Game Changers.

First day of work and already seeing some game changers. I went to work yesterday and really enjoyed it. My judge is really nice and fair. He even reminded me of my mother (which is good). One man was pleading guilty to shoplifting and the judge looks at him and says, "It wasn't worth it, was it?" To which the man could only reply, "No it wasn't, Your Honor." I can see my mom saying that to a kindergartener (in fact, I did last week) or to me. However, I don't normally steal from K-Mart.

My judge didn't have much going on so he sent me to watch the court in session in the room next door where they were sentencing a man convicted of First Degree Murder (the worst kind) of a police officer. This is a death penalty case. To sentence someone to death, there must be an "aggravating circumstance," such as killing a police officer in uniform on duty. So, he was convicted of all of this. But the New Mexican supreme court said that to be sentenced to the death penalty he must be sentenced by a different jury. Why, I don't know. I was told it has something to do with the tainting of the jury through the guilt and innocence process. But, it seems like the state "proved beyond a reasonable doubt" that he meets all of the elements. Legal scholars, help!

Did I mention that this case is the last death penalty case for all of New Mexico? Well, it is. New Mexico recently quit the death penalty and this is just the last case before the quitting became official. How cool! I got to see the last day of trial of the last death penalty case forever in New Mexico. Historic, I know.

So, that afternoon I watched some motions and stuff, it was really cool, the lawyers seem on it and to really care, and the judge seems fair and reasonable.

But, the last bit of my day was spent watching a hearing to suppress evidence for a DWI. All my fellow 1Ls at Drexel must also have a soft spot for evidence suppression motions and briefs. I know I do. But it is a really cool case because it could change the way the county (or even state) sheriffs can work with police in the Indian Tribes. I foresee myself nerding out on this later in the summer. So, for all the non-law students, Sorry!

Adventure to New Mexico

As usual, I tried to smash more into my final days and hours in Philly than would really fit. But it was worth it. In the last few days I got to see most of my philly friends to say "see ya later," then cleaned out my apartment, and got out of here.
Leaving was hard. Partially because of saying goodbye to my close friends, my apartment, and yes, my land lord. But it was mostly hard because of traffic and long lines. I was stuck on 38th street for far too long due to Penn's packing. So, I only had an hour 'til my flight was to take off when I got to the airport. When I finally got to the airport I spent forty minutes in the line for security. There, I met two very nice people, a grandmother visiting Philly for her grandson's graduation, and a doctor who advised me of the best So-Cal airports based on security speed (LAX is fast, Ontario faster, and John Glenn fastest).
When I finally made it through I raced to my gate because I could hear them paging me. But I couldn't run properly because I hadn't latched my sandals, my bag's handle was too short, and I REALLY had to pee. So, when I reached the gate I was at the wrong one. They directed me to the next one... but my gate had been transferred. By the time I got to the correct (third) gate I was so frazzled the airport employee thought I was crazy. She gave me my boarding passes and assured me that my plane hadn't even landed and had plenty of time. Good thing too because airport bathrooms are much better than airplane bathrooms.
So, I went to find a seat, which had to be at another gate because mine was overcrowded. Then I heard the loud speaker say something about a laptop. And I think to myself, "Did I put my laptop away? No, I didn't even latch my sandals. Weird. Oh shit! They've got my laptop!" So, the poor employee sees me coming over and says, "I paged you, I thought it was yours." And I took it, very chagrined, and said thank you.
I was the last person on the flight but have a seat. So, on to Saint Louis then to Santa Fe! Here's hoping my time in the airport was more eventful than my time in the air.