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: A Public Defender's Life in Alaska

So, it has gotten cold. It went from t-shirt weather a few days ago to -14 this morning when I went to work. It is about -10 outside right now. Even the animals feel it. We found this little owl right outside our back door perched on bottle of the finest whiskey. In other news, the administrative law judge denied Kadee's formal PFD appeal today. The division argued two things: first, that there was no guarantee that her sponsor (a local attorney) could be trusted with the money. I pointed out Alaska Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 and the ALJ agreed. That ridiculous point is gone. However, the division also argued that our 'temporary intent' to stay in the United States could be imputed onto Kadee. The ALJ agreed. I am disappointed but not surprised. Zobel had to go all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States for justice. I may have to do the same. I am going to ask the ALJ to correct a few factual errors and then appeal to the Superior Court. Rack 'em. I just had one of those days today. The kind of day when I just felt like I couldn't do this job anymore. The kind of day when I am so sick of my clients I want to just quit. I mean stop breaking the fu*&king law. Stop stealing other people's shit. Stop drinking. Stop smoking oxycontin and leaving the tin foil behind. Stop beating each other up and having sex with children. Pull yourself together. Pay your bills. Keep your word. If someone had offered me a job as a DA today I would have taken it. Even as I was making bail arguments and getting clients out of jail, I hated myself. One of those days. Why do I have chest pains over people who don't care about themselves? The rental clean-up (the damage was caused by Danny and Melissa Gentry of Soldotna Alaska) is coming along. No thanks to Danny or Melissa Gentry of Soldotna Alaska.

Full post as published by A Public Defender's Life in Alaska on November 17, 2009 (boomark / email).