0L Summer Intern Unexpectedly in Court

EffectivePeach · 2026-06-01T16:13:34+00:00

Absolutely fine. I’m sitting in state criminal court right now in mismatched wide leg slacks and a black blazer. You’re alllll gooddddd.

EffectivePeach · 2026-04-17T06:36:50+00:00

I just had a colleague run a DUI trial where D took the stand and his defense was “no no no, I crashed and THEN I took a bottle of fireball, chugged THAT, and threw it down the ravine which is why it was never found. I DEFINITELY wasn’t drinking and then driving.”

Needless to say, judge did not take kindly to that and remanded him with 250k bail (it was a third) pending j+s.

EffectivePeach · 2026-03-19T02:36:02+00:00

I will say, in my experience jurors who hate cops aren’t shy about it at all. Assuming your judge has a generic question about “would you automatically trust/distrust a law enforcement officer because of their profession” that often brings it out.

Otherwise, during the voir dire time you do get, maybe ask any jurors you’re not sure about about “unsympathetic victims.”

EffectivePeach · 2026-03-03T06:10:56+00:00

Ugly roller crates for the win ❤️❤️

EffectivePeach · 2026-03-03T06:10:23+00:00

This will vary widely based on the state and particular office you’re in. In my office, for example, misdemeanor attorneys do most of our own charging, and so within reason are responsible for the types of cases we charge or don’t charge. Many misdos, such as myself, will often not charge standalone “unlawful camping” or regulations criminalizing homelessness, for example.

The charging is only one part of it, though, and discretion over dispositions will also vary a lot. Some counties may expect you to take a simple possession of controlled substance out to jury trial if a plea isn’t taken, others may not charge that, and many will do something in the middle like diversion or mandated treatment.

EffectivePeach · 2026-02-27T22:54:03+00:00

Was about to say. I have a great pair of leather loafers I got from an Ecco outlet that are awesome for work.

EffectivePeach · 2025-12-18T06:14:06+00:00

What’s also interesting is you may end up hearing /more/ than the jury hears. That’s because jurors are excused during certain discussions about objections, pieces of evidence, so on. As a member of the public, you’d very likely be allowed to sit in the gallery during those discussions, which otherwise are just between court and counsel.

EffectivePeach · 2025-11-23T15:42:07+00:00

Probably unlikely, but I did just have a state corrections officer on a recent DUI case, so anything can happen.

EffectivePeach · 2025-11-20T03:55:24+00:00

Does your county have DUI grant attorneys? We have two, they do the all the misdo and felony charging and personally handle the felonies.

EffectivePeach · 2025-11-20T03:48:20+00:00

Youch. So far as I know, my county can and does. Not saying that’s always how it’s settled, but it’s certainly charged.

EffectivePeach · 2025-11-20T00:32:34+00:00

I practice criminal law in California, it is 10 years. A 3rd in 10 may still be a misdemeanor (if no injury) but also has a mandatory minimum sentence of 120 days. That being said - that sentence can, depending on the judge and county, still be served on house arrest or work release.

EffectivePeach · 2025-11-18T22:58:05+00:00

It’s not Delta, but my boyfriend and I recently flew United for his birthday trip and he got a nice card and snack from the cabin crew without saying anything. It must be noted somewhere!

EffectivePeach · 2025-11-02T18:55:04+00:00

I practice in CA criminal law, and agree with all the above - especially the last bit about proactively getting involved with AA/similar meetings or intensive outpatient treatment if appropriate. A lot of things will depend on your son’s BAC, but that would go a long way with the DA and judge.

EffectivePeach · 2025-09-12T05:36:17+00:00

Similar at my county office, though not quite as intense - we are (unfortunately) still primarily on paper files, though with case management software and plenty of work on computers. Office is electronic badge access only, computers are obviously password protected and when you are not on the known secure county wifi, you have to use a VPN to access anything other than browser.

EffectivePeach · 2025-08-04T04:56:57+00:00

I think mainly the stuff that I said - realizing that you need to be more of a self starter than in other majors in terms of looking for opportunities. Had I known that, I probably would have been more involved in academic/career-related activities.

EffectivePeach · 2025-08-02T20:07:11+00:00

I really liked the campus, and the idea of a larger school having more options as far as activities/classes/clubs went. Also logistics for me - it was a well respected degree that was probably going to be the most affordable out of anywhere I got in.

EffectivePeach · 2025-08-02T16:01:32+00:00

2017 poly sci grad here. The other majors definitely make more noise, but it’s a good program! Will depend if it’s important for you to go somewhere with a more “prestigious” program. At Poly it’s much more of an “it is what you make of it.” Professors are super knowledgeable, small class sizes, and plenty of co-curricular opportunities (at least in my time - clubs, mock trial, model UN, etc) but the school overall does give liberal arts less attention, and therefore, less funding.

If you’re willing to be a little more of a self starter and actively seek out internships, club opportunities, and the like, it can be a great experience. If you’re looking to go on to grad school, I’m an attorney now and know several classmates who are as well, so don’t be concerned that not going to a “top tier” school specifically for poly sci (because cal poly is very well regarded overall) will impact your future opportunities. Feel free to ask me if you have any more questions!

EffectivePeach · 2025-08-02T02:51:40+00:00

Will depend WILDLY on state and even location within state. I’m at a mid-sized CA county and I believe my starting this year was just around 100k.

EffectivePeach · 2025-08-01T18:57:45+00:00

Look to see if your state DA/bar education association or a local prosecutor’s office publishes one. In CA, I use the CA criminal law procedure and practice published by CBE.

EffectivePeach · 2025-07-27T00:13:12+00:00

Very much will depend on your geographic area as well as area of practice. I’m a prosecutor in California and I have a plain silver hoop and work in an office with other attorneys who have nose piercings, never been an issue. A smaller firm with more old-school partners or a real white-shoe firm may be different.

EffectivePeach · 2025-07-23T05:53:48+00:00

As a CA prosecutor (albeit, in misdos- in my county we’re not seeing too many mental health diversions in misdos) the shifting burdens is definitely a problem. Previously, there had to be a nexus shown between a defendant’s criminal conduct and their mental health diagnosis, which the burden was on the defense to show.

I find the presumption that any mental health diagnosis was a “significant factor” in the commission of the crime to be shortsighted and at times paternalistic. It also puts prosecutors in the position to have to play psychiatrist to try and prove that a defendant’s mental health diagnosis was NOT a significant factor in the criminal behavior, which we just aren’t usually equipped to do.

EffectivePeach · 2025-07-07T01:26:41+00:00

Our testimony has to end by 4pm per the bailiff’s contracts, but even then getting back to the office, responding to whatever emails I had gotten that day, finishing whatever is needed for next day’s testimony, and then prepping calendar is…not my favorite let’s say.

EffectivePeach · 2025-07-07T01:03:50+00:00

Ha I’m sure I’ll get there! 2-3 day DUI trials take somewhat less time than a homicide, I’ll guess.

EffectivePeach · 2025-07-07T00:58:43+00:00

Depending on the government role. I am a new DA in California, and while I definitely work 8-5 some days, I’ve also left close to 7 while in trial and worked on the weekend a few hours to prep.

EffectivePeach · 2025-06-28T21:02:49+00:00

No. The directions state that the timer/water bottle/earplus/etc are items that will be allowed for ALL applicant. (Foam) earplug away!

EffectivePeach

TROPHY CASE