A Hard Day

Yesterday was hard.  And sad.

Three of my friends and I accompanied another friend to her court hearing.  She had been arrested last year for a crime that she says she did not commit.  We believe her.  It is a terrible crime, but there is no evidence that she did anything, but it's also the type of crime for which it is very difficult to prove innocence.  She has no money -- which means she has a Public Defender.

In this county, most Public Defenders are overworked and underpaid.  They carry a huge caseload, and so it feels to us like she isn't doing much for my friend.  Most of them take this job because they sincerely want to help the indigent, because they certainly are not doing it for the money.

My friend spent several months in jail after her arrest, and then was let out on bond.  She was given the choice of a plea bargain which would be up to ten years in prison, or go to a jury trial with a possible sentence of sixteen years to life in prison.  She had decided to take the plea agreement; she has two small children and she couldn't bear the thought of possibly spending life in prison for something she did not do. 

She knew when entering the courtroom yesterday that she would be led away in handcuffs, and indeed, that is what happened.  But first she had to plead guilty to the charges; each charge was read, and all the terms were defined, and it was ugly.  The four of us seated in the courtroom were silently praying for her as she bravely replied "guilty" to each of the charges. 

The sentencing hearing will take place in January, and in the meantime, we will be writing letters to the judge, asking for compassion and mercy. 

My heart was heavy all day yesterday.  It is such a sad thing to witness but we know that God is still in control.  In the meantime, her two little daughters cry for their mother.

This was the first time I was in a courtroom, other than my divorce hearing.  The defendant who appeared before the judge right before my friend, was severely chastized by the judge because of his attitude.  The judge told him in no uncertain terms that in this judge's courtroom "there would be respect, so stand up straight and answer the questions and change your attitude; it was your actions that brought you here, and you have to take the responsibility for it".  This was a Spanish-speaking man, but there was an interpreter for him, so he had no excuse for his bad attitude.  Actually it was good to see enforcement of the matter of respect.