Judicial Discretion

All judges in New Jersey were lawyers at one time. I have practiced long enough to have known most of the judges I'm regularly in front of when they were lawyers. Most of them were nice people and good lawyers to work with. Then they get the robe. The judicial equivalent of Superman's tights and cape with the ego to match.
I find that each judge manifests their new found power in different and unique ways. One judge kicks back every filing that has even miniscule typos. One berates and disparages attorneys and litigants from the bench way out of proportion to the alleged insult to judicial sensibility. One makes all the litigants stand while their case is heard. One sets time lines that are impossible to meet. One schedules appearances on short notice with total disregard for anyone's schedule that's involved. One just flat out hollers at everyone.
Don't get me wrong, there are a few judges who don't let the power get to their heads and treat everyone with respect. Unfortunately they seem to be the minority. I think family judges are some of the worst offenders and I have some sympathy. It can't be easy to sit there all day listening to the tales of how awful people can be to each other and their kids. I always pray for early appearances in hopes that they aren't yet tired of hearing all the crap early in the morning. My advice, when you get an egomaniacal judge, just remember, the men are wearing only whitey-tighties under that robe, and the women have on Madonna cone bras and knee high stockings.

Why We are the Way We are

Lawyers have earned themselves a bad reputation. We are perceived as money grubbing ambulance chasers who would turn in our own grandmas for a buck. There are many lawyers I know who I felt deserved this reputation, many who didn't. After the month I have had, I see how lawyers can become this way.
My friend who I was helping out with a false domestic violence charge committed suicide. A long time client just discovered that her husband has been molesting her children. Another client's ex-husband decided to take the kids for a spin while totally skunk drunk, luckily no one was hurt. In total disregard of the law, a DYFS worker showed one of my clients her entire file which sparked off a huge series of incidents. The son of one of my clients informed her today that she will never see her grandchildren again because she took her grandchildren to have photos taken but not his girlfriend's child, they've been dating 6 months. Another client's girlfriend has been harassing the mother of his children so badly that he may now lose custody of the children.
Day after day I listen to these stories and try to help the people deal with it all. I spend hours calming people down and counseling them. I can see how after awhile it would be easy to shut down and not allow yourself to be effected by all this. To practice law with an eye towards the financial benefits and the win/loss columns. Hence, another low-down dirty scum-sucking lawyer is born.
I can see how easy it would be. I hope I never get to that point. I hope that I can blog away the pain of it all.