Arrested Today, Question about Public Defender

[Roman Totale]

Plead guilty.
In MS, they don't provide an attorney unless its a felony case. I didn't have the money for one.

In a display unlike anything I've ever witnessed, the judge called me a drug addict, said i look like I do a lot of drugs, made me show my teeth to him, and told me in front of the court room to stop lying to my family. Never have I been more humiliated.

The arresting officer stood there boring holes in me with his eyes, smugly smiling.

He went the fuck OFF on me! I was the best dressed in the court room of people in pajamas. Dude that went before me was nodding so hard he couldn't stand and the judge joked with him. The fuck?

I had $100 of $400 for the fine, but he said it wasn't enough and that I'd be in detention for awhile, but decided just to let me go on payment.

I owe close to five thousand dollars to this fuckawful state.


This shit has had me really down lately.

If the possible penalty carries six months imprisonment or more (and/or a fine of $1000+ IIRC, not that it matters), the Sixth Amendment requires the appointment of counsel to indigent defendants.  Under that, it's up to the states.  One of those shitty things most people don't know

What a piece of shit judge.  But that behavior is sadly all too common; you'd be amazed what sitting up high in a robe passing judgment on the lives of strangers every day will do to a person.

[St. Theresa]

This system is so fucked up. I don't know why we put up with it.

Once again, man, sorry you got caught up in all this.

[thetalkingasshole]

mmm oohhyyyeaaaaa

why lock up the junkies when we can just put them on "private probation"
and ensure they will NEVER get out from under their financial obligation

you were in a bad situation and now owe over 5k
i couldnt possibly imagine having that kind of burden on me

if you need any help just hmu

[Roman Totale]

I was just remembering this thread and feeling pissed off.  As a lawyer, even trying to always win the judge's favor for my client, I would never let a client of mine submit to an inspection of his teeth at the judge's whim, they'd absolutely have to hold me in contempt first. (Unless, I guess, he had great-looking teeth and we could gain something from it.)

But the reality is that if you had a lawyer, he never would have done that.  Just an attorney in a suit up there with you, even an overburdened or incompetent appointed one, is a barrier between you and the judge's whims, and he wouldn't feel quite as free to boss you around and insult you in such a totally unprofessional, undignified manner.  I've seen some great defense lawyers with very shitty teeth, and mine aren't so great either, incidentally.  But somehow it never came up in court...

So getting a license to act this way is something judges gain from not appointing attorneys where they don't have to.  They get to treat the courtroom as their personal fiefdom where they make all the rules -- well, every judge feels this way really, but with no lawyers next to the people appearing before them, they get to let loose entirely, whether it's joking around or name-calling or impromptu dental inspections.

I'd say you ought to file a complaint (probably with the administrative judge) about this proceeding, but in reality it's likely to have little effect, and of course you'd want to wait until this is settled or you're long gone before putting your own name on anything.