Simba's Mom Ranting

For the past few weeks I, like the most of the Olympics-watching public, have been bombarded with commercials for the new show about prosecutors. (My refusal to name it or link to it, should give you an idea of where I am going with this post). After I saw the promo once, it made me uneasy. After the fourth time, I was nauseous. I, of course, resigned not to watch it and began to hope for a one-showing-than-cancellation a la that Heather Graham show. However, when iTunes offered a free download of it, commercial free, I decided that I should give it a try before I hated it. (also, then I would not be subjected to the advertisers that paid for the show).

I realize that my line of work has made me predisposed to dislike this show, but it was worse than I could have imagined. I only made it about eight minutes. I am not exactly sure how long I watched, because I quickly closed the window in disgust. It did not even get to the point of showing shady tactics of defense lawyers or stereotyping the prosecutors as the good guys (which is where I am sure the show is headed). What upset me the most was that in the short time that I watched, the portrayal of the defendants was stereotypical and cruel. I realize that the people of America do not like criminals. I realize that many people that are on trial and in prison are guilty. But they are still people. You would not know that from watching this show.

In this episode, one prisoner spit on the prosecutor while he was being questioned. Another one in the next cell made suggestive gestures at the prosecutors. Finally while leaving court one defendant (who the prosecutor characterized as having "13 priors," although he only had two convictions. Are arrests "priors" in NY? Since when do arrests without convictions prevent a plea bargain?) was stereotyped not only based on his status as a defendant, but based on his race as well.

Nearly every client that I have had has treated me with respect, even when I have told them that there is nothing that I can do for them. Most of them have families that care about them. Simply because they have been convicted of a crime, even the most serious of crimes, does not automatically make them monsters.

I have had enough. I would much rather watch some nice mindless crap like There and Back and leave the fictionalized version of the criminal courts to people who don't want to see reality.