Updatey-doo
I've been moved from the Mecca that is the felony bureau to the slums that is county court. I now handle misdemeanors in bulk, like DUI's (which anger me) and driving with no valid license (which don't). I find that I am extremely stressed, work upwards of 10 hours a day, and have developed a worrisome twitch in my right eye and an extreme case of insomnia. I sleep something like 4-5 hours a day and work tons of hours. I'm not a workaholic, I just don't have a handle on my new caseload, which is easily twice what my old one was.
My first two days in the misdemeanor division, my new trial partner (who is VERY nice) was on vacation and I had to try his cases. Needless to say, I've never tried a DUI before. I proved driving, I proved impairment, but I still lost because the defense alleged the necessity defense, ie defendant HAD to drive because his friend was being beaten up. I may not have convicted had I sat on the jury either, but people from my office seem slightly ashamed that I lost. Apparently in county court we drop cases left and right and lose motions and trials a lot too. It's kinda killing me. The first day I was in my new division, I had a DUI where the defense successfully moved for a motion for sanctions for discovery violations. I had a continuance charged to the state, speedy trial had already run and my officer wasn't available. I dropped the case and immediately thought I was going to be fired.
Apparently, it happens fairly often down here. I dropped another DUI yesterday. It worries me. Drunk drivers kill people. They're dangerous. I don't care about pot or no valid DL or paraphernalia, but people who drive drunk end up killing other people. I do not want to drop these cases.
On top of that I gained two pounds this week. I feel like a whale, but I think I probably look the same.
Poor Steve. I come home after 8pm, cranky as hell and wanting to fall asleep. I don't get to spend much time with him and he has the burden of maintaining our apartment, you know, the one where someone shattered the back window of my car last week. Some shitball stole my iPod, some cds, and the worst, my parking pass at work. I had to buy a new parking pass. That's crappy.
I'm sad I haven't updated recently. I've been swamped. I came home yesterday so mad I was crying because two defense attorneys with tons of experience pulled a fast one on me and I ended up looking like a dumbass, and the judge scolded me for it today. He said he felt bad for me but he gave me every opportunity to drop the case. I DON'T think that is the PROPER remedy, and I said on the record that I thought it was inappropriate to take advantage of my relative newness to my detriment, and that of the state. I won, though it was a pity win.
I value any comments you fine readers would deign to leave. I'm sinking, kinda out of control, and your input would be great. Did I sign up for this when I took a job with the government? Why am I always on the losing side?
My first two days in the misdemeanor division, my new trial partner (who is VERY nice) was on vacation and I had to try his cases. Needless to say, I've never tried a DUI before. I proved driving, I proved impairment, but I still lost because the defense alleged the necessity defense, ie defendant HAD to drive because his friend was being beaten up. I may not have convicted had I sat on the jury either, but people from my office seem slightly ashamed that I lost. Apparently in county court we drop cases left and right and lose motions and trials a lot too. It's kinda killing me. The first day I was in my new division, I had a DUI where the defense successfully moved for a motion for sanctions for discovery violations. I had a continuance charged to the state, speedy trial had already run and my officer wasn't available. I dropped the case and immediately thought I was going to be fired.
Apparently, it happens fairly often down here. I dropped another DUI yesterday. It worries me. Drunk drivers kill people. They're dangerous. I don't care about pot or no valid DL or paraphernalia, but people who drive drunk end up killing other people. I do not want to drop these cases.
On top of that I gained two pounds this week. I feel like a whale, but I think I probably look the same.
Poor Steve. I come home after 8pm, cranky as hell and wanting to fall asleep. I don't get to spend much time with him and he has the burden of maintaining our apartment, you know, the one where someone shattered the back window of my car last week. Some shitball stole my iPod, some cds, and the worst, my parking pass at work. I had to buy a new parking pass. That's crappy.
I'm sad I haven't updated recently. I've been swamped. I came home yesterday so mad I was crying because two defense attorneys with tons of experience pulled a fast one on me and I ended up looking like a dumbass, and the judge scolded me for it today. He said he felt bad for me but he gave me every opportunity to drop the case. I DON'T think that is the PROPER remedy, and I said on the record that I thought it was inappropriate to take advantage of my relative newness to my detriment, and that of the state. I won, though it was a pity win.
I value any comments you fine readers would deign to leave. I'm sinking, kinda out of control, and your input would be great. Did I sign up for this when I took a job with the government? Why am I always on the losing side?