Fall
Today was a perfect fall day. It was warm, and sunny, and it smelled like leaves. I wanted to go pick apples or make some soup, or just frolic in a field.
Instead, I did a lot of homework, went to school for my 4:30 class, found out my 4:30 class was cancelled, went home, did some homework, ate some dinner and then went back to school for my 8:00 class.
But, it was a wonderful day, nonetheless. Everything just felt good.
I laughed out loud to myself a lot today. It felt SOOO good. I LOVE TO LAUGH. Once was when I was sitting in a coffee shop, reading my ADR book. I was reading about negotiation strategies and couldn't contain myself when I came to the section where it reminded you that if you were the type of negotiator who liked to storm out when presented with an unacceptable offer, it's best to schedule the negotiation NOT at your office. This is of course because it's silly to storm out of your own office. :) The people around me must have thought I lost my mind! The book went on to describe other tactics, such as sawing the bottoms off of the legs of your opponents chairs so that they are uncomfortable and you are seated higher than them. Even now, I'm giggling. I smiled all day thinking about it.
I had my second jury trial on Friday. It was an awful case that was originally set for Thursday, but was set-over to Friday because we ran out of Judges. I was relieved when it happened because after I spoke with my victim that morning (it was 3 counts of harassment - one of the victims didn't even come!) I learned that he didn't remember the facts AT ALL as they'd been put forth in the police report. I have no doubt that the police report was accurate, but I couldn't make my victim remember things he didn't. AND he told me that during the incident, he'd hauled off and hit the defendant with a shishkabob off of his grill. GREAT. So, my victim is harassing the defendant with a SHISHKABOB. GREAT. Needless to say, I was relieved when I had to pass the case off because I had a different trial set for Friday.
Of course, Friday came, my victim for that case didn't show, and we had to dismiss the charges. Guess who got handed back the trial from Thursday because the DA who it had been given to had a trial that had run long? Oh yeah, me. WOOO. But, it turned out well in the end. My INCREDIBLE trial skills boiled down to a guilty verdict on one count (the incident prior to the shishkabob) and a not-guilty on the other. I think it was the right result. All in all, I was just really glad to have some more experience with a jury. I think I did REALLY well during Voir Dire, and trying to convince 6 people is very different then trying to convince a judge.
I have another so-so case on Friday. I've been told it's a difficult case, so I'm keeping an open mind. Not sure if it's a jury or a bench trial at this point, or whether it will go for sure, but I'll be ready!
OH! Also exciting - I spent 1/2 of last Saturday with a bunch of alumni from the Fantastic College of Wooster. It was Scot-in-Service day and we were gathering to help build paths, turnpikes, bridges, boardwalks and some retaining-wall-type thing that was called something official with "Crib" in there at a local park. It was fantastic. It was such a good time. I helped out building the "crib-something" or "something-crib," which was actually just a series of 4 X 6's that were staked into the ground with 2 X 4's and rebar (?!) to help support a trail that was eroding away. It was SO satisfying, and really lovely to spend the day working outside. Afterwards a bunch of us had lunch in Multnomah Village. SOOO lovely. I think that as soon as school's done, I'm going to start volunteering with the parks or with Habitat for Humanity. I love building things, working outside, helping to create something. I wish I had more time to devote to it now...
Okay, 10:00. Time for bed. I have another update brewing - less updatey, more thought-provoking, so be ready. :)
Instead, I did a lot of homework, went to school for my 4:30 class, found out my 4:30 class was cancelled, went home, did some homework, ate some dinner and then went back to school for my 8:00 class.
But, it was a wonderful day, nonetheless. Everything just felt good.
I laughed out loud to myself a lot today. It felt SOOO good. I LOVE TO LAUGH. Once was when I was sitting in a coffee shop, reading my ADR book. I was reading about negotiation strategies and couldn't contain myself when I came to the section where it reminded you that if you were the type of negotiator who liked to storm out when presented with an unacceptable offer, it's best to schedule the negotiation NOT at your office. This is of course because it's silly to storm out of your own office. :) The people around me must have thought I lost my mind! The book went on to describe other tactics, such as sawing the bottoms off of the legs of your opponents chairs so that they are uncomfortable and you are seated higher than them. Even now, I'm giggling. I smiled all day thinking about it.
I had my second jury trial on Friday. It was an awful case that was originally set for Thursday, but was set-over to Friday because we ran out of Judges. I was relieved when it happened because after I spoke with my victim that morning (it was 3 counts of harassment - one of the victims didn't even come!) I learned that he didn't remember the facts AT ALL as they'd been put forth in the police report. I have no doubt that the police report was accurate, but I couldn't make my victim remember things he didn't. AND he told me that during the incident, he'd hauled off and hit the defendant with a shishkabob off of his grill. GREAT. So, my victim is harassing the defendant with a SHISHKABOB. GREAT. Needless to say, I was relieved when I had to pass the case off because I had a different trial set for Friday.
Of course, Friday came, my victim for that case didn't show, and we had to dismiss the charges. Guess who got handed back the trial from Thursday because the DA who it had been given to had a trial that had run long? Oh yeah, me. WOOO. But, it turned out well in the end. My INCREDIBLE trial skills boiled down to a guilty verdict on one count (the incident prior to the shishkabob) and a not-guilty on the other. I think it was the right result. All in all, I was just really glad to have some more experience with a jury. I think I did REALLY well during Voir Dire, and trying to convince 6 people is very different then trying to convince a judge.
I have another so-so case on Friday. I've been told it's a difficult case, so I'm keeping an open mind. Not sure if it's a jury or a bench trial at this point, or whether it will go for sure, but I'll be ready!
OH! Also exciting - I spent 1/2 of last Saturday with a bunch of alumni from the Fantastic College of Wooster. It was Scot-in-Service day and we were gathering to help build paths, turnpikes, bridges, boardwalks and some retaining-wall-type thing that was called something official with "Crib" in there at a local park. It was fantastic. It was such a good time. I helped out building the "crib-something" or "something-crib," which was actually just a series of 4 X 6's that were staked into the ground with 2 X 4's and rebar (?!) to help support a trail that was eroding away. It was SO satisfying, and really lovely to spend the day working outside. Afterwards a bunch of us had lunch in Multnomah Village. SOOO lovely. I think that as soon as school's done, I'm going to start volunteering with the parks or with Habitat for Humanity. I love building things, working outside, helping to create something. I wish I had more time to devote to it now...
Okay, 10:00. Time for bed. I have another update brewing - less updatey, more thought-provoking, so be ready. :)