Four or five new cases today. Each one filthy. Not homeless. I've represented no more than five homeless people since I started. Truly disturbing. All with skin darker than mine. They were arraigned at the end of court, so the only people there were court employees and them. Everyone in the court was white. And oh so polite. White and polite. As long as we're polite, haven't we fulfilled our duties? I mean truly dirty. Living in squalor. And now living in jail.
Statistics show the population of this city has declined by about 14 thousand over the last six years. They also show that about 30% of the population of this city is living below the poverty line. The other day, I was present at the arraignment of a woman who got busted for stealing a coat. Her house had burned down three days before. It was on the news. She had emergency housing for two days. Then nothing. It was cold, 40 degrees the other night. She was cold and took a coat. No one cares.
I told the judge on the record that Mr. Black was constantly getting harassed by cops. Walking while Black. Riding a Bike while Black. Driving while Black. "Oh well, that's not something we can address here, um, blah blah blah, you know, um, well....blah blah blah."
Got roped into a bench trial. White security guard sat on a black woman who was 7 months pregnant. Her friend tried to defend her and got charged with harassment in the second, a stupid violation. This actually went to trial. The judge tried to get me to get her to take a plea, which I didn't do. She wasn't takin' one anyway. Then, when the trial started, he said she was gonna have to represent herself pro se. I said fine, I'll take my coat off and sit behind her and advise her. Think he would've done that to a white girl?
I still have over 300 cases.
Tomorrow I have a Huntley Hearing. I don't know what I'm doing.
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3 comments:
Just found this through the link from PDStuff. Very powerful. An e-mail address would be helpful, if possible. Thank you for telling the continuing story.
Welcome to the world of public defense, it's a pleasure to have you..really. Too many people come into it and just *act* like cardboard cutouts. It will take a little while to get your feet under you. Then remember that the best defense is a spirited offense. Do the motions..all of them you can come up with. Argue. Pound tables as necessary. (Refrain from pounding prosecutors, cops and judges. That time has not yet come).
If you're willing to do the work, put in the hours you can carve out a space for your clients. Sort of like the movies with the guy fending off the wolves with a torch. You can do it. You have to. 'Cause nobody else will.
Hello C.B. Cutout, Esq.,
You and I practice in the same state and I'd love to try to help you out. It sounds like you are headed for a flameout which would be a real shame since you seem to care about what you are doing.
I understand you may just be venting some profound frustration on this blog, but I would be happy to talk/e-mail law some time if you think it would help.
In the meantime, one person good person against the tide is better than no good people against the tide. Good luck.
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