All of my legal career involved defending someone charged with crimes or offenses against the law. I worked 20 years as a lawyer, trying more than a hundred jury trials, winning more than half of them.
But to be honest, my first taste of arguing the law came not as a defense lawyer, but as a prosecutor, one appointed by some colonel to bring charges against a buck private who broke a law and faced a summary offense for some minor infraction.
I knew the young man. He was in the company in which I served as a training officer in Ft. Polk, LA. I even liked the kid.
I was “Out of Order.”
I disliked having to “go after” him, but I took my oath to defend the US Constitution seriously. And I zealously presented the facts before a JAG lawyer serving as a judge.
_______
I can’t tell you how many times the judge — someone actually trained in the law as opposed to me, a Second Lieutenant with no college degree not to mention no law degree — admonished me for walking around the makeshift courtroom, pretending I was a Perry Mason cross-examining a witness. I was ordered to remain within three feet of a podium.
That restriction initially chilled my presentation, but I used my arms to wave and point into the air to get my thoughts across.
I secured a conviction. Something I fought against some twenty years later as a Philadelphia public defender.
But there was no celebration. And if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t have taken the assignment but feigned an illness, if at all possible.
And, that’s the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God!
Contoveros 
Accepting hard truths, tends to make me feel easier about myself. Excellent stuff.
-J
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Thanks Dr. Suess-Zues Zen,
I enjoyed writing it. I guess there was a karmic touch to it. I’m glad I started out on the one side and ended up where I think I might have done some good.
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Just doing my job … When will we give up that excuse, and learn to listen to conscience?
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It’s hard to fight the system at such a young age. I guess wisdom comes to those who age well beyond their 25th birthday. Or was it the 55th birthday?
I can’t remember anymore. I guess I’m simply showing my youthful inexperience with memory recalls . . .
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Agreed. I was thinking the same thing as I wrote this. I suppose as a culture we need to mature…
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*hug* regrets always have that one piece of our heart – problem is – they live inside us and eat that one piece just slow enough that we can feel their teeth a little every single day. Love to you, L.
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There are not many things in life that I have come to regret. This is one of them.
I guess some things just have to serve as learning experiences. I always hated it when someone said “it helps to build character.”
I got enough character to last me a lifetime!
Love you and miss you.
Michael J
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Heartbreaking for sure. Sending you many prayers to make peace with it.
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Thanks for the prayers.
They how to understand a little better.
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