What a couple of weeks it has been. Trial work has to be some of the most exhaustive work that an attorney can handle. The mental and emotional toll on the body is beyond description. Knowing that your clients' future is in your hands is enought to scare some lawyers away. However, the truely great lawyer (not me) relish the chance to champion the case to the jury.
In my recent murder trial, I tried to convince the State that they were dealing with bad facts and even worse witnesses. Did they listen? Not one little bit. After the Judge shot down all of my suppression issues (identification) we started into the State's witnesses. One after the other, I was able to get them to shot holes in the State's theory of the case - my client beat the victim over $35.00 taken from his mothers' car the day before.
Finally, it came time for the State's key witnesses - the eye witness. By the time I finished my cross examination, the Judge was beginning to question the witness and his completely inconsistent identification of my client as the person who committed the crime.
Despite the Judge's best efforts to resuscitate the State's dying case, the Jury made short work of the verdict. In just under 30 minutes, the jury returned a NOT GUILTY verdict, complete with a thumbs up from one of the jurors as they returned to the box to announce the verdict.
What a great feeling. To know that all of the work and effort paid off in the long run. It doesn't happen often, but when it does . . . WOW.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
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