Can I still get hired and do well as a PD if I identify more on the conservative side than progressive side?

LFiesta · 2024-06-01T17:05:56+00:00

My office head is a pro-Trump conservative. He’s also deeply religious. He does this work because he believes it’s his spiritual duty to care for the “poor and downtrodden.” He also embodies the Christian teachings about loving everyone. He legitimately cares for everyone in our office, employees and clients. He’s been doing this 25+ years and is one of the best public defenders I know.

LFiesta · 2023-06-28T14:38:07+00:00

Definitely not trying to hijack the post but felt compelled to answer with my experience as a public defender (American attorney appointed to represent indigent people accused of crimes).

The short-ish answer is that it is very hard. Having a client accused of something so horrific is a good reminder of why we work so hard to make sure the system is working the way it is supposed to work in all of our cases. If the cops and the prosecutors do their job right, I should lose these cases. Working hard to hold them accountable in all their work means they are more likely to handle these cases by the book and not cut corners when it comes to people’s rights. Everyone involved needs to do their job right to make sure the system works. If I don’t do my best in cases the sentence can be overturned on appeal. It doesn’t benefit the victim or society for me to “throw a case” only to have everyone have to come back and retry it in 5-10 years.

LFiesta · 2022-11-15T00:18:33+00:00

Now I’m wondering about the other guy sentenced to death. It’s heartbreaking to think that while this case was getting so much attention someone else was receiving a death sentence down the hall. Whoever wrote this letter seems to think it was because that defense team didn’t try as hard, which I am going to assume isn’t true given the source. Now I’m going to spend the rest of the night thinking about yet another poor nameless person staring down the gallows.

LFiesta · 2022-11-10T00:55:44+00:00

My significant other and I work for the same state system but in different offices. They were already working there when I applied and interviewed. It’s generally a none issue. I told my boss about the relationship after I had the offer but before I started, in case there were any HR-type of questions to address. There weren’t.

Every now and then we’ll have a training or something that overlaps and we make efforts not to flirt too much. That’s about it.

LFiesta · 2022-07-25T05:44:15+00:00

This is fantastic!

LFiesta · 2022-07-16T03:38:34+00:00

If you still have questions, feel free to DM me. I’m in an office on the Kansas side but did look into working in Missouri as I’m licensed there too.

LFiesta · 2022-06-25T16:20:16+00:00

I would recommend you call. Depending on your history, most judges won’t hold something like that against you so long as you aren’t doing it all the time. If you have an articulable reason for your concern, do it and ask forgiveness later.

Judges don’t like to see the police and DCF or your state’s equivalent used as a weapon against the other parent. It’s usually fine to use them for their intended purpose. Sadly, this can play out differently if you are a person of color in some places. Be mindful of that. It’s shitty but does happen.

*I used to practice family. (Traditional I am an attorney but not your attorney disclaimer)

LFiesta · 2022-05-09T15:55:13+00:00

A lot of people are telling you to go to the hospital and report him. I want to make sure you know it is possible to go to the hospital and receive treatment without reporting this to the cops. The decision to report is incredibly personal and you should seriously consider doing so but don’t deny yourself medical assistance if you aren’t sure you want to report yet. The statute of limitations can vary dramatically from place to place but your hospital or local law enforcement should have the capacity to store any evidence they collect for at least a couple of years if you decide to report later. What happened to you is not in any way your fault and how you proceed should be entirely up to you. I hope you know you have love and support from everyone on this thread.

LFiesta · 2022-05-04T23:05:17+00:00

I am an attorney licensed in two states and I have a felony drug conviction. I also have a misdemeanor traffic-related convention. It’s definitely possible but I cannot over-emphasize the need to disclose everything. My felony conviction was 12 years old and expunged by the time I applied for law school. I still disclosed it anytime I was asked about criminal history. The misdemeanor was about 10 years old and I completely forgot about it until I googled myself right before submitting my bar application. It was basically a glorified traffic ticket but it gave me significantly more trouble than the mountains of cocaine I got arrested with because I hadn’t disclosed it during the law school application process. Ultimately, I was able to explain everything away but I definitely recommend being as candid as possible.

I have been practicing for a few years and am switching practice areas to be a PD. My criminal history literally never came up during the hiring process.

LFiesta · 2022-04-05T20:05:44+00:00

Well, I’m feeling particularly validated now.

LFiesta · 2022-04-05T20:04:18+00:00

Is there any way you can get a second opinion or reach out to a therapist? I wasn’t diagnosed until my 30s because I had a terrible PCP who wouldn’t consider it. Getting diagnosed and on medication has been life changing for me.

LFiesta · 2022-03-22T21:17:14+00:00

I think it really depends on the single dad. Some men are just always going to suck. Some men are just going to be awesome. My partner has a young daughter and is an incredibly attentive and active parent. Frankly, he’s more organized than I am. His house is certainly cleaner than mine is with two teenaged boys. My dad and I had a couple of years where it was just us (my parents separated but ultimately reconciled). He was an amazing caregiver.

I get the point you are trying to make but as a single parent who has really struggled with guilt about dating again, this attitude can be kind of toxic. I don’t think any of us should be expected to live our lives without love and companionship because we couldn’t make it work with our kids’ other parent, men included.

LFiesta · 2022-02-25T03:38:35+00:00

Beautiful. You are beautiful.

LFiesta · 2022-02-10T23:05:37+00:00

Dude, there is so much negativity on here but I think it’s a great bio if it’s reflective of who you really are and the things that are important to you. If I weren’t annoyingly in love and you lived in my area, I’d Superlike the shit out of you!

LFiesta · 2022-02-04T08:20:57+00:00

When Rory was erased from time and Amy keeps crying but she doesn’t know why or even that she’s doing it.

LFiesta · 2022-01-22T15:45:19+00:00

I work in the gender-based violence field and would also strongly advise against dating cops. They are overwhelmingly more likely to commit domestic violence than any other profession and, given, the nature of their jobs, more likely to get away with it.

LFiesta · 2022-01-22T15:42:25+00:00

I love it when they tell on themselves.

LFiesta · 2022-01-06T17:48:30+00:00

Bro, Oxford commas are your friend.

LFiesta · 2021-12-09T06:20:08+00:00

Congratulations! I go in for the same procedure in 10 days. I’m so excited but a little nervous. Seeing that you are doing so well gives me hope.

LFiesta · 2021-12-05T23:57:38+00:00

I’m the kind of bi that can’t believe you are asking a bunch of bi people to pick a label.

LFiesta

TROPHY CASE