Comments on: 10 Reasons It Doesn’t Pay to be a Public Defender

By: Adrian Baron

Adrian Baron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:24:46 +0000

I just noticed when this was posted. I’m always late to the party.

By: Adrian Baron

Adrian Baron — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:23:25 +0000

Just a quick note. I really enjoyed this post. As a criminal defense attorney in private practice, I can relate to many of these in one form or another. I tried the Abracadabra thing. It doesn’t work. They just reach out and grab ya.

Chicken salad out of chicken shit…..priceless.

By: donzell

donzell — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 10:28:22 +0000

Wow, Steven. You make it sound so damn simple. Why didn’t I think of that? Jesus, to think I have gone this long being an attorney and not come to this realization. God, I must suck.

The problem with your pithy comment is the following: most of the cases that I get, the client has done more than enough to ensure their guilt to some crime. Getting it dismissed is usually not an option. At this point, my job is to do damage control and/or hold the State to their Constitutional obligation of showing guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

By: steven

steven — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:09:26 +0000

You get your cases dismissed and then your demoted for not doing trials.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:31:00 +0000

Just finished a really tough strike jury trial, winding down eating lunch and reading this as the jury is still out. #12 has got to be seeing innocent clients go to jail. Especially since if you’ve been around enough you’ve won cases for guilty folks as well. #13 your mistakes equal your client going to jail. Stress anyone?

By: donzell

donzell — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 16:26:52 +0000

Red

Here are some of the reasons why I love my job:
1. The stories – you just cannot make up the stuff that I get to see and hear everyday,

2. The challenge – Simply put, I love a good fight, and I love having to fight with nothing, but sheer gile on my side.

3. Helping others – I like helping others.

By: Red

Red — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:34:24 +0000

Aside from total ownership of the moral high ground, why do you like it?

By: julian

julian — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:32:56 +0000

#11. Really you can look up the rules of professional conduct, the word ‘nice’ doesn’t appear once.

By: 10 Reasons It Doesn’t Pay to be a Public Defender — Public Defender Stuff

10 Reasons It Doesn’t Pay to be a Public Defender — Public Defender Stuff — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:54:55 +0000

[...] public defender blogger Between A Laugh And A Tear: 10. Most of your accomplishments are invisible and not attributed to [...]