Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Scenes From Court This Morning

So I'm waiting in court this morning to be heard on a stupid pro per motion by a Defendant in a civil case this morning.

There's a few criminal matters first and it seems today is Probation Violation by Stupidity Day.

Probation is after all typically a gift, a diversion from jail in exchange for folowing the terms of the probation which typically is not that hard to do, but some manage to mess it up regardless.

First up is Mr. Chuckles.

Here's a clue, having your underpants showing prominently above your pants, while cute for hanging with your homies, is not so smart when you get called up for court and it is not particularly a good way to present yourself.

The guy is continually laughing and not taking seriously his being tested positive for marijuana while on probation, heck he almost seems to be high. Seriously every second sound out of his mouth is a giggle. He's also being violated from his very sweet diversionary deal for his failure to get a job as a requirement of his probation. He laughingly says he "can't get no job, yo", and explains between giggles that its because he "sleeps in a lot, ha ha". The judge is not amused with his attitude nor his continual use of marijuana when he's been ordered not to do so, and off to the work program he goes and to go pay his fine which he is assessed. Then he comes back up for an issue with the violation and she gives him a huge deal namely the work program instead of jail so long as he ceases using and actively starts looking for a job as soon as he's off the work program. This is a screamingly good deal for violating probation. So what does he do? He then stupidly asks between giggles if he needs an attorney after already waiving his right to an attorney and after getting the break he asked for. The Judge is really not amused asks if he wants an attorney or the break he just got? He, still laughingly, at least finally wises up enough to ask for a break and that yes he did waive his right to an attorney. Laughing stupidly all the way he gets taken to the back room to get processed for the work program. This guy was all about attitude and had not the slightest indication that he had any responsibility for his actions. Really stupid and I'm sure he will be back in front of the judge soon as this guy truly fits the term dope for a dope user, and he won't be getting a break then. I was rather surprised she didn't hit him with contempt for his demeanor, she must have been in a good mood.

The winner number two comes up, Ms. Denial.

Here's a young lady who gets called up for violating probation by not just missing two drug screenings, but testing positive on another two of them.

She claims she tested positive from second hand smoke, which is not possible given the levels she hit on the tests. The judge points that out along with the condition of her probation that she can't hang around anyone using marijuana. She says she didn't know that. The judge points out she was specifically instructed on that and got it in writing as a condition of her probation. She then claimed she was told she did not need to attend the two missed drug testing dates which is nonsense and she can't say who said it. Judge explains she needs to go for testing, gives her a fine, and extends her probation and tells her to stop using or probation will be revoked on the next failed test. Again, the judge was taking it rather easy on this idiot she lucked out by not being in front of some of the less permissive judges on the bench.

The sheer level of stupidity and denial exhibited by these two was rather impressive. There's a reason it's called dope and with these two, using it certainly didn't make them any smarter.

I then get up, win my motion handily and head on back to the office.

4 comments:

juvat said...

Watched "Sands of Iwo Jima" last night. My favorite John Wayne quote comes from it. "Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid!" Seems to fit the "yoots" described in your post.

Expatriate Owl said...

What cards did your client deal to you? Had to have had a few high ones in there if your motion was granted handily.

Aaron said...

juvat: Truer words were never spoken, methinks.

Expat Owl: Basic facts. pro per defendant filed an untimely objection to a garnishment and didn't even serve it on us, only the court. Not only was she a solid 40 days too late, but she had no real grounds for it and was just trying to delay things. We won and got to keep the money to pay down the judgment owed to my client.

Anonymous said...

That kind of stupid pays our bills, as lawyers.