Over a year ago, I helped a local attorney on a criminal appellate case. I did some legal research and helped draft the arguments for the client’s appeal to the MD Court of Special Appeals.
In October, I sat in the courtroom after meeting the client and listened to oral arguments on the case. I was still involved enough that I was mouthing answers to the court’s questions from my seat against the wall.
Finally, yesterday, the court posted their opinion — a surprise, since the Court of Special Appeals doesn’t often report decisions. Reading the decision was gratifying and instructive on many levels. Most importantly, our client’s conviction was vacated and remanded for a new trial. Sure, we would have been happier if it was simply reversed as a matter of law, but a new trial isn’t the end of the world; especially since several jurors told the attorney after the trial that they would have decided otherwise if they were given instructions that allowed it.
The process was incredibly enlightening. Aside from getting a kick out of seeing my arguments and words referenced in a court’s opinion, this crystallized my feelings that I want to practice law. Until now, the little voice that some of us have in the back of our minds has been asking me if becoming a lawyer is really something I want to do, or if it just looks like a good idea in theory.
I’m looking forward to doing this again.