In Defense of Criminal Defense...

Was thinking of a topic today, after it was suggested that I update from my favorite reader out their in Internetland.

Thought about movies, thought about books that I'm pretending to read, music that I listen to when I shower, viral videos, etc. It all conjured the same reaction: "Meh."

Then something peculiar happened. I came home, in my shirt and tie, blaring Glassjaw and getting double takes as I rolled in to my spot with my "midnight blue" VW bug. As I was walking up to my shoebox, I saw a client. Our eyes locked for not more than 1.5 seconds. I immediately picked up my pace and chanted the following to myself: "He can't remember you, He can't remember you, He can't remember you." Then I hear:
"Hey- Public Defender guy!"
I couldn't read his tone as friendly or angry, so I quickly waved, mumbled something like, "Hey, remember to not violate your terms of probation and, um..." and got the fuck in to my apartment.

Safely inside, I ran through my options. I could simply forego going to the gym, make some dinner, and forget that I've been seen. I decided to get in to my gym clothes and go out. And then I heard:
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you live here!"
To which I replied a very simple, very dejected, "Ha."

Frankly, I was offended, and here's why: Most people are aware of the negative reputation that criminal defense attorneys get from the public at large. We're seen as loophole arguing, justice hating, slimy scumbags who would love nothing more than to put a pedophile across the street from every elementary school. And don't get me wrong, I'd love that.

Joking aside, I can deal with that reputation. I thrive on it. I love hearing appalled people going, "How could you defend him?!" To which I simply reply, "Look at your constitution, thumb through it, and kindly shut the fuck up." It's not like we love our clients, believe me. It's just that we, as public defenders, kinda enjoy ensuring that peoples' rights are protected, even if we have to do it through the worst of the worst.

But there's a more insidious reputation that most people don't realize from the outside. And it's from our clients. It's the reputation of "dumptruck."

Dumptruck implies that you, as a public defender, would love nothing more than to simply clear cases by resolving them, by any means necessary. It implies that you're best friends with the district attorney, and you conspire together to come up with long jail terms. It implies, at its core, that you just don't care. It is the "n" word to public defenders. And it sucks; Most public defenders fought really hard to get the position they had, and most, if not nearly all, work unbelievably hard and care for people that most people would rather forget. Yes, we get cynical, and yes, we don't get along with every client. But the caliber of zeal and advocacy that I've seen from public defenders is the highest than any other area of law I've ever witnessed. Any attorney in my office can be given a name, and 1-2 clues about a case before they recall most intimate details involving the matter. To me, that's impressive and it's something that I work to perfect.

And I guess that's why I was more or less offended by my run-in this evening. Yes, of course, I don't really want everyone in my complex to know that I'm a public defender, if for any other reason to keep my work and personal life separate. Other than that, I really don't care if you (former client) see me in my street clothes. Why? I'm not a dump truck, even if I get called one, and no matter how much disdain I receive from multiple angles, I will continue to do my job.