Well, that was interesting.

Got pulled into a trial, last minute, as the second chair when another APD was not able to be there.  I was tagged with the Voir Dire, which, of course, I love to do.  Except it was on a life felony, which was kinda, you know, stressful.  However, I liked the jury we ended up with.

I'll spare y'all the blow by blow of the pre trial issues.  The trial case resolved today with a five year global plea on the client's two open cases which contained seven charges total.  Two had a maximum life sentence, some had 10 year min mans (minimum mandatory sentencing provisions), some had 3 year min mans.

It's always the client's decision as how they want to resolve their case.  As, of course it should be.  After all, they (and their loved ones) are the people most affected by the decision to plea a case or take it to trial.  So I'm not disappointed *in* my client's choice to plea, but speaking as "just" a trial attorney, I so very much wanted to try this case.  I think my instincts were correct because I got to talk to the jury in the hallway - turns out the two people I was unsure of would have come down on our side, given the bare facts of what we expected would come out at trial.  However, there was that other case. . .

I expect the usual reward for a job well done.  Which is why I may go into hiding soon.