What's going on
Sep. 13th, 2006 08:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mojosmomI really need to update my journal more regularly. Because I forget things.
Last Friday, I went to the best DNA seminar I've been to (and I've been to a few, plus DNA lectures at other programs). We were supposed to do a practice cross-examination in the afternoon, but because they didn't send out the materials sufficiently ahead of time, none of the small groups did that. Instead, we picked the experts' brains. Which was, in fact, a much better use of our time. Just about everyone had a lot of experience in cross-examination, so getting information was much more valuable. All the lecturers were interesting, and kept their talks on a level that wasn't too basic, but basic enough so that a non-scientific mind like mine could grasp what they were saying (you'd never know that I'm the daughter of two chemists!).
I went over to the Opera House at lunch (it's right across the street from where the seminar was) to exchange a ticket that's the same night I'm going to be in Springfield. I should have changed two others, one in February when I'm going to be in Venice and the other in November, on the same night as the Annual dinner of an outfit of which I'm on the board. But I didn't realize about the latter until the next day when I was at a board meeting, and the February one can wait a bit. Then today, I got a wedding invitation for the day to which I changed the ticket! But I should be able to make the ceremony and get back to the city in time for the performance.
Saturday, I went to the aforesaid board meeting, and then hacked around downtown for a bit. In the evening, the rain having held off, I went to Millennium Park for the Lyric Opera concert. One of the big draws, Susan Graham, was ill, so they shuffled the program a bit, but it was splendid as usual. A bit chilly, and a fair number of people left before the end because of that, but I had come dressed for the weather. Glad I did, because I'd have hated to miss any of it.
Sunday, I wandered up to Pearl and picked up my mending tissue. Then I came home and worked on the project. I had browsed Pearl, and Paper Source (which is across the street from Pearl) for paper, but for once I actually like some paper I already have better than anything I found.
Yesterday was the first Italian class of this semester. It's a bigger class than before, but not too bad. I also gave Daniella a check for the deposit on the Venice trip. So I guess I'm really going!
Work's been good this week. Our courtroom deputy has been especially helpful. He's been with us just a few months, his first courtroom assignment, and he's great. Your deputy can make a huge difference in how smoothly the court call goes, because there are little tricks about when he calls for which inmates and calling for interpreters and such that have a big impact. Anyway, one of my biggest gripes has always been that when he has to take someone off the floor (that is, someone on bond is sentenced to jail and is being taken in right then and there), it always means a delay in getting inmate cases called, because he can't bring them out until the guy gets processed and picked up. So the other day, I had someone who was being taken in, and instead of asking the clerk to call the case, I told Mike (our deputy) to just let me know when he had a break, and I'd have her call it then. Towards the end of the call, we were down to my guy and an inmate case with an attorney who'd done something to piss Mike off. Guess which case got done first? ;-))
Also, today, we were waiting quite a while for the Spanish interpreter. After a bit, Mike asked me what was going to happen on the case, and, when I told him we were just getting another date, he said that, if it was okay with me, he could translate. I hadn't known he spoke Spanish, but it turns out his wife is Costa Rican, and he speaks it quite well. I think he keeps it under his hat so he doesn't get constantly asked to translate. So we talked to the guy in the lock-up, and he was so helpful.
THEN, later today, one of our courtroom prosecutors called to tell me that, after I'd left court, she'd talked to the judge about scheduling. I'm off until next Friday (between Bill's visit, a dental appointment, and coaching at a seminar next week) and have a trial scheduled the Monday after. But there's another trial set then, as well, and the judge told Maria that he thought that one would have priority. And then he said, "besides, J. shouldn't have to come in and prep a trial right after she's been off". Wasn't that nice?
I just talked to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ottawabill. He got in later than expected due to some weather delays. But it's supposed to be nice tomorrow, so we are going to do the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise. It's one of my favorite things to do, and I haven't done it in a while, so I'm really looking forward to sharing it with one of my favorite people!
Now, if you'll excuse me, it's almost time for Project Runway, mojosmom's guilty pleasure.
Last Friday, I went to the best DNA seminar I've been to (and I've been to a few, plus DNA lectures at other programs). We were supposed to do a practice cross-examination in the afternoon, but because they didn't send out the materials sufficiently ahead of time, none of the small groups did that. Instead, we picked the experts' brains. Which was, in fact, a much better use of our time. Just about everyone had a lot of experience in cross-examination, so getting information was much more valuable. All the lecturers were interesting, and kept their talks on a level that wasn't too basic, but basic enough so that a non-scientific mind like mine could grasp what they were saying (you'd never know that I'm the daughter of two chemists!).
I went over to the Opera House at lunch (it's right across the street from where the seminar was) to exchange a ticket that's the same night I'm going to be in Springfield. I should have changed two others, one in February when I'm going to be in Venice and the other in November, on the same night as the Annual dinner of an outfit of which I'm on the board. But I didn't realize about the latter until the next day when I was at a board meeting, and the February one can wait a bit. Then today, I got a wedding invitation for the day to which I changed the ticket! But I should be able to make the ceremony and get back to the city in time for the performance.
Saturday, I went to the aforesaid board meeting, and then hacked around downtown for a bit. In the evening, the rain having held off, I went to Millennium Park for the Lyric Opera concert. One of the big draws, Susan Graham, was ill, so they shuffled the program a bit, but it was splendid as usual. A bit chilly, and a fair number of people left before the end because of that, but I had come dressed for the weather. Glad I did, because I'd have hated to miss any of it.
Sunday, I wandered up to Pearl and picked up my mending tissue. Then I came home and worked on the project. I had browsed Pearl, and Paper Source (which is across the street from Pearl) for paper, but for once I actually like some paper I already have better than anything I found.
Yesterday was the first Italian class of this semester. It's a bigger class than before, but not too bad. I also gave Daniella a check for the deposit on the Venice trip. So I guess I'm really going!
Work's been good this week. Our courtroom deputy has been especially helpful. He's been with us just a few months, his first courtroom assignment, and he's great. Your deputy can make a huge difference in how smoothly the court call goes, because there are little tricks about when he calls for which inmates and calling for interpreters and such that have a big impact. Anyway, one of my biggest gripes has always been that when he has to take someone off the floor (that is, someone on bond is sentenced to jail and is being taken in right then and there), it always means a delay in getting inmate cases called, because he can't bring them out until the guy gets processed and picked up. So the other day, I had someone who was being taken in, and instead of asking the clerk to call the case, I told Mike (our deputy) to just let me know when he had a break, and I'd have her call it then. Towards the end of the call, we were down to my guy and an inmate case with an attorney who'd done something to piss Mike off. Guess which case got done first? ;-))
Also, today, we were waiting quite a while for the Spanish interpreter. After a bit, Mike asked me what was going to happen on the case, and, when I told him we were just getting another date, he said that, if it was okay with me, he could translate. I hadn't known he spoke Spanish, but it turns out his wife is Costa Rican, and he speaks it quite well. I think he keeps it under his hat so he doesn't get constantly asked to translate. So we talked to the guy in the lock-up, and he was so helpful.
THEN, later today, one of our courtroom prosecutors called to tell me that, after I'd left court, she'd talked to the judge about scheduling. I'm off until next Friday (between Bill's visit, a dental appointment, and coaching at a seminar next week) and have a trial scheduled the Monday after. But there's another trial set then, as well, and the judge told Maria that he thought that one would have priority. And then he said, "besides, J. shouldn't have to come in and prep a trial right after she's been off". Wasn't that nice?
I just talked to
ottawabill. He got in later than expected due to some weather delays. But it's supposed to be nice tomorrow, so we are going to do the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise. It's one of my favorite things to do, and I haven't done it in a while, so I'm really looking forward to sharing it with one of my favorite people!Now, if you'll excuse me, it's almost time for Project Runway, mojosmom's guilty pleasure.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 02:17 am (UTC)The whole field of DNA is such an exciting addition to legal action. We've had several old crimes successfully cleared over recent times. And the developments are of great interest to genealogists also.
Do please remind Ottawabill that it would be such a good idea if he comes to Wellington in February for our BC Convention. Not that that would compete with Venice though. We have a wonderful video about Venice, past, present and future,with I Musici playing Vivaldi's Le Quattro Stagioni. Just by chance we played it on Tuesday evening. Wonderful wonderful way to review the few days we spent in that city some years ago.
Hope the river cruise lives up to expectations.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 02:51 am (UTC)Pete, willing to camp out by the side of one to get a few good photographs. Of jets.
Re: Project Runway - yep, no jets, I'm afraid.
Date: 2006-09-14 05:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 10:01 am (UTC)I am glad Venice is going to happen for you. It sounds like it will be an apt garnish to the Italian language feast that you have been undertaking over recent times.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-14 02:15 pm (UTC)I hope to send you another Donna Leon book soon....
Hope you and Bill have a wonderful time!
Date: 2006-09-14 05:07 pm (UTC)DNA and how your court functions
Date: 2006-09-15 04:55 pm (UTC)Re: DNA and how your court functions
Date: 2006-09-15 08:47 pm (UTC)In my state, DNA is taken from anyone convicted of a felony. (Which, frankly, I think is a bit silly, since most of those convicted aren't convicted of the sort of crimes in which DNA evidence is likely to play any part.) Every so often, someone introduces legislation to take DNA from all arrestees (and I believe some states do this, at least with arrests for felonies), but so far it's been voted down here.
Of course, it's now used regularly in paternity determinations.