Last day as a public defender

Today is my last day as a Deputy State Public Defender. 

Over the last five years, I have fought beside some of the best people I’ve ever met to defend the indigent accused. 

I’ve had the honor of saving men from living the rest of their lives in a cage. I’ve experienced the pain of watching a client be sentenced to 48 years of prison, taking away his adult life. 

Nearly 35 jury trials. Oral argument in front of the Colorado Supreme Court. Thousands of clients lives touched, and hopefully, helped in some way. Late nights and weekends spent working harder to keep my clients out of a cage than the prosecutor was working to put them in.

There are new chapters to be started. They should be good ones, but today is the last day of the most meaningful job I’ve ever had.