Howdy, readers! I meant to write a new blog post sooner, but I haven’t been able to think of what to write about in detail. A few notable events happened (such as visiting a client at a medium-security prison with 5 stars on Yelp and spending a day at the Oregon Renaissance Faire), but nothing has really inspired my muse. I have some possible big developments on the horizon, but I don’t want to jinx it by stirring up too much excitement. My business in Tillamook is almost completely concluded, but I still have a few pending matters there. I could always just post more photos of the Serotonin Squad, but I don’t want to go into full-time animal blogging. As such, I’ll do something I hinted at last time and talk about working for Salem Municipal Court!
…riveting, I know.
Salem Municipal Court uses a rotational system with an available roster of public defenders (each having a contract with the City of Salem). On one day a month, I am designated as “Attorney of the Day” (AOD). That means it’s my responsibility to go to court that morning and afternoon as people arrive as directed by tickets to be arraigned on municipal violations or traffic misdemeanors that happen within the City of Salem itself. Anyone arraigned that day is now my client, and it’s up to me to represent them going forward. Court dates are set for later, which gives me time to work with my clients. At that point, it becomes closer to what I’m used to, with reviewing discovery and working out plea deals taking most of my time. This rotating AOD system is a little different than what I’m used to in Tillamook (where cases are assigned based more on the availability and compatibility of the attorney), but I’ve been told that it’s an arrangement that’s common in other Oregon courts. I don’t know if it’s a better system, but it is simple and straightforward.
Other than the new assignment method (and some stumbles with working out the court and prosecution policies), this new court is doing a good job of making me feel like I’m back in the game. The cases I’m handling aren’t too foreign to me; the docket is mostly trespassing, drunk driving, and probation violations, which I’m an old hand at by now. The pay is hour-dependent, so there’s a lot of tracking my time to make ends meet, but it’s keeping me and my firm afloat for now. I’m still looking forward to properly coming aboard with MCAD, but Salem Municipal Court is as good as any court to be working at!
Anyway, that’s enough lawyer stuff. Time for cat pictures!
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| a welcoming committee after a long day at work :) |
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| They continue to stalk my Forbidden Room of Mystery, hoping for any chance to bolt on in. |
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| A black panther sits in the treetops, waiting for a chance to pounce. |
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| bathroom duty (since hooman always needs to be watched) |
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