You Know There Must Be Something Wrong with the Judicial System When I am the Orgainized One

I was in jail for 23 days.  On July 31 I will be out as long as I was in. Since I got out I have been to 4 court dates.  Of those 4, only one of them has gone smoothly.

The first court date, I showed up on time, had all my paperwork from all four counties and thank Elmo I did.  My name was called, I stood before the judge, and he was looking at my case, which showed I had been released, then recommitted.  Confusing, yes.

When I was taken to court for the arraignment, I was transferred from the jail, to the courthouse for the day.  Since the CO’s at the jail were absolutely sure I would be released that night on my own recognizance (OR’d) they did the release paperwork. The judge apparently didn’t consult with the CO’s and didn’t release me, but did reduce my bond to $100 which luckily I could pay (if not I would sitanother ten days).  The problem was, I didn’t have cash, I had a debit card.  The courthouse didn’t take debit cards, but the jail does.  So, I got transferred back, so they could process my bond.  It took a while (like 2 hours) for the paperwork to get faxed to the jail, and I was waiting (it was close to midnight by this time).  They booked me back in, so that I could bond out, and also so I could sleep in a holding cell instead of on a bench.  My bond was posted at 3:00 AM, and I was released at 9:00 the next morning.

So, that explains the re-commitment.  The problem was, the bond money hadn’t been transferred to the courthouse so the judge had no record of it.  I wanted to say “Hey Buddy, clearly I posted the bond, I’m standing here in front of up.” Instead I just showed him my bond sheet and was on my way.

The 2nd court date, I showed up at least 20 minutes early, and looked over the 20 page docket for court that day.  Alphabetical beginning to end and absolutely not a single HOOD on the list.  Great.  I’m not on the docket.  So, I went to the clerks office (I knew the girls, the had helped with a lot of paperwork for my divorce and custody case) Explained to them I was not on the docket.  They checked their computers, and sure as shit, not there.  Once again, I had all of my papers with me, showed them my bond sheet, time and date of court appearance and the put me on the docket for the day.

Today was court date #4.  Last night I couldn’t find my papers for this court date, and I wanted to verify the date and time.  I was lost.  I’m checking on line, and there is nothing.  I am checking CaseNet, not there.  I find a website that has the next day’s court dockets listed, nope, not there either.  I call the courthouse, they are gone for the day.  FUCK.

In a stroke of good luck and OMG I’m going to need this, I found the papers I would need.  I get to the courthouse 20 minutes early once again.  Two courtrooms hold court today.  Check with the first, and I’m not on the docket (Shocking I know), so I check with the 2nd courtroom and guess what? Not there either.  I’m starting to see a pattern here.  I go to the court clerk’s office, and she can’t find me either (because by now, I’m beginning to think I really don’t exists, and if I’m not one any docket then why did I spend 23 days in jail if I can’t be found in anyone’s computer system.)

She calls the prosecuting attorney who politely informs her that their office hasn’t even processed the case, or filed the tickets yet.  I’m not set for court yet.  Two hours on the road this morning, for this???  The clerk gave me a continuance and I have a new court date further down the line.

So, I have been to all my initial court dates for everyone, now there are four dates left, but with those, the lawyer will have worked something out, and I will just plea and be done.

You know, that is, if they can find me.