As a criminal defense attorney, every case carries immense weight—not just for the client, but for their family, their future, and their very life. I have always believed that every person deserves an advocate who fights tirelessly for their rights, their humanity, and their story to be heard. But nothing could have prepared me for the sheer emotional intensity of standing in a courtroom at King County Superior Court on September 15, 2022, waiting to hear the verdicts in a case that I knew would decide the fate of my client—a man whose life hung in the balance.
The moment the jury returned, the air was so thick with tension that it felt like time had slowed down. My stomach twisted as I looked at the jury foreperson, my mind racing with the stakes at hand. I glanced at my client, who sat with his hands clasped, staring straight down at the table, trying to mask the weight of the world pressing on his shoulders. The courtroom was silent except for the shuffle of papers as the judge prepared to read the verdicts.
Taking a verdict is a gut-clenching, heart-stopping moment for any attorney, but for a criminal defense attorney, it feels like you're standing at the edge of a cliff. Every ounce of work, every long night, every piece of evidence analyzed and re-analyzed, comes crashing into that moment. Did I do enough? Did the jury see the truth? Did they see him as a person, not just as an accusation?
The judge began reading: "Not guilty."
A flood of relief rushed through me, and I gasped. Tears started welling up in my eyes. I grabbed my client’s hand and squeezed.
There were six more counts. Each one felt like a lifetime, my heart pounding as I waited for the words. "Not guilty," again and again, until all seven verdicts were read. By the end, I realized I had been holding my breath, and I exhaled, feeling an overwhelming mix of joy, relief, and gratitude.
The man sitting next to me—once a stranger, now someone I had fought for with every fiber of my being—buried his face in my shoulder and cried. My co-counsel and I took turns hugging him, our bodies trembling and faces wet from tears. In that moment, I wasn’t just his attorney. I was someone who had the privilege of giving him his life back.
As defense attorneys, we carry so much on our shoulders. People often forget that we don’t just defend “cases”; we defend people. We see their humanity, their struggles, and their fears. This man wasn’t just a name on a file or a headline; he was a human being with a family. He had been accused of something he didn’t do, and he had placed his trust in me to fight for him. That trust is something I never take lightly.
Taking a verdict is one of the most emotional moments of this job. There’s a unique blend of terror and hope, knowing that a jury’s decision will forever alter someone’s life. And when it goes in your client’s favor—when justice is served—it’s a feeling that’s impossible to put into words. It’s joy and relief, but it’s also a reminder of the incredible responsibility we bear.
I left the courthouse that day exhausted but full of gratitude. Grateful for the jury who listened. Grateful for my team who worked tirelessly. Grateful for the opportunity to do this work. And most of all, grateful that a man walked out of that courtroom free, his life no longer defined by the charges against him.
This case, like every case I take, reinforced why I do this work. It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about fighting for people. It’s about seeing the humanity in every client, no matter what they’re accused of. It’s about believing in their story and making sure that story is heard.
That day, I didn’t just save a man’s life—I upheld the belief that everyone deserves a chance to be seen, heard, and fought for. And that’s a privilege I will never take for granted.