Career Change

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:47 pm

Just wanted y'all to be among the first to know.

I've been dealing with a lot of drama in my job lately. So much so that, despite being a job that I truly love, I have decided to leave the Department of Justice and open my own law firm. I think I'm gonna do that effective January 1, 2006.

Because criminal law is what I know, I am becoming something I never thought I would be - a criminal defense attorney.

Yes, this will be a tough move for me, in more ways than one. My "holding the defendant accountable" philosophy will change to "holding the State accountable" philosophy and doing everything I can to make sure my client is not convicted unless the State has sufficient evidence to do it.

I am starting from square #1 with no client base...so this is truly a scary thing for me. Hopefully, with some luck, I'll get it going eventually and, hopefully some day, develop a successful law practice.

Wish me luck!

My goal will remain achieving "Justice" so my name still applies. I guess that no longer will make me "The Incarcerator" so I'll leave it up to BossHog if he wants to change/remove/modify that statement.

I still love my Avatar though.....so instead of considering myself the guy who put the Cowboy behind bars (looking at him through the window), I'll just consider myself as the defense attorney who couldn't secure a Not-Guilty verdict for that Cowboy criminal! If NC43Hog wants to create a new Avatar for me that is criminal defense oriented, that'll be cool....but I want to be clear: I am not "officially" requesting one.

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 5:52 pm

Justice Hog wrote:I am starting from square #1 with no client base...so this is truly a scary thing for me. Hopefully, with some luck, I'll get it going eventually and, hopefully some day, develop a successful law practice.

Wish me luck!

Forget luck!!! You live in Eagles country. Just pass out your business cards to the Eagles fans in your neck of the woods. Look for business to pick up immediately following Sunday games. :lol:

stevejrfan78 · Post by **stevejrfan78** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:11 pm

Good luck.Don't know how hard it will be to go from incarcerating criminals to defending them. But you sound like a proffesional who knows what he is doing.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:22 pm

Good luck JH.

skins81 · Post by **skins81** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:24 pm

You slimy bastard.

Just kidding. Good luck with the new business.

skinsfan1 · Post by **skinsfan1** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 7:36 pm

Can you provide some insight (as much as you are willing to share) on why such a drastic change in a career?

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 10:16 pm

skinsfan1 wrote:Can you provide some insight (as much as you are willing to share) on why such a drastic change in a career?

Well....I will say this much.

I have always prided myself as being a prosecutor that follows the rules of Professional Conduct. Under those rules, a prosecutor is not just an advocate but a "minister of justice" requiring me to assure that all defendants have procedural justice as well as assuring that each person not be convicted except without sufficient evidence.

Because of that, I have always made sure that each criminal defendant that I have dealt with received all information that I had to afford them procedural justice.

Lately, I have been chastised for telling defendants that I was unable to prosecute them because my police officer was not present or my neccessary civilian witness was not present. Instead of trying to get a plea from the defendant, I (honestly) tell them that I am not in a position to prosecute them . . . and that they should ask for the judge to dismiss the case.

It is the policy of my office NOT to provide such information but instead, to try to secure a plea.

About a week after being told to do that, I got 2 guys to plead guilty to a DUI charge that I knew I didn't have enough evidence to prosecute (either because my police officer wasn't there or I knew the evidence I had was too weak to secure a conviction).

I felt awful about it.

Rather that continue to destroy my integrity by honoring/following such a practice which I believe in my heart is unethical....I am choosing to take a major risk in my life and open my own law firm.

...so I can be my own boss.

...so noone else can damage my integrity again.

I hope that sheds a little light for you.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:54 am

That is very admirable. You are definitely the type of person that we need in the Criminal Justice system.

People sometimes fail to understand that the Prosecutor should seek Justice and not neccessarily convictions.

That adversarial system is only as good as the advocates on both sides, and you sir sound like the kind of advocates America needs on BOTH sides.

Good Luck. I am sure that you will be excellent.

Some of the world's finest Defense lawyers were prosecutors,

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:48 am

Justice Hog wrote:...so noone else can damage my integrity again.

Integrity goes a long way in this day and age.
Good Luck in you soon to be "new" field
Integrity is needed on BOTH sides of the courtroom

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:00 am

Your chances of going into bankruptcy going in by yourself alone is over 50%. I would associate myself with an established firm, build a name and reputation with a few cases, and then jump to create my own firm. :two cents:

Insolvency is a tough position to be in as a practicing lawyer.

Warmother · Post by **Warmother** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:53 am

Good luck JH. Just get the innocent ones off though.

Amberion · Post by **Amberion** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:17 pm

Good luck Justice

skinsfan1 · Post by **skinsfan1** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:18 pm

Thanks for sharing. It is refreshing to see people still put values over the allmighty dollor. Good luck in your new adventure.

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:21 pm

The scariest thing for me is that I'm giving up a job that paid $80K+/year with great benefits to no guaranteed money at all.

Yes, there is potential to make much more than I did....but there is also potential to fail.

Scary as hell....but, hopefully, well worth it.

cvillehog · Post by **cvillehog** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:37 pm

Justice Hog wrote:The scariest thing for me is that I'm giving up a job that paid $80K+/year with great benefits to no guaranteed money at all.

Yes, there is potential to make much more than I did....but there is also potential to fail.

Scary as hell....but, hopefully, well worth it.

I hope you'll still have time for football!

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:50 am

cvillehog wrote:I hope you'll still have time for football!

I could be broke, homeless, penniless and still find a way to get my Redskins season tickets!

DieselFan · Post by **DieselFan** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 12:08 pm

Recall my post when I got a reckless driving ticket...there is a NEED for good defense attorneys...not necessarily to "get them off"...but to ensure their rights are protected. Adding your experience as a prosecutor, by the way, is a great advertising tool.

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 1:44 pm

Good luck JH!! I'm sure you'll do fine.

After the pukes game this December, I may be in need of your services come January. You know how we must protect OUR HOUSE!!!

Any discount for a true burgandy&gold skins fan?

On a side note.....thanks again for risking life and limb this past Sunday night for saving my tail gatin spot!!!!

You, my friend, are a true fan!!

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:42 pm

HOSS wrote:On a side note.....thanks again for risking life and limb this past Sunday night for saving my tail gatin spot!!!!

You, my friend, are a true fan!!

Yeah...that guy was a Skins fan and still such an ass! He threatened to back up over my stuff...but he would have had to back up over my fat butt as well!

Moral of the story: Tell your friends to get off their butts and get there earlier!

I'll always try to hold your spot for you. There should be no problems for future games, I think, because a lot of the fans won't arrive until around 9:30 a.m. and, unlike the Eagles game, it won't get so packed so early .

Hoss · Post by **Hoss** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 5:50 pm

Justice Hog · Post by **Justice Hog** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 12:39 am

HOSS wrote:Any discount for a true burgandy&gold skins fan?

Maybe I'll be like Papa John.

Bring your Skins ticket to my office and with each touchdown the Skins score in the game of that ticket, I'll knock 5% off my retainer.

I can also offer a similar discount to those persons bringing in their H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) membership card.

Watcha think?

DEHog · Post by **DEHog** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:49 am

JH does it have anything to do with Brady stepping down? I hate the thought of Biden's son replacing her!

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:49 pm

Justice Hog wrote:Watcha think?

I have been thinking about your original first two posts and ...

I think that you are making the change for the WRONG reasons. I am not saying you should or should not make the move. It is your choice and whatever makes you happy but the original motivation is WRONG.

I have no time to explain now but I will as soon as I come back home. I will keep you posted in a day or two. Stay tuned ...

RiC

Fios · Post by **Fios** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:18 pm

Hey man, best of luck in your new role and you have my utmost respect

gibbsfan · Post by **gibbsfan** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:27 pm

hey justice goodluck to ya.
i,m behind you and your effort 110%.

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