junctionshamus Loc: Grand Junction, CO

The last trial I got called for was a trifecta. Judge, defense attorney, and DA were former attorney-clients.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

Take your camera…

junctionshamus Loc: Grand Junction, CO

Surprised defense counsel didn't want to declare a mistrial, or was it said outside the presence of other jurors?

Smoky Loc: Knoxville,TN

Judge called for a new jury pool. He knew better than to keep me in the pool.

We laughed about it years later.

junctionshamus Loc: Grand Junction, CO

Between the prosecutorial rock, and the defensive hard place. If there was a saying covering a third entity (e.g. Judge), I'd be the meat in that sandwich of justice. ;-)

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

But when the prosecutor and defender plead their way to lunch on the taxpayer, they settle for balogna.

junctionshamus Loc: Grand Junction, CO

Contrary to public perception, or programs like "Law & Order,"defense counsel and prosecutors, no matter their personal relationship, avoid each other during trials (perception). Besides, they're way too busy during lunch breaks preparing for the next session (time management). Finally, because you can't bill it to the client, it's not going to be fancy. Somewhere between an apple, and a Whopper, no cheese...

Retina Loc: Near Charleston,SC

My experience is limited and anecdotal, but there is no doubt that repeat offenders can get off by admitting guilt to lesser crimes. I know this as a victim who is now better prepared for the next break-in at my home. Whether agreements are discussed before, during, or after the preliminary hearing doesn't interest me. As for Law & Order, I am still hoping to catch a rerun where a woman claimed she was assaulted in a fashionable NYC clothing store by a successful real estate tycoon and eventually sued for millions. It turned out to be quite prophetic.

dustie Loc: Nose to the grindstone

That may be true as a wide generalization, I do not know.

About 18-20 years ago, I was looking for written information on a specific legal matter, and could not find it in resources at the public library.
The reference librarian put me in touch with staff at the law library at the courthouse.

Turns out, the law library there has certain hours during the week when members of the general public can go in and do research, on a pre-arranged appointment basis.

At the time of my appointment, I went as directed to a back, basement entrance, which let me into a hallway. At the other end of that 85-90 foot long hallway, is the doorway to the law library.
No other doorways in that hall, only a stairway leading up to the ground floor, about six or eight feet from the door to the law library.

As I walked down that carpeted hall, I could hear two voices in a conversation somewhere down at that library end.
When I got to the opening of the area that accesses the stairway leading upward, two fellows were there, at the bottom of that stairway talking, and they froze in startled silence when I appeared, since the carpeted floor had prevented the sound of my walking in the hall.

From what I could hear as I walked the length of that hall, I would deduce one was from the DA office, one was a public defender. They were discussing means to try to back an accused, who was due in court in a few minutes, into a legal corner, so that he would accept a plea agreement in exchange for a slight reduction in charges (my perception, based on what I heard).

junctionshamus Loc: Grand Junction, CO

Still would require the defendant to approve (or not) the proposed plea agreement (notice I didn't say "bargain" - I hate that term). When I was in Fresno, there was a cafeteria in the basement of the county court building. More deals and trades were made there, than the NYSE. "It's just coffee" meets the law.

dr7zyq

Ditto in Idaho. Having been a lawyer for 33 years, I was no longer fascinated by the legal system. I signed off at my first opportunity.

David

junctionshamus Loc: Grand Junction, CO

So David, what's chapter two in your life? Mine is Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County, Colorado.

therwol Loc: USA

I went once. I signed off when I hit 70. I know it has to be done. Someone has to do it. The problem I see today is that much of the population can't tell true from false, and I'm not pointing a finger at any particular group.

dr7zyq

“ So David, what's chapter two in your life? Mine is Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County, Colorado.§”

Yours is the more noble.

Mine is ham radio, photography, doctor visits, and five grandchildren. And in the summer, yard work, fence repair, and helping maintain my wife’s substantial garden. We put three gallons of blue berries in the freezer last August/September. She grew them, I harvested them.

David

junctionshamus Loc: Grand Junction, CO

Thank you for responding, Sir. It's wonderful that you have the ability to reach out to the world and hear first-person accounts of what's going on. I have one granddaughter, who is doted upon and adored by her Nana, my wife. How many bushes does it take to put up three gallons of blueberries, though something tells me that might have been a net amount, after your skim. I wish you and your Missus a wonderful spring.