the externship

most people arent really sure what it is i am doing all day at my externship. and since i have told roughly 3 people about this blog, i naturally thought the best way to inform people about what it is i do all day would be to blog about it. it makes sense. really, what i do is pretty simple. the judge receives motions from opposing parties. i am assigned one of the many motions that the judge receives. i read what is at issue between the parties and their arguments. i then research the law that applies to the situation and any applicable case law in the area. i then write a memo to the judge outlining what is at issue, what each side says, what the law says and then my opinion on the issue (which is really the clerks opinion). the clerks then look it over, edit it, heckle me a bit, criticize me for poor grammar, and sometimes even send me back to keep researching because i wasnt really on the right path. those are my favorite meetings with the clerks. when i research something forever, and then go and present my findings to them and they say, 'yeah. we already know that. what we need to know is..." anyways, once its all said and done, it is printed, given to the judge, he reviews it, changes it if necessary, and then signs it and its done. and then i start the process over again. super fun. ill write more on it later if people want other details. basically i just wanted to write about the judge.

this guy is an all-star.

really. he is. he is a phenomenal human being.

here is why. next month, l.a. mayor vishagarrrrrosa is honoring judge hatter for black history month. other notables to be honored at the ceremony/dinner. stevie wonder. and some other guy. and hellen keller. alright. not hk. but a definte yes on stevie. way cool.

plus, the judge is a season ticket holder to the lakers and usc football. he's a HUGE sports fan. we talk sports all the time. he's in his 70's and is always spouting off on how kobe bryant gets murdered out the court and the refs wont make any calls. its awesome.

why do i really like the guy though. he's just a great guy. those that know me, know that there are some people that everytime their name comes up in conversation, i cant help but say, 'man, he's such a great guy.' adam anderson for example. lloyd durden is another. anyways, i just realized the judge is one of them as well. the other day in court a man was being charged for once again violating his parole by taking illegal drugs. apparently this has happened multiple times. there was a short trial held and the man was found guilty. when it came time for sentencing, the u.s. attorney wanted 11 months in jail. the man's lawyer argued for less because the guy had maintained a job, he had an 8 year old child, and had complied with many programs etc. at this point judge hatter told the attorney that he wanted to speak to his client (the guy on trial). so the guy went to the microphone and judge hatter proceeded to tell the man that he was upset at him. that the man should be ashamed of himself for his behavior and the terrible example and role model that he is being for his 8 year old child. the judge said that he wanted to lock the man up because he had messed up so many times and that the court had tried to use other programs to help the man, but the man wouldnt fix his life. he told him that he has a greater responsibility to society and especially to his child. he asked him who he thought he was bringing a child into the world when he was living this type of lifestyle. he then asked what the man had to say for himself. it was incredible to watch. the judge was really upset at this man. and not so much because he broke the law, but because the man was failing as a human (his words, not mine) and wasnt improving his life. i think the judge was also upset because he could no longer put off or deny some of the demands of justice. he told the man that in 6 months at the sentencing hearing, if the man has displayed good behavior, then he wont go for the 11 months the u.s. attorney wants, but he is for sure going to be locked up for some time. its up to the man to prove that it doenst need to be for the full 11 months. i was just really impressed with how serious the judge takes his job. how he really tries to weigh the scales of justice (totally cliche, i know. but its true). he is a great guy that sincerely cares that people improve their lives and become better individuals and citizens. he didnt need to talk on a personal level with that man. most judges dont. he didnt need to tell that man that he was disappointed in him and that the man needed to fix his life and that he could do better. thats not part of his responsibilities as a judge. but he understands that in that moment, when wearing the robe and sitting behind the bench, that people will listen to him and that he has the opportunity to tell them things that he otherwise might not be able. his actions show he really believes people have a responsibility to themselves, those around them and society as a whole. he believes there is a greater good and that people are good. i think its those beliefs that perhaps motivate him to speak candidly to these people. not just because he believes people are capable of doing and being better people, but because they should be better.

anyways, sorry about rambling so long. i dont mean to make each post so long. i need to shorten them like kaahl does. i just find it difficult to describe a great guy, so i ramble, hoping that at some point ill give that phrase that will make you understand that this person is outstanding. maybe its that, or maybe its just that when youre dealing with a great guy, you can never feel satisfied that you effectively conveyed in words who this person is.

so how is the externship? exteremely tiring and pretty boring. on a scale of 1 to 2, its a 1. how is the judge? he's definitely a 2.