DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN: Poised to work Saturday night arraignments, 5PM to 1AM, representing poor New Yorkers arrested in the last 24 hours. I’m the felony conflicts attorney and have the pleasure of working with my @BklynDefender colleagues. I say “arrested in the last 24 hours” and people have a legal right to be brought before a judge within 24 hours of arrest, but many people wait much longer.

Before he was accused of sexual assault, I looked at #BrettKavanaugh & I saw the face of an alcoholic. My father was a severe alcoholic. Today - the sporadic moments of belligerence then outpouring of emotion, the victim mentality, denial, all of it - it couldn't be clearer. My father died from complications resulting from alcoholism. For a long time, I had been angry w/ him. It was only when he died that I appreciated this was an addiction over which he had no control, so I do not mean this as judgment of people who struggle w/ alcohol addiction.

CRIMINAL COURT, DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN. I'm working arraignments first night of Labor Day weekend. Also day one of @NYCMayor's super hyped new marijuana policy, where most people are not supposed to get arrested for possession of small amounts of weed. Let's see how that plays out. Seems like a lot of people don't realize you may not get arrested, but you will get a summons, & the summons will be for the exact same charge. You still have to appear in court, just summons court. This doesn't address racial disparity at all, at most it changes the venue.

NIGHT COURT: About to stand on case where my 19 year old client & his girlfriend were jumped by 4 people all older than them. My client has bruises & a stab wound. But he’s charged w/ assault. The reason: the people who jumped him called the cops first. It really is that simple. This is so common. Even when then there is so much evidence to the contrary. For instance, the people who jumped my client came to his building. They had no visible injuries. The police didn’t even ask my client what happened. It honestly feels crazy at times.

1. In arraignments in Brooklyn court last night, first client I arraign is teenager charged w/ stealing small amount of candy incl. apple green gummies & milky way bar w/ his friend from 7 Eleven next door to their school. Attaching the (redacted) criminal complaint here. 2. He is 17 but charged as an adult. The police have the option to give him a desk appearance ticket (DAT) to allow him to come back to court rather than put him through the system. They don't. He is held for almost two days in a cell with adults some charged w/ serious crimes.