a public defender

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Once in a while I feel magnanimous. Like tonight. So I will answer all questions asked (thus, AQA). This is an AQA thread.

Let’s start off with some recent queries that brought people to this blog:

• is it ethical for a public defender to refuse to represent a person believed to be guilty? The short answer is no. There is no long answer.
• father in prison, can they file an amendment by default? I’d answer if it I knew what the hell it meant. I’m going to say….all signs point to yes.
• why are prisons overcrowded in the US? Oh boy. This is a doozie. Well, let’s see. Overcriminalization, harsh sentencing, no parole or early release and the complete and total lack of rehabilitation in prisons leading to recidivism. How’s that?
• how do I get a public defender? Well, it varies from state to state. Usually you apply for a public defender at the local courthouse or in court when being arraigned.
• how to get around statutory rape? Abstain or don’t get caught.
• Connecticut public defender office. (this isn’t really a question, but here)
• How can prison overcrowding be reproduced? The old fashioned way, I’d imagine. See answer 3 above.
• Your chance for change rehab in CT? Limited
• Cross examining a known eyewitness? Easier than cross-examining an unknown eyewitness, I imagine.
• What are the principles of law? Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Freedom, too.
• CT Constitutional Amendment question 1 2008. No. See, that was simple. Repeat after me: No.
• When an arrest is illegal. This feels like a game of madlibs. Hmm, let’s see. When an arrest is illegal the yellow mongoose swims with the overcrowded prison!
• Todd Rizzo, CT? Sad.
• Stoned. Good for you!
• How to keep prior conviction from being introduced at trial? Claim to be your twin brother. Or get a lawyer who can do it for you. Either one has a 50-50 shot at success.
• Ice cream Truck, and finally:
• Gay oral

What-choo got?

If you’re wondering why there haven’t been any new posts here in the last few days, it’s because I unplugged myself from the matrix. It felt good, but now I’m back. Look for more posts soon. What’s going on in your part of the world?

During my first year in law school, I wanted to be an International Human Rights lawyer. Seriously. Then, for reasons that may be explained another day, I decided I wanted to practice criminal law. Specifically, I wanted to be a public defender. So I set about doing that. I ignored the law reviews, I ignored the Moot Court board, I ignored all the write on competitions - heck, I even ignored “OCI” (on-campus interviews). While many of my friends were working their rears off during our first summer trying to get their “write-on” application completed, I was chugging Long Island Iced Teas at the local watering hole.

I don’t regret it one bit. I love my job and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

But. On March 31st of this year, when I was preparing for that poor April Fool’s Day joke, I decided to take a look around the big firm websites in CT to see if there were any job openings. Just for a lark.

Take DayPitney, for example. DayPitney - formerly Day, Berry & Howard - may be the “biggest” Connecticut law firm. They have several openings. I’ll list them and you tell me how I’d fare if I applied:

Candidates for these positions must possess strong academic credentials and superior writing and communication skills, as well as New York Bar admission. These are excellent opportunities offering competitive salaries and benefits packages.

REAL ESTATE:

Real Estate Associate (3-5 years) with strong commercial leasing experience.

CORPORATE & BUSINESS LAW DEPARTMENT:

We are seeking an associate to join our Corporate and Business Law Department, as follows:

* Associate (mid-level to senior) with general tax and international tax experience.
CORPORATE AND BUSINESS LAW: LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE

* Associate with 2-3 years experience for transactional and regulatory healthcare matters. Ideal candidate would possess prior experience in providing legal advice to healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, research institutions and technology-related entities.

CORPORATE ASSOCIATE:

* Associate with 3-5 years of mergers and acquisitions, securities regulations and broker-dealer experience, as well as general corporate matters. Additional experience with NASD and SEC regulations a plus.

FINANCIAL SERVICES ASSOCIATE:

* Bankruptcy Associate (3-5 years) with strong bankruptcy and commercial litigation experience. Loan transactional experience a plus.

It goes on and on, just like that. Sometimes I feel like the Aflac duck…

Needless to say, I would probably not be accepted to fill any of those positions. Not that I want them, mind you (although the extra money sure would be nice).

Here I am, with a number of years’ experience, with over a dozen trials under my belt, with a few appellate arguments, with over 100 clients I have personally dealt with and yet I would fail miserably at any of those jobs.

It just amazes me that when we go through law school, we get the same basic training, yet when we graduate, our work becomes so specialized that my law-school friend and I couldn’t switch jobs for a week without coming dangerously close to engaging in malpractice.

Any of you out there that have made the jump from purely criminal work (as a pd at that) to purely civil at a big firm? What was it like?

Sorry for the sporadic posting over the last week. My computer was malfunctioning and - believe it or not - I had work to do. I am now back, armed with my computer and plenty to say.

Additionally, those changes I mentioned are coming closer to fruition. I should have an announcement to make in the coming week or so.

Thanks for sticking by me, even when I wasn’t posting.

Only one of you wished me a Happy Birthday *sniff*

Where’s the love?

So, despite my best half-hearted attempts to conceal my identity, it has come to my attention that a growing number of you know who I am. My initial reaction was to go the Audacity route and just shut down. But I’m not going to do that. Frankly, because I enjoy this too much and I really don’t say anything here that I wouldn’t say to you in person. If you know me and think that I’m an idiot, then my work here is done.

I do have two requests, though. If you refer the blog to other pds or attorneys in CT, try not to refer to it by my real name. Second- and more important - what the heck are you people doing reading but not commenting? C’mon folks - start getting involved! There are plenty of you that know more about some of this stuff than I do. So chime in. Don’t leave me looking like a fool. That’s my job.

Otherwise I’ll be forced to send you all e-mails.

Thanks for reading

For those of you who don’t know me, but are curious nonetheless, this is what I look like:

photo credit: Glamhag

The photo has been updated. Now you’re all confused because you don’t know which one I am. HAH!

No, seriously, that’s my mortal enemy. This is me:

That’s Miranda in the background.

The 2008 season of the Blawgers Baseball Fantasy Baseball League is about to start. BRING IT ON! Details at the Blawgers Baseball Blog.

I am going to win this year. Book it.

Why is it so much more difficult for the State to accept that it lost?

Last week, I tagged along to some local lawyers’ gathering. From the fancy locale, to the expensive suits, to the talk of depositions and summary judgment, I felt like a fish out of water. I didn’t recognize anyone and I didn’t see any criminal law types. There was a smattering of civil judges, corporate lawyers, solos and first or second year associates.

When informing someone that I was a public defender, I even got an “Oh that’s great!”.

I should stop going to these things and start going to some CCDLA events, so I can mingle with brethren.  Or perhaps that NY Blawgers get-together.

Posting may be light this week. I have a few trials scheduled.

Just for the heck of it. One of the very few songs of the last 5 years that I can listen to.

And one classic - rejuvenated.

This is my blog. It is a personal blog. I write mainly about criminal law, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is a personal blog. I own the blog, I pay for it. I will rant; I will scream and yell if I feel like it. I do not have to be rational or logical or correct. Please read the legal disclaimer/privacy policy if you’re unsure of anything.

I also recognize that I can be wrong. Very often. Which is why, unlike some other blogs, comments are always open and I rarely, if ever, delete comments.  You’re free to disagree with me and more often than not I will respond in the comments.

This is not directed at any one individual in particular, I just thought it prudent to remind my readers in light of the sensitive and controversial topics that have been covered here over the past few months.

If you’d like a fair and balanced news report, try these sites.

Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to do so.

Yes, this was a rant.

Hello blogosphere (and readers)! After a whirlwind tour of the southern states, I have returned home. Thanks to everyone who read and commented in my absence (including “Jan” who - intentionally or otherwise - almost outed me )

Posts to follow shortly!

This blog is going on vacation! (well, not the blog itself, but I am.) Fear not, however. I have entrusted the job of sporadically updating the blog to Miranda and taking a cue from Anne, I have some old posts lined up for republication. Hopefully, everything goes well and there will be plenty for you to read.

Also, you can always find something interesting by clicking on one of the links in the sidebar.

See you in September!

 Off-topic post.

After years of being inundated with commercials and friends promising me the golden civilization, I bit the bullet and bought an iPod.

It’s okay. Someone want to tell me what makes it so great?

I hate Apple, btw. Their stupid gimmicks and tactics ended up costing me $60 more than I wanted to (or should have to) pay. Which lead me to buy the 30GB version instead of the 80GB version (which I totally was going to).

I shouldn’t have to pay extra for a scratch-resistant case or a freakin wall-outlet charger!

And as much as I love U2, I’m not paying an extra $30 for a U2 version. C’mon.

Anyway. At least I’m listening to music again in forever.

/off-topic post