Some of you may not know that I daylight (as opposed to moonlight) as a bailiff in court in addition to my normal lawclerk duties. That means that during the summer, in addition to studying for the bar, I participated in 5 weeks of police academy so I could wear uncomfortable, ugly green pants and a sheriff's badge and say "All Rise" when the judge enters the courtroom. Among many bailiff duties is participating in bail hearings (a criminal defendant appears for the first time before the judge to get bail set according to the seriousness of his offense). One of the questions that a judge asks is whether the defendant has a job (to see what ties they have to te community and if there is a chance they will run away if they make bail). This next story is borrowed from fellow bailiff, Kiersty Loughmiller, and occured during bail hearing this morning. The following conversation took place:
Judge: Do you have a job?
Defendant: No.
Judge: Well how do you support yourself?
Defendant: I steal things.
(Judge remains composed while the rest of the deputies, mike, and I laugh)
County Prosecutor: Your Honor, I think in light of his lack of ties to the community, his significant prior convictions, including several for theft,and his admission that he steals things, bail should be set at 15,000 cash only as there is a high liklihood of reoffending.....
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2 comments:
nice! my mom works for the government, and while there is a lot of things to be said about that, at least she works with a lot of weirdos! :) she is always laughing about work.
Ooo - I like these stories! Keep 'em coming:)
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