After multiple attempts to obtain full discovery, my public defender ultimately withdrew from my case. I was told, directly or indirectly, that she could not go against the state.
Throughout my representation, she refused to pursue video evidence from the state that I believe would have shown misconduct. I was repeatedly pressured to consider plea offers or proceed to trial without being provided full discovery, which in my understanding is improper and undermines a defendant's ability to make an informed decision. What makes this even more concerning is that I later learned she already had the very evidence I had been requesting. I was told she either could not obtain it or that it was not relevant to my case, yet she possessed it the entire time and, to my knowledge, never even reviewed it. That demonstrated to me a complete lack of diligence and concern for advocating on behalf of her client.
When the prosecutor made statements to the judge that resulted in a $2,500 bond and my being held for three days, those statements were never challenged as inaccurate on the record. Instead, they were later described as "misinformation," with the focus placed on returning the bond rather than addressing how it was imposed in the first place.
At no point did I feel independently represented. After I began asserting my rights and insisting on full discovery, my attorney withdrew from my case rather than continue representing me. I expected my attorney to insist on full discovery, challenge the prosecution when necessary, and defend my rights based on law and facts--not encourage critical decisions without complete information or withdraw when conflict arose.
Based on my experience, I would strongly encourage others to carefully evaluate their options and seek independent legal counsel if possible. read more
