Sore loser?

We lost a case last night.

After three days of trial, a jury returned a unanimous defense verdict.

Ouch.

Now, I have to tell you up front, this wasn't my case in that "I poured all of my blood, sweat and tears into this for several months of my life and now this!" kind of way, but I did work quite a bit on it. I also saw the hard work the other two attorneys put in, so I feel the pain.

I also saw the mother of our deceased client sobbing on the stand.

And her partner's raw grief as she sat next to us at the counsel table.

So I guess I write this with mixed feelings. I am a big believer in the jury system. I know it's flawed, but I have a lot of faith in how the system works. In that respect, I suppose I should be glad that justice was done, even if that means justice required us to lose.

But did it?

That's what I struggle with. You get to know a lot about your clients (good and bad) when you work up a case. You can't help but take on some of their struggle, can't help but start to feel their pain. In the end, even if it's a case you may have had doubts about from the beginning, you can't help but become indignant, defensive, and even protective of your client and their family. At some point, you can become so embroiled in their struggle, that it's hard to even see the upside of objectivity anymore.

And maybe that's where I am right now. I think it's hard for me to see how there isn't fault when a young woman dies. I say that even though just last night, a jury of twelve said there was none. It was just one of those things. Stuff happens.

Stuff happens. I suppose that should comfort her family. See-there goes that indignity again. If I'm being honest, I'll tell you that today, while I'm disappointed, I'm not crushed. I'm not defeated.

Why? Because in a week and a half, we're back in. Another case, another shattered family. I can only hope that we can take the lessons we learned this week and move forward in the next two weeks. Maybe this time, justice can mean a W for the good guys.

Fingers crossed.