So this morning I was supposed to have my first trial. It didn’t quite happen that way. I did all the prep. I was ready. The defendant was toast (maybe). Instead of taking the chance, though, she accepted a plea offer that had been on the table for months and months.
I’m working on the assumption1 that when she and her attorney saw the ferocious2 certified legal intern sitting 1st chair, they realized hope was lost and decided to cut their losses. As a consolation, I got to present the factual basis… which is essentially asking the defendant to admit to each element of the offense(s) to which (s)he is pleading guilty. It was much less exciting than a cross, but I didn’t screw it up too badly.
Read: “Delusion”
Grrr!
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:57 pm
You are doing criminal stuff this summer? And they are letting you actually try stuff? That is a pretty big deal - good for you.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:02 pm
Yeah… I’m in a nearby prosecutor’s office. Small county, small office, I’m pretty excited about it. It looks like I’ll be getting most of the bench trials… so that’s pretty neat.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Remind me not to speed through that town. I don’t want to face down a ferocious CLE.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:56 pm
Congrats on your first trial!
May 23rd, 2007 at 10:12 pm
In my first (and only) trial as a CLI I won by default. But a win is a win I guess. Keep rockin.
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Make sure you throw a case now and then. It’s bad to be selfish.
May 23rd, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Sorry, I had too. =) I’m a dick.
May 24th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
I won my first trial by default too. It was still nerve wracking, even though I knew the other side hadn’t shown up.
May 24th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Agreed
May 24th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Damn! Just like on Matlock!
Congrats, Pete!
May 25th, 2007 at 10:28 am
I like the Grrr! Nice touch.
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Get used to it. You’re in for years of the same.