May 3rd marked my 25 Anniversary as a Public Defender. It still amazes me that I have served in this capacity for so long. For the entirety of my career, I have served on the front line of Public Defense, as a trial lawyer. I had always hoped my career would lead me into a leadership position, but it never seemed to be in the cards for me.
Sometimes I ask myself, how did I get here. When I first came into this profession, I honestly did not see myself being a career public defender. When I started this journey, I had a plan of five years and then I’d go private. I did not leave after five years because something sparked inside me in those early years. There was something calling me down a different path. I didn’t know what that calling was or where that path would lead, but I knew there was a purpose to the path I had chosen to take. So I continued down that path hoping to discover the destination.
25 years. It seems so long, but at the same time that time seems to have flown by. It seems like yesterday when I was trying my first case. I remember all my trials and my growth both as a lawyer and a trial attorney throughout all that time.
I was asked recently whether I would choose this same career path if I had the chance to do it all over again. My answer, without hesitation, was a resounding yes. I don’t know where it came from or what it is about me or my background, but this is truly the only profession for me. There is nothing I would ever have wanted to have wanted to do with my career than to serve as a Public Defender. Over the years, I have grown so much as both a lawyer and a human being. As difficult and challenging as being a Public Defender can be at times, this is by far the most fulfilling career that I ever could have imagined. My fight for the rights and dignity of my indigent clients who have been etherized by society, the fight against the racial injustice that are so persistent in our society and the courts are goals which I would never have understood had it not been for my work as a public defender. I feel very blessed as well. Blessed with the people I have met. Blessed for the lives I have helped improve. Blessed both for my victories as well as my failures, because the wisdom I have gained from the latter have helped my improve myself and craft, as well as pass on those lessons to others.
While this is an occasion that is mine, I truly believe it is more appropriate to celebrate all of those people who have helped me get to where I am today. I know I could never have done it on my own. I want to give special thanks for those of you who have been there for me the past two years. I had so many people who I thought were friends turn their backs on me when things went south. Those of you who have been there for me have saved me. You mean more to me than words can express.
Thank you all. I hope there are many, many more years in this work to celebrate in the future.
Secretary-Treasurer at Teamsters Local 670
1wI have not worked with Henry as a neutral, however, when we was on the other side of the table he was always honest, fair and truly had integrity. I would trust him if I were ever in need of an nuetral.