counterclockwise

I went and argued my first appellate case this week before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals in Jackson.

Funny building, isn’t it? Kind of reverse federal style. That’s oddly appropriate - most of my conversation with the justices seemed to revolve around how far off from standard federal procedure this case had gone.  Our client is in a rare sort of bind - she was arrested in Jackson, Tennessee, in 2001 and put on probation.  Then she was arrested again in Missouri in 2004, and sentenced on federal crimes.  The Tennessee justice system made a half-hearted stab at revoking her probation, but then never went anywhere with it.

Five years later, when she tried to get her paperwork ready for federal rehab, her Tennessee trial judge up and decided to yank her probation after all.  This is not a speedy trial by any stretch of the imagination, and the Constitution makes kind of a big deal about these things.  Whether it’s a big enough mistake to get her conviction thrown out is another thing all together.

I certainly argued that it does. Now we wait and see if I convinced at least two out of three appellate justices that we’ve got the law on our side.

I want to plant a hedge by the sidewalk that runs in front of my house.  It’s a very small front yard with full sun morning through early afternoon and good soil. I’m right on the borderline between USDA zones 6b and 7a.

My ideal hedge shrub would be around 4-5 feet tall, evergreen, and fragrant.  I don’t want to crowd the sidewalk or get too messy (visually or literally). I don’t want to overkill on color just yet (that’s what annuals are for).  I just want a nice frame for the yard that’s robust and pleasant to walk past without being overpowering. I like everything about the tea olive except the size, and everything about the boxwood but the lack of scent.

Suggestions?

I’m finally getting into long-term housing.  For a limited time only, I’m posting my new address online

Offer’s expired.  Call me or gmail me as marykennon if you need my address.

I’ve been having spam problems lately, so I’ve changed the comments policy to “administrator approval required.”  You can still post comments, but it’ll take a day or two now for them to show up.  Sorry for that.  Blame organized crime in Eastern Europe and sub-Sarahan Africa.

It’s been a busy month - my sister is now a wedded woman, I went to the beach for the first time in years, and I’m getting ready to move (not far this time - just a few blocks down into permanent housing).  And there’ve been photos of almost all of this.  I just don’t have any. Katie? Little help?

So exciting news on all fronts, but I literally don’t have much to show for it yet.

Stars, I have seen them fall,
But when they drop and die
No star is lost at all
From all the star-sown sky.
The toil of all that be
Helps not the primal fault;
It rains into the sea
And still the sea is salt.

A.E. Housman, “Stars” from More Poems,  1936.

No, I’m not depressed or anything. I’ve just had this stuck in my head. And now it’s stuck in yours. You’re welcome.

One of the less obvious benefits of lawyering in the greater Pemiscot County area is getting to spend time in this awesome old courthouse:

It smells like history.

Paraguayan flag:

Missouri state flag:

The last of last week’s snow has melted off now, and I’m settling in.

Cool digs, huh?

Magic likes it here!

Also, hidden light switches for cool haunted house effects:

As of this week, I’ve moved to Caruthersville, MO, where I’ll be working in the Law Offices of Wendell L Hoskins as an associate.

I’ll be working a gamut of cases, civil and criminal, and pursuing a Missouri law license.

My cell phone number has not changed. My mailing address will, but not until I’m in a longer-term housing situation. Pictures and fun to come, let’s stay connected!

Meanwhile, if you need to send me something, try my office address:

PO Box 1115
404 Ward Ave
Caruthersville, MO 63830