“There’s just no consistency”

Excerpt from Antoine, a defendant at the Hall of Justice in winter 2022.

Antoine: Well, I have a different one [lawyer] every time I go *laughs*

Interviewer: *laughs*

Antoine: I mean the one that’s there that day—first one, it was a—it was a Mexican lady. Um, neutral. And then I go back again, and it was an Asian lady and, uh, really nice Asian lady. And then I went yesterday, and it was a dude! So, I never see—there's no consistency.

Interviewer: Mmmm

Antoine: I mean, you have to bring this guy up to speed on the case and just tell him everything. Yeah, so, there's, uh, there's no consistency with it. I mean if I—they, they all seem pretty capable, you know, um, so far. I mean, it's early on in the process [to] make a decision on if they really—if they're really competent or really good at their craft, right?

Interviewer: Mmmhmm

Antoine: But, um, yeah. There's just no consistency. I can say that. So, whatever—wherever that falls, I'll let you decide. *laughs* Um, I guess—“okay.” Free—for it to be free, I guess it’s okay so far.  

Interviewer: Okay., Um, and—yeah, how does that make you feel that each time you've gone into court for this case, you've had a different public defender?

Antoine: Um, well. Um—I've gotten used to it by now.

Interviewer: Mmmm

Antoine: Cuz I have history with law enforcement. I kind of got myself into some trouble, but—I've kind of straightened out my head now, tryna—I’ve been out for a while and all that stuff. So… I’m familiar with the process with the public defender and stuff like that, so...

Interviewer: Mmm. Okay.

Antoine: It’s like, um, two people can get to—can get, um—can go to jail, at the same time, in the same spot, with the same charges. And one may have money to get a good lawyer, and one might have a public defender, and they’re, they’re gonna get two separate amounts of time. Now that’s just the fact of the matter. That’s just how it works. That’s how—that’s just how it is.