for a small table and two wooden chairs. Mr. Griffith walked inside the first room and waited for Elizabeth to arrive. After a few moments a figure entered the visiting room. Had he not been accustomed to the prison environment Mr. Griffith would have been stunned by Elizabeth Blaine’s appearance. Her hair was a mess; she didn’t have on any makeup and looked as if she hadn’t eaten for several weeks. Elizabeth certainly did not look like the photographs the media was circulating with the story of the infamous crime. It wasn’t as if she had been in jail for a long time but every person who spends several days isolated and under extreme stress looks aged, to say the least.
Sitting at the table together, Mr. Griffith and Elizabeth began the review of her case. Mr. Griffith established the ground rules as he did with all his clients. Primarily in matter of trial tactics, his opinions would be the only ones considered. Elizabeth agreed and questioned the possibility of her being released prior to trial. Mr. Griffith explained the central issue surrounding her release was whether she was what the court considered a “flight risk.” Mr. Griffith went on to explain that in making the determination of whether a person was a “flight risk” the court looked at several factors, including a person’s ties to the community, his or her work history, immediate family in the area, and so forth. The problem in this case was that Elizabeth had no immediate family in the area and her employment prior to her arrest was with the victim’s husband. It was not likely Elizabeth would be able to return to her job upon her release. On the positive side, Elizabeth had been a resident in the community for several years and was, prior to this, a model citizen. Mr. Griffith agreed a motion for reduction of bond was necessary.
Several hours passed before the initial meeting between attorney and client was concluded. Prior to leaving Elizabeth executed the power of attorney for Mr. Griffith and instructed him to repay Janice for any monies she had spent. Mr. Griffith explained that he had not charged Janice for their visit when he had agreed to meet with Elizabeth. He further explained that no matter how good a friend Janice was, Elizabeth had to refrain from telling her anything about the case. When Elizabeth acknowledged her understanding of his instructions, the two shook hands. Mr. Griffith then exited the visiting room and motioned to the jailer. A deputy came down the hall to escort Elizabeth back to her cell. As she walked away, Charles Griffith knew he made the correct decision in agreeing to represent Elizabeth Blaine no matter what the personal cost could be to him.
Mr. Griffith stopped by Elizabeth’s bank on his way back to the office. He delivered the power of attorney to the bank president and transferred twenty thousand dollars to his trust account. Leaving the bank Mr. Griffith headed straight to his office to begin the task of drafting the necessary papers to secure Elizabeth’s release from jail. He hadn’t been at his desk long with the intercom buzzed. “Mr. Griffith, there is a Mr. Jeffrey Taylor here to see you.” Checking his watch Charles Griffith laughed. “Less than two hours. That’s got to be a record. Send him back,” Mr. Griffith replied as he adjusted his chair to await this encounter.
Charles Griffith’s secretary reminded him of his 3:30 appointment as she escorted the District Attorney into the office. Mr. Griffith nodded his acknowledgement while motioning for Jeffrey Taylor to sit. When his secretary had walked away, Charles Griffith turned directly to the District Attorney. “What can I do for you today, Mr. Taylor?” His tone was pleasant but totally business. Charles did not particularly like the Jeffrey Taylor and intended to keep this conversation on a professional level. “I would like to discuss your representation of Elizabeth Blaine.” “Well Mr. Taylor, I find that interesting since I have not filed any notice with the court that I am representing Ms. Blaine. Tell me what makes you think I am representing Elizabeth Blaine?” Mr. Griffith looked at the document on the screen of his computer seeking Elizabeth’s release as he spoke. “Come on Mr. Griffith we both know you met with Ms. Blaine this morning for several hours. Are you telling me that you refused to take her case?” “I am not telling you anything Mr. Taylor you’re telling me that I represent Elizabeth Blaine. Now do you want to tell me how you know I am attorney for Ms. Blaine or do we end this conversation here and now?”
Jeffrey Taylor squirmed in his chair. One would not believe a District Attorney would be intimidated, but few people know they are primarily political animals. They spend most of their time attending functions or speaking at charity events. The assistant district attorneys are the ones who work the cases. They are the pit bulls that don’t back down from a challenge. “Mr. Griffith …”, Jeffrey Taylor’s words were slow and measured, “… I do not wish to argue with you. Word was sent to me by the jailer that you had visited with Ms. Blaine. It was wrong of me to assume you were her attorney. You obviously know how important this case is to my office, to the entire community.” The District Attorney was detailing his role as defender of the people, when Mr. Griffith stopped him mid sentence. Mr. Griffith explained bluntly he was not interested in the ramblings of a politician grasping to keep his office and that Mr. Griffith did not have to bow down to the moneymakers in the town because he stood on his own. Charles Griffith went further to state he did not care what Jeffrey Taylor’s agenda was, he was going to represent Elizabeth Blaine and the District Attorney had better be ready for a fight.
Jeffrey Taylor suddenly found his backbone and did not hesitate to respond. Jeffrey explained to Mr. Griffith his opinion of criminal defense attorneys and that they were no better than the clients they represented, looking for any technicality in the law to allow someone they knew was guilty of a crime to go free so they could commit other crimes. He was walking out the office door when he turned back to Mr. Griffith and stated: “I was going to offer you a deal to keep your client from spending the rest of her life in jail, but I will make sure Ms. Blaine never gets out now.” Charles Griffith smiled as he returned to his computer screen and resumed his work. He knew the only reason the District Attorney would have come to his office personally was because he had problems with his case. Charles Griffith was determined to find out exactly what those problems were and expose them to the world.
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