anxietyandstress

Work was NOT fun today. I’m a public defender in an overpopulated, underfunded county. Today, I was in court dealing with parents who have abuse and neglect cases open with DCFS. Even less fun. It was fine (well, same crap different day anyways) until I had my hearing this afternoon. It was a hearing so I could request that my client’s child be moved to a different foster placement. Now I know this kid’s foster placement is probably fine, and half of mom’s problem is that she hates the foster parent, but there are some minor problems with the foster home, so I file a motion. At the hearing, it becomes a 5 to 1 battle. The attorney for DCFS, the attorney for the foster parent, the State, the attorney for the dad, and the attorney for the kid, all ganging up on me. Okay, people - enough!! I understand my motion is crap, I understand that I’m going to lose, but is it too much for you to simply let me do my job and represent my client? I guess it is, because I spent two hours with the DCFS attorney and the foster parent’s attorney jumping all over me like white on rice.  Apparently they thought I had a chance at winning the motion - maybe they weren’t listening too closely. So I’m sitting here feeling like I’ve gone five rounds in the wrestling ring, getting beaten by five different opponents.  But I still haven’t smoked. It’s been close - I’m typing while chewing 3 pieces of gum with another pack of Extra beside me, but I’m still not smoking. Good for me.

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