat a jury. I hope he doesn't end up paying over $1000 for a misdemeanor.

Also, in the courtroom, there was a young man in custody who was brought before the judge. He was a PD client but I didn't talk to him at all. I actually don't even know what he was charged with. Well, the judge sentenced him to six months in jail. Suddenly, the guy started wailing like a widow at her husbands funeral. He started crying, "Six Months? Six Months?!" He started crying and screaming. The judge didn't even finish reading the sentence. The bailiff took him away. The defenant yelled to the audience and asked if anyone had a cell phone. He yelled out a number and told them to call his momma and let her know he'll be in jail for six months. As the bailiff took him away he said to the judge, "you're wrong man, you're wrong". He screamed as the door closed behind him. He cried as the bailiff took him down the hall. For several minutes later you could hear the wail of a man that was going to jail for six months. His cries echoed through the back of the court for several minutes until they eventually faded away.