Notes from practice · D.C. Superior Court
On Zealous Representation and Public Defenders
Jamison Koehler
/
01/05/2012
/
I will remember this. This is what the prosecutor promises you. In another context, she could be intending this as a threat. As in: ...
A Solo Practitioner as Trapeze Artist
Years ago, back when the children were little and we lived in Arlington for the first time, we decided to go to the circus. ...
Tardy Prosecutors, Gutsy Judges
Judge Milton Lee of D.C. Superior Court takes the bench at 9:00 am. Promptly. Every morning. Without fail. One of my biggest complaints about...
On Building a Support Network as a Solo Practitioner
One of the things I liked best about the Philadelphia public defender’s office – in addition to the camaraderie and sense of shared mission —...
Representing People, Not Files
A supervisor at the Philadelphia public defender’s office used to tell us all the time that we were representing people, not files. This really...
Sometimes a guilty verdict is a win
Although Virginia juries have a reputation for being unforgiving, I have also been told that juries in Prince William County can be pretty unpredictable. Going...
Life at the Prince William County Courthouse
We are in the cafeteria of the Prince William County courthouse in Virgina, at lunch during what is expected to be a one-day jury...
More on Joseph Rakofsky: The Story Keeps Getting Worse
Jamison Koehler
/
04/10/2011
/
“We really didn’t check him out. He said he was this and could do that. We thought he was telling the truth.” — Henrietta Watson,...
Notes on a Lost Trial
Eleven months of wrangling comes to this: a two-day trial in D.C. Superior Court. The argument on pre-trial motions starts out well, and I find...
On the True Value of a Law Degree
Over the last year or so, there has been a lot of talk on listservs and in the blawgosphere about the glut of new lawyers...
On Carrying Pictures of Chairman Mao
For the most part, the Assistant U.S. Attorneys here in D.C. seem to have things right. For one thing, they return your phone calls, usually...
On Jabbar Collins and Other Jailhouse Lawyers
I have only seen one “law library” at a prison, and I have to say I was not at all impressed. A converted broom closet...
You Should Be Translating, Not Interpreting
During an earlier life, I was a member of the U.S. delegations that negotiated the international ozone and climate treaties. The negotiations often lasted a...
Because Transcripts Can Be Unforgiving
When I was a public defender in Philadelphia, my office mate used to come across me reading transcripts from court hearings I had done and...
Rule 1: Get The Money Upfront
One of the advantages to being a criminal defense attorney, at least one who defends people accused of street crimes as opposed to white collar...