I found you by chance, looking for a .pdf of “The Devil and Dan’l Webster.” I’m so glad I dropped in, because this is a terrific post, and is very inspiring.
I’m not a lawyer (I don’t have any young to eat) but your post is relevant to about any endeavor I can think of.

Thanks,

Brian (a.k.a. Professor Homunculus at MathMojo.com )

I used to be an animal control officer… and for fear from management that as I was getting credibility in front of the courts, they were losing their control on me for I was questionning some motivations and legal resonings, and political
reasons I was dismissed. I’m apealing this decision at the labour board and I’m facing pressures and personal attacks from all part (union,employer and colleagues) But I’m triying to keep my passion and find it surprising that you say to have passion when we debate and argue. I always thought that it was imperative to keep My feelings out of it but after hearing you on the podcast of Layer2layer I realized that to make effective arguments and to be a good comunicator I need feelings.

Thx and I am looking foward to reding more on your blog and finishing the book.

Ian-P

I say that caring is contagious.

It is hard sometimes to find something good, something we can care for in some of our clients. This is particularly true in death penalty cases.

When I ask you to find something in that twisted, often hateful, more often emotionally injured human being to care about, to fight for, I am asking the most from one human being to another. It is a noble gift given by a real person. It makes me proud of our profession and you.

But caring for such as these, the lowest, often the most hated and reviled, is dangerous. We may lose the case. Then the pain sets in.

The risk one takes in the defense of a death penalty case is almost unfathomable to most lay persons. It is a risk to our own emotional well being. Yet, unless we take the risk of caring, we have little to honestly say to a jury.

My deep respect for what you do.

Gerry

It took awhile but you made me a believer. I came to your death penalty trial college in March of ‘06.

I wasn’t really sure about all of this “touchy-feely”, “love your client” stuff you were spouting. The psycho drama(s) and role playing, didn’t see much value in it at the time. I was a hardened ex cop, a seasoned public defender, and thought as long as I was prepared I would do a good job. I thought that i could distance myself and not emotionally invest in the client or case…and still do a good job.

But something happened along the way. I wanted to win, at first for my ego, but as the years passed and I got to know my clients and their families, I wanted to win because I wanted them to LIVE.

I really had an epiphany that came from opening myself up to the family’s pain, fear, anxiety, hurt…there was no way I could make the jury feel them, if I couldn’t feel them. I couldn’t argue for a life if I didn’t care about that life. Care for caring’s sake…not for professional gratification or the ego stroke of saying, ” i got a life verdict”.

I realized that part of my reluctance to care was being a woman in the profession. I didn’t want to fit some “earth mother” nurturing stereotype; part of my reluctance was being Black..i didn’t want to fit into some “anti establishment, revolutionary” stereotype. Then I thought….”who gives a damn” if caring about my clients and wanting them to live means i fit some stereotype of “blackness” or “femaleness”…who cares?

My practice changed dramatically. I learned to listen effectively, to hear what my client’s were telling me. Oh, i still had my moments of flipness and glibness, but not so much. The defensive walls i put up were not necessary.

I realized that if my client got the death penalty, I would be devastated…not because i “lost” but because a i cared. I used to think being a capital lawyer was my job, now i realize it is my calling.

Thank you for giving me permission to love, to care, to feel, to do all of those things and not feel weak.

I get it!

Sincerely,

Victoria E. Washington
Capital Litigation Attorney
Phoenix, Arizona

Much as I love you, I hope you will not accept the title of “God”. Maybe small-g “god”, but not the Big Guy.

Gerry