Day 813: Reality

Yes. It's the name of a song. Go Hidell! Monday was a fairly decent day. The team met up, and Melilli poked his head into the office to tell us that there was no problem in yet, so we rehearsed, a little half-heartedly at best. And then we went our separate ways. I wrote and goofed off and did my thing, and partway through the day ran back into Melilli, who told us the problem had come in.

And so it began. I read through it. Highlighted it and snickered at it, and...oh. It's a murder case, which is interesting since I want to be a criminal litigator. In a twist of irony, my partner and I are on the defense. It's a convoluted case about a dean of a law school who was shot and one of his professors has been accused of the crime. Of course, the witnesses for the prosecution had every motivation to off the dean and blame the defendant, and even a witness for the defense - a law student - had motivation to off the dean. Why? Because all five of them were dating the same law student. Who, in a fit of I don't know what kind of humour, was named Virginia. Funny, guys, really.

So I ended up skipping FHE and going home after class. I read the problem a whole lot, marked it up, and then Vanessa called and said Melilli wanted us to do some extra initial prep work, so I did that.

Tuesday morning we spent four hours in each other's presence hashing out the trial problem, working up strategies. The highlight of my morning was when Vanessa and I decided to make reasonable doubts of the prosecution witnesses, and we had to decide which of their witnesses was the actual killer. And then we had to decide who would have to play the witness who was the actual killer. Attorneys for the defense play witnesses for the prosecution, so it was a toss-up between me and Vanessa to play the killer. Melilli said that whoever played the witness most likely to become the defense's scapegoat as the actual killer would have to be played by someone who didn't look like a killer.

MELILLI: What it comes down to is, out of Amber and Vanessa, who looks less like a killer?
THE TEAM: ...
MELILLI: I'd have to say it was Amber.
THE TEAM: ...Really?
AMBER: It's the pigtails, isn't it?
DAN: I don't know. Little people scare me. It's just a thing.
MELILLI: *surveys his team's dubious expressions* Well, maybe Vanessa would be better at playing innocent.
AMBER & VANESSA: Right you are, sir.

Right after trial team let out, I scrambled to heat up my lunch and go to institute, where Angela was faithfully distributing blueberry muffins. Then I had some time between institute and class to read over the problem some more, consider my direct examination of a witness who is *not* our client, and spazz. A whole lot. Then I went to class. Then Angela and I went to my place to take down the drums for transport to her place. And then we went to her place. And then we rearranged her living room furniture. After that, we moved the drums in. And then I went to the grocery store to pick up stuff for mom. I made it home. I reread the trial problem over spanakopita and Alias in the background. Read a whole bunch of Federalist Essays for Advanced Con Law. Rehearsed my prosecution argument to dad. Took a break and talked to Daniel.

Gave up on life and went to bed before ten p.m. I was mentally exhausted. The reality of trial team is that it's going to be hard. Like law school itself, I didn't know how hard it would be until it really started. And goodness gracious, it has really started.

I was up and at school early today. I've been listening to a lot of hymns lately (consequently, my singing of them has improved), and so after I did my morning reading I decided to meditate. To hymns. It was awesome. I felt serenity first thing in the morning. Then Kent and I were summarily booted out of our study corner and retreated to a table downstairs where I reread the trial problem again (and Melilli is right - I see new things every time I read it) and set to work on my direct. I got my direct done, at which point Melilli informed me that the trial problem might be revised (this really only affects the prosecution, though) and I should throw my witness under a bus, because he's not my client and, what the heck, he's reasonable doubt.

I had lunch while I worked and then went to a meeting with Professor Andrus about the upcoming fall Barbecue. With all the freakiness that's going on in my life, I won't be making it to D&D or ninjitsu regularly. When push comes to shove, though, I need the ninjitsu more than I need the D&D - it's exercise and an adrenaline rush and great way to expend my aggression. But we need to do the barbecue and I want to do a good job as president. Professor Andrus keeps telling me that I'm doing an awesome job, but I'm honestly not sure that I am, and it's kinda freaking me out. After the meeting I had advanced con law, which was a concentration nightmare on my part.

Afterwards I worked on revising my cross so as to toss my witness under a bus, and then I had class. And then wolfed food down - talked to Melilli some randomly while hanging out by the microwave waiting for dinner to heat - and then went first in prosecution. I don't know if I'm improving much, or at all. She always says I do well, but she rarely says I improve. I wonder what that means. And then I came home.

I should look over my direct one more time, but honestly, I was at school for thirteen hours, and it felt like I was constantly on the go.

My brain is numb.

I'm sure I'll be in bed before ten again.