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So, one of the programs I have installed allows me to see referrals to this blog. One of the people who looked at the blog Googled "are public defenders happy"? Well I can't answer that of course. But I think that generally we are. I think that generally we take a certain amount of pride in the words of Harper Lee. "I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It's when you know you're licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do. " (Chapter 11 To Kill a Mockingbird). I think we are generally smart, tough, funny people. Of course we choose work that can be tough. I don't care what any DA says: being a public defender is harder. I have proof positive. I could go back to Ukiah California where I started in 2000. I bet I would know 90% of the DA's there even 10 years later. But if I walked over to the PD's office, it would be full of strangers. The same is true of every PD office. In only three years I have just about risen to second in seniority in Kenai (and I will be second on December 1). Three years. So are we happy? I can't answer that. Sometimes I am. At this time of year I seem to struggle a bit. I hate slowing down. I hate being inactive. I do appreciate that Alaska seems to slow down. The tourists and dipnetters are gone. It am preparing for my upcoming murder trial. I have started cooking more. Enjoying the fire. So. To whoever googled "are public defenders happy". I think that generally we are. The work we do makes a difference. We consider ourselves the last barrier against the government. While so many sleep away, it is a select few who stand up for freedom on a daily basis. There may be some who consider this bullshit. But too bad. None of them are public defenders. It can be a good life. As long as you don't tie your self esteem to the job. If you need to win, go be a DA. If you can lose over and over and over and over and over and yet be proud of what you do, then welcome friend.

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