As of 28oct, I had a misdemeanor case dismissed after 14months on hold. This was thanks to the very talented Roman Walker. I know public defenders get a bad wrap, and based solely on my previous experience with them, it is well deserved, however I truly feel I would not have had a better experience or outcome had I went bankrupt hiring an attorney than I had with Roman Walker. He from the beginning told me he knew I was innocent and he would fight for me. He made me believe he was on my side, and he spent time understanding my case. When the time came that the DA offered a much reduced plea, he told them 'are you ready to lose?'. They dismissed it. I will recommend Roman to anyone I can.
The reason for the 3 starts instead of a full 5 is because the first public defender I was assigned - Kirsten Keith - was so incredibly incompetent, lazy, uncaring, rude, contemptuous, willfully dismissive of overwhelming evidence of my innocence, and a strong selfish desire for me to plea to a crime I didnt do and accept the life ruining consequences, that I was fully convinced that she was malignantly doing so because of an internal barely disguised hatred for humanity, or maybe just men. She would be the lowest rating possible and a stark warning for anyone unfortunate enough to be stuck with her.
She ignored everything I told her, ignored my calls, my texts, did not know anything about my case, came to trial unprepared and never talked to me to discuss my case. She did not file any of my evidence for discovery meaning the proof that got my dismissal would not be admissible. I imagine if she was intentionally trying to get me convicted of something I didnt do she couldnt have done a better job without getting herself disbarred.
I would sooner have Kanye West host my son's bar mitzvah than have Kirsten Keith as an attorney.
She told me my initial trial date was moved and she would give me the new trial date when she received it. She called again the day of the trial asking where I was, she 'forgot' to tell me in advance so I missed that date. The second trial date I took off work for her to call me hours before the trial to tell me it was delated due to covid. I found out she knew weeks in advance as the covid delay was posted on the court website.
She insisted I would lose the case and told me I should accept the plea deal despite my insisting it would ruin my life and career. Not only did Roman Walker tell me he would win, he got it dismissed before trial.
I successfully filed a Marsden Motion in court and the judge agreed with me and called her behavior a gross violation of trust. She was fired as my public defender and I was given Roman, the antithesis of what she is.
IF YOU HAVE THE UNFORTUNATE LUCK OF HAVING KIRSTEN KEITH I STRONGLY SUGGEST FILING A MARSDEN MOTION BEFORE THE JUDGE!
Thankfully, after the Marsden Motion, the Private defender program took the time to ask me about Kirsten Keith's failings and then assigned me an attentive attorney.
The last thing I want to do is air my dirty laundry online but after going through the incredibly stressful indignity of a wrongful arrest and feeling ground up by a cruel system, I hope someone in a similar situation can find some hope and will to fight and know they dont have to lie down and be passive victims of horrible attorneys/terrible people like Kirsten Keith. read more