Trial Court Series (No. 2 )               Published on Nov. 7, 2021

One of my favorite jobs was serving as an intern for the Defender Association of Philadelphia. I went to the jails, the courtrooms, and the training rooms to learn how to properly defend persons charged with various crimes.

Court Appearances Far Outweighed Any Prison Visit

     The prison was tough. You never knew if the defendant was telling the truth or not. You simply interviewed him and wrote up his story for a trial lawyer to review before speaking to the suspect and going to trial.

You never saw the person again, and you had no idea how he may have fared.

     Trial work was different. As a third-year law student, I was given the chance to actually speak up for a client to a “Trial Commissioner,” an official who acted as a judge but usually lacked a law degree.

In the Courtroom of Judge Michael Stiles, however, I rose to the occasion and had my most shining moment as a public defender. The judge had once served in the district attorney’s office of Philadelphia and later became executive vice president for the Phi;adephia Phillies.

Serving in Court as a Public Defender Intern

     My client was a veteran who was charged with an assault but failed to show up for his court date with the judge. A bench warrant for his arrest was issued, and the man remained “at large” for about a year. I met him in Philadelphia City Hall’s lock-up and learned about his plight.

      I forgot the reason for his failure to appear, also known as an “FTA,” and how he decided to clear it up. He told me he had been in the Veterans Administration Center of Coatesville  getting treatment for some malady. One of the things he decided to do on leaving the hospital was to turn himself in and face the consequences of his actions.

     He arranged public transportation to travel 40 miles to the City of Brotherly Love. It took nearly two hours to get to Philly, and he was immediately placed in the lock-up when he reported in.

    Intern seeks reprieve from his first Judge

Interns hardly ever appeared in front of regular court judges. We handled the FTAs when a defendant was picked up, and a court official who was not a lawyer would hear the excuse for the failure to appear and either impose a fine or order the person held in jail until the next trial listing.

     But an intern actually got to see a judge when a “Judge-Only” FTA was issued. That’s how I appeared in front of Judge Stiles.

Admit Guilt but Highlight His Military Service

     I immediately said that there was no excuse for my client’s actions; he should have come to court to defend himself against the charges.

      Instead, he foolishly hoped the charges would be dropped in his absence, and he violated a subpoena to go to court.

     I also spoke highly about being a veteran and how he voluntarily committed himself to the VA facility, where they provide a whole wing just for those with PTSD. I also told the judge he came to Philadelphia on his own with no car and very little money.

Judge Overruled Every Argument by the Prosecutor

     The judge looked with favor upon my client and  overruled all arguments by the more seasoned assistant district attorney who wanted a jail sentence for the defendant. The judge evidently wanted to give the young man a second chance after learning of his veteran status and the fact that he traveled on his own to rectify his court misconduct. Judge Stiles lifted the bench warrant and let my client be free on bail pending his next court date.

    I felt so honored to have been given the chance as an intern to serve again!