Yeah, so just to let everyone know (if they wanted to know)... I made the choice last week to apply for a public defender since my charge carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail. Well, the officer that arrested me was places on "administrative leave" (suspended) and didn't inform the judge. This means that everyone who was arrested by this particular officer had their charges dismissed. Every wife beater, drunk driver, shoplifter, trespasser, etc... got to either go home with nothing against them or get out of jail free. Except me.

My public defender, who I had absolutely NO contact with (I have only been screened at this point in time and was told by the screener to ask for a continuance - something that would have gotten my case DISMISSED -), has filed for a jury trial without asking me if I would like a jury trial. Well, the way it works in this state is a jury listens to the officer, then they listen to the defendant, then they go to lunch, then they render a guilty verdict.

So, while about 12 other people who were obviously guilty got to walk today... I will have to actually stand trial... go through the stress again... relive what happened that night... and then spend six months in jail.

Yay America. Yay for being ****ing poor.