And yesterday I did the rebuttal argument for the suppression motion. Again, last minute, no warning. We don’t get a decision until mid-November.
Today I clean up my office, tidy up some stuff, finish off a Federal Habe, and go to the jail to visit some federal inmates. Just another day in the life of a slacker private criminal defense attorney.
I want to respond to some of the self-righteous blogs by some public defnders. While I haven’t read the NACDL article, my understanding (from those same bloggers) is that it is not favorable to publid defenders. I’m wondering, however, why this gives PD’s the right to attack private criminal defense attorneys? I work very, very, very hard. I never go home at 5:00, and I’m usually working at 6:00 in the morning. And, trust me, I may get paid more than you, but hourly, I’ll bet its less. I use every ounce of energy on my clients, taking pleas when they are favorable, and going to trial when they aren’t. I take and return their phone calls and call their mama’s to make sure they have appropriate clothes for court. I go to the jail JUST BECAUSE they need to know someone gives a crap about them. In return, they’ve been gracious and kind to me, accepted the fact that I’m new in this jurisdiction but will learn everything I need to about the law and their case to represent them.
Aren’t we all in this together? Isn’t the whole point of criminal defense to represent our clients? To speak for those who can’t speak for themselves? To put the government to the test, to stand up and say yeah, PROVE IT, regardless of what they may have done. Regardless of how horrible the world thinks they are. Regardless.
I’m sorry that your clients don’t regard you as “real lawyers”. They don’t get it, they don’t understand. When I was doing assigned counsel work in New York I would be asked by clients “would you work harder if I paid you?” And my answer would always be the same. No. I work hard for you because you are my client and it is my job. Money or no money. That’s it.
The fact that I get paid a mighty fine salary doesn’t mean that I don’t consider you my brothers and sisters in this effort. I reach out my hand, and you help me up. That’s what its about, right? And, with all of our hands together, we help our clients up.
