I won?

I am a currently a law student externing at various law offices. One of my positions is as a law clerk in a District Attorney's Office. The DA's office in this particular county is required to manage cases from the Mental Health docket. This requires the DA or Assistant DA to go to the Mental Hospital and try cases where involuntarily admitted patients state their case to be released from the hospital.

I had watched several of these trials as a law clerk. Recently, I obtained a license that allows me to represent clients while under the supervision of a licensed attorney. With this license, I was given the opportunity to try some of this Mental Health cases myself. I enjoy every opportunity I have been given in the courtroom. Especially opportunities where I am able to try real cases.

However, these types of cases are different. I still enjoy the opportunity to call witnesses to the stand, question them, get out the facts and work on my delivery and style. But, these types of cases involve involuntary admission to the Mental Hospital... meaning, the patient wants out of the hospital and it is my job to keep them in the hospital.

Today, I was congratulated for "winning" and sending two more people back to the hospital. Yes, I felt good about the trial. My direct examinations went well, my cross examinations were effective and I received judgments in my favor.

But I can't help but think... Did I really win?

Yes, some people need medical treatment for all sorts of illness. But, at the end of the day, I'm still sending people to a place where they don't want to be. These people are involuntary admitted. They haven't committed crimes or broken the law in any way...

I love to win and hate to lose... but, I wouldn't mind losing one of these cases once in a while.*



*I only mean that I wouldn't mind losing in cases where the patient is able to live outside of the hospital without problems.