Friday, February 20, 2009

Studying the Law

LPW has been studying the law in more ways than one this week. I am enrolled in an American Legal System class where my professors noted on the first day of class, "we will be going over material in one semester that takes law students 3 years to cover." Okay, so I was a little intimidated. Now that we are two months in the class I have a better understanding of the history and structure of the legal system.

Here's the kicker... we have the first of our 2 tests on Tuesday. Yes, you heard me right. Our entire grade is based off of 2 exams!! That means that I have to knock this exam out of the park to make an A in the class. So, in turn, I have locked myself in the apartment this weekend in order to prepare myself. Thank goodness I am studying with a friend on Sunday, and then attending a study session on Monday. These extra efforts will hopefully pay off in the end. I know that this class is preparing me for law school, and I do enjoy the subject matter that we are covering!

On to the other side of law that I have been studying. This kind is much more personal and very distressing to all parties involved. There is a case in my hometown where the daughter is accused of having stabbed her mother more than 50 times. This occurred 3 1/2 years ago when she was only 18. She has finally made it to trial, which has occured over the last 11 days. Today will be the closing arguments, then the case will be handed over to the jury. It is amazing to me how modern technology has allowed me to keep up with the trial by both blogging and live video feed. I ending up knowing a lot of her friends that were forced to testify against her. I can't remember if I ever met her, but I know that we had a good number of mutual friends/acquaintances. I pray that God will take care of her no matter what the verdict is. I am sure she is a totally different person now, then she was when the incident happened. Watching this case, reinforced to me that I DO NOT want to go into any type of criminal law.

This case made me realize how important growing up in a stable, loving household is. I guess I just always took for granted the way that I was raised. Have any of you ever had a case that just really touched or reached out to you?

6 comments:

Lou Lou said...

Good luck studying! That story is so terrible! We definitely are blessed to have stable family lives!

Rachel said...

OMG, this is to weird. I graduated from UT. Is that Dr. Brown's class you are talk about. At least I think that is his name. He always wears a bowtie. I did not even know you went to UT until I read this post and was like that class sounds so familiar and then I read your profile.

Small world.
GOOD LUCK!!

Emily said...

I have been following the blog about the case. How strange that you know some of the people connected. What a sad, sad situation.

Anonymous said...

Good luck on the test, you're going to do great :) and I hope you're having a good weekend!

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure I took the same class. Good luck on the test!

SouthernBelleJM said...

I can't believe with the lack of evidence that the jury gave her second degree. I mean from her evasive alibi to her cut; I think she did it or knew who did. However, I just think all that hoopla with bringing doors and bedposts in was just not enough to convict her. No murder weapon and no bloody clothes. Just not enough for a conviction. My thoughts would have been why didn't they test the hair in Jennifer's hand?? Weird. I followed the blog everyday through the trial. Good luck on your test!!!!