Hmm, very good question. Two days to hire a lawyer? That sounds unrealistic as our judicial system works so slowly. I would definately not trust the "system" to find acceptable accommodations for my loved ones.

There are so many things that don't make sense here, how quickly things are happening, why are her children and grandchildren being kicked out into the streets? Her adult children are not able to care for the elderly grandmother or for their own children either? I don't understand how she's not entitled to representation for a criminal case, this is one of the basic rights we have as citizens.

I too think I'd represent myself and ask for the trial that the judge decides the case rather than a jury, cannot remember what it's called. When my daughter was mauled by a dog at a young age, I was able to work a full time job, care for my 4 small children and still look up (before internet, had to do it the hard way at the library) applicable laws, prove that the county animal control did not fullfill their obligations to that part of the county, that the animal was deemed vicious long before this attack and get witness documentation to that effect, pictures from the ER and surgeon of her injuries, statments from the vet and staff that quarantined the dog and much much more. All while caring for a daughter that was so severley mauled that the dog damaged her skull and required more than 100 external stitches to her face and head.

BUT if I did something illegal, then I'd plead guilty. There are a few exceptions of course. When this same daughter went to a party at the age of 16 it was raided by the police. She had not drank any alcohol, she blew a 0.0002 which you can get by brushing your teeth, but our state has a zero tolerance policy. Since she had access to the alcohol she was given a minor in possession ticket. My first reaction was "you did it, you get the punishment." (My father was a police officer, can you tell?) I later discovered that if she plead guilty, they would put this ticket on her driver's license until she was 21, as if she'd gotten a DUI. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES INVOLVED!!! Until that point I was unwilling to let her plead anything but guilty.

In fact that is how I discovered the consequences of her entering a guilty plea, I called the number on the summons and told the woman to enter a guilty plea and let me know the cost of the fine (which my daughter would pay herself). The woman from he DA's office actually argued with me about this, I was firm on my decision that she accept the punishment that the behavior warranted. She said "fine, but your car insurance rates are going to sky rocket." Excuse me? I talked to the officer on the scene, there were no cars involved. They were in a house, everyone was spending the night, there was no driving involved, not even any drinking on her part. Then she gave me some BS explanation about the only way to keep track of this with minors is to tack it on their driving record. Sorry, the punishment must fit the crime, I cannot condone punishing her until she's 21 for being at a party and NOT drinking.