For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 13
I had been a law clerk for three years in the
office of George Johnson, a prominent member
of the Delaware County Bar and a former
legislator. When I learned that I had passed the
bar exam, my mentor and I celebrated with drinks
and he insisted that I come with him to court
the following day to meet fellow lawyers who,
in those days, almost ceremoniously gathered
before the entire Bench for Friday Motion Court.
It was September 28, 1973.
In those days, Delaware County's District
Attorney did not accept DUI cases into the
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program
and George was prepared to legally challenge
that practice on behalf of his client and to seek
appellate review in the likely event the county
court would refuse to overturn that policy. Five
minutes into his presentation, George collapsed
and died on the floor of Court Room 1, having
suffered a massive heart attack. He was 43.
My life would never be the same. My dream
of learning my craft under the guidance of an
experienced mentor and sole practitioner was
over. It was replaced by being thrust into his
shoes when I was asked by his family to assume
his practice - before I had even been sworn into
the bar.
Although I had absolutely no experience
whatsoever, I quickly became very successful. I was
immediately active in the local Bar Association,
the community and local politics.
With that success came a feeling that socializing
and drinking were important to my work. As
for drugs - they were a regular, but still what I
considered more of a recreational or weekend
activity. However, it wasn't just marijuana any
longer. That was replaced by a myriad of drugs,
both prescription and illegal - especially cocaine.
The stress and anxiety of trying to keep pace
with a legal career that I secretly believed was built
little on skill and a lot on luck was increasing. I felt
like a fraud and I self medicated to make those
feelings go away.
My alcohol and cocaine use increased - it
Vol. 2, Issue 3 | For The Defense
13
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017
Table of Contents
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 1
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 2
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - Table of Contents
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 4
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 5
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 6
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 7
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 8
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 9
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 10
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 11
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 12
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 13
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 14
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 15
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 16
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 17
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 18
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 19
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 20
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 21
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 22
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 24
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 27
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 28
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 29
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 30
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 31
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 47
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 49
For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 50
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 52
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For the Defense - Volume 2, Issue 3 - 2017 - 58
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