My paralegal, Kathy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 weeks ago, has gotten about the best news she can under the circumstances. The surgery was totally successful, and it was probably the stage which will require only moderate radiation treatment post-op. About time she catches a break. One of the strongest thing she has going for her is a loving husband who is a great source of positive attitude.
Tina, the crack lady, entered a plea yesterday. The District Judge and I had an on-the-record honest discussion about the necessity of rescinding her bond. If she got out again on bond and used drugs again (and it is probable that she would), the potential 6 year sentence I'm aiming for would real quick turn into a 14 year sentence. I told the judge that I'm really heartsick over this case. She commented that I have a good heart, which honestly embarassed me - and added that she has to think of the best result for the client and for society at large. Darn hard duty being a judge. I've often said that I disagreed with this or that decision that she has made, just as she's been peeved with me a time or two, but no one has ever heard or will ever hear me say that I think she has intentionally done the wrong thing.
Oh, in answer to my question, I told Tina very little about what could be coming, that there was sealed information in the file which could be trouble, but that the ramifications to not showing up would be devastating.
In our state bar newsletter today, there was an item that the state bar revoked the "Young Lawyer of the Year" award given a couple of months ago to a young fellow in an adjacent town, because he has been charged with embezzlement. I don't know this guy. I can argue this both ways. On the one hand, there is the presumption of innocence, which you would think an association of lawyers would respect. And there is the fact that this action focuses attention on what may turn out to be dishonorable conduct. But also, I think back to a similar situation in our local Boy Scout Council. A fellow who was awarded something called the Silver Beaver, which is a nice award to dedicated adult volunteers, was charged with and convicted of sexual misconduct with a kid at Scout camp. Basically, we treated him like the character from Last of the Mohicans, the Huron Reed-That-Bends. His name was unscrewed from the plaque at camp and deleted from the list of recipients, and he no longer has name or remembrance with us, and as far as we are concerned, he has dishonored us and never existed. So which way would you go? Ignore it, or make a big deal of rescinding it?
My partner has entered into a horrid conspiracy with my doctor, and I'm on a hopefully short leave, some time off-duty. So, another question - if you're not reading or working, how the hell do you go about having fun?
Mizpah!
R
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
11 comments:
i think they should wait until he is in fact found guilty of something or pleads guilty to something before revoking his award. if he's found guilty, then he'll lose his job as well as freedom and an award. i think our problem is that we often jump the gun to judge people like those boys in the Duke rape case. that awful woman (nacy grace) had them already serving 20 years behind bars on day 2 of the scandal, and she's never once said sorry for all the hard her international TV show caused them.
in this case, maybe the lawyers are the most jaded among us, to be that fast to judge?
roger, you can sleep, mow the lawn, have sex, take a trip or do all of these when one is on break.
jilly
Hope your health is not roubling you too much, and was very glad to read Kathys update.
In my humble opinion, I believe the whole plaque-removal and defrocking, or dewoggling, or whatever it is you do at Scouts, is totally the correct way to go. By just ignoring it would send out signals to others that scouting as an organisation on the whole is not that bothered that one of their members has commited a terrible crime.
Ignore it.
clank, i think the legal org. should wait until the guy is actually found guilty of something, then take steps. if the guy is innocent, they've ruined his life, and reinstating his award won't ever make it right again.
jilly
I'm thinking ignore it too. Not that was the scout leader was found guilty of wasn't major, but it doesn't mean he didn't do good things at one time.
I, too, hope there's nothing serious going on with you, health wise.
I like to play online games, read, sit by the pool and talk with friends.
Maybe you could plan a casual dinner party with people you'd really enjoy spending some time with?
Sorry. Didn't read the part about him not being found guilty yet.
Apologies xxxx
Although, I stand by what I say if he is found guilty.
Oddly, enough one way that we've found to have fun is to go bowling
--not league bowling, but just family bowling.
Wait
there's always something:
two blades of grass that need
to get out of each other's way.
Then there's a hammock, under of course a wild cherry tree.
You can look up from it, into the twisty leaves, and call on words.
The branches that need pruning can be counted and entered into log books.
Books of logs.
Words return to their source after all,
don't they.
And everything else
that needs to get out of everything else's way
can just bloody well
wait.
Four
Thanks for sharing the GREAT news about Kathy!
Sorry but the Scout guy got what he deserved. Tho some are sad about that and all the good memories, his name needs to be taken down as it serves as a reminder of someone else's bad memories and the pain he inflicted in their lives. You can't erase what he may have done, but you can remove the reminders for the memories they might cause now and in the future.
Time for a new post, laddie! :)
you took the words right out of my mouth
:) :) :)
Four
Post a Comment