One Week Down

I have officially finished my first week clerking for the New Orleans District Attorney's Office. I've learned a lot in a week, but I've decided to limit this post to the top three most surprising things I've learned:

1. Prosecutors do it all. I assumed that prosecutors simply showed up to court and made eloquent, thought provoking legal arguments that were crafted over board meetings with their supervisors. Nope. The attorneys I work for do their own filing, copying, research, fact checking, scheduling, interviewing, arguing, writing, reading and more.

2. Prosecutors truly care. The common assumption is that public defenders are bleeding heart liberals and prosecutors are hard nosed cut throats. I've seen an incredible amount of compassion from both sides. They do not talk about their cases as facts and figures but as people and families in the community. Its refreshing to see how much these prosecutors care about people that they don't even know.

3. Prosecutors don't eat lunch. I'm working under three attorneys who do not even have time to eat lunch. They get to the office before I do (8:30 a.m.) to prepare for court. They're in court from 9:00 until anywhere from 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Then, they stay in the office well after I leave (6:00 p.m.). They work long hours six to seven days a week. You would think they would be slacking off and enjoying some fine New Orleans cuisine while the court takes its lunch recess. Nope. These attorneys are prepping police officers, calling witnesses and further preparing their arguments for the ensuing trial while the rest of the world is on its lunch break.

Papers for Prisoners and Allies

I'm heading up two organizations (Papers for Prisoners, Allies) that attempt to aid prisoners in working through their appeals process from prison.

I put an incredibly talented team together and they made this video as an application to get funding for the programs.

Check it out, e-mail it to your friends and follow us on twitter.

Papers for Prisoners, Allies Video Application

Many, many thanks to Paul Shelton, Tyler Maulsby, Professor Kathryn Mattes, Professor Jane Johnson, Calvin Duncan, Cassie Hewlings, Parmita Samanta, Katie McNearny, Krista LaFave, Editha Rosario, Karen Rudnicki