New public defender blog

Just last night I remarked (to myself, in my head) that I hadn’t seen any new public defender blogs and wondered whether they’d dried up. Well, lo and behold, we have a new one!

The Underblawg is written by an assistant public defender with a felony caseload. The writing is interesting, descriptive and compelling. Here’s a sample from a recent post:

“Let me explain one more time about the arraignment.”

“Ok,” he says, but then he stops me. “Listen sir,” he says. “Please be patient with me, if I seem a little slow.” He turns away, as though he’s embarrassed. “I’m a little slow.”

I can acknowledge his disability, but the system will not. I will be doing him a disservice, I think, if I lead him to believe that the world is kinder than it is. He is an adult in an adult place, and, if he is to survive, he must not believe that he can rely upon the compassion of others. If I am to survive, I cannot be haunted by promises that I did not keep.

“I haven’t noticed anything,” I say.

What I say is not what I feel. What I want to say is: Mr. Taylor, I will be patient. I will repeat myself 1,000 times for you. I will work my life away to save you from the dread pit over which you unknowingly dangle. Mr. Taylor, don’t you know? You’re the reason I’m a public defender.