Dawnese Agnick:
CLASS OF 1988
Dickinson High SchoolClass of 1988
Dickinson, ND
Arizona State University - LawClass of 2006
Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University - Honors CollegeClass of 1994
Tempe, AZ
Arizona State University - PsychologyClass of 1994
Tempe, AZ
Dawnese's Story
Life
I'm married with three children; Alexander (9/25/2000) and Christian (5/2/2003) and Jarek (1/19/2006) My husband, Ted, and I are both criminal defense attorneys in Phoenix. Ted has his own firm in Tempe where I will probably never work (unless I want a divorce).
I work for the Public Defender's Office. I love it but have to admit that sometimes I think I'd be happier if I could just be a mock trial attorney and not actually have to factor in the (a) insane, (b) ungrateful (c) rude clients. If one more client asks me if I've had any legal training, I'm the one that is going to need a lawyer...well - I'll finish updating later, my children are running amok and I should attempt to reign them in.
Oooh- funny story. I have a client who is guilty (surprise). Anyway - he's very upset that he has to either plead to 5 years prison or take 10 after he loses at trial. (hey - there's only so much you can do when someone robs a convenience store and smiles for the camera AND the three witnesses) Anyway - I digress - he decides he wants a REAL attorney (you know, one that will find a way around the videotape and the witnesses) so he looks in a magazine and sees an ad for an attorney. He calls this attorney and starts talking about how his crappy public defender isn't helping him. What he doesn't know is that he is on the phone with my husband who is now laughing is fool ass off and will never let me live this one down.
In my free time...right. OK, WHEN I had free time, Ted and I used to go motocross riding. Now I just look at my bike sitting in the garage and hope it starts when I can get back to it.
Ted and I take the kids four-wheeling a lot. We search for (and have found) ancient, long forgotten Anasazi ruins. It is usually a long drive and a longer hike but well worth the time.
I still act, (theoretically). I have a production company with one of my best friends (theoretically). We just wrapped an independent short movie we're submitting to Sundance (yeah - just in 2006....). Anyway - I LOVE to act and the courtroom is a fun place...Expand for more
to do it - the stakes are high, too. I will probably get back to that when my kids are a bit older and could care less if I'm home or not.
College
2/2006 (updated 2/08)
I went back to law school in 2003. I had a 3 month old baby when I started and a 4 month old baby when I finished (not planned but what can I say? I have since figured out what causes that and am doing my best to keep it from happening again.)
I decided to go to law school after reading (actually listening on audio) to Barry Schreck's book "Actual Innocence."
I never realized until that time that innocent people were actually convicted of crimes (naive, I know but, whatever.) I never realized innocent people sat on death row. Now that I am aware that 1 in 10 people on death row are innocent, I no longer agree with the death penalty (not to mention the fact that it is racially disequal).
While in law school I interned for the Governor. It was interesting but definitely not what I wanted to spend my time doing.
I really felt a calling when I interned with the Federal Public Defender's Office in their Capital Habeus Unit - doing post-conviction relief work - definitely more up my alley.
I did my first 1/2 marathon in January of this year. That was . . . fun? Whatever - it was something. At least I finished (in 2 hours 48 minutes). I felt good about that. Especially since I HATE running and NEVER ran prior to August of 2007. I'll be doing it again next January. If nothing else, at least I get to eat more while I'm training.
Ummm.. that's about it. My life in a nutshell - get up at 4:30 a.m. (seriously). Hit the gym with my Nazi trainer Ruthie (who I love and is 7 years older than me with a body of a 24 year old). Take the bus to work (not environmentally conscious, just hate the damn 45 minute commute). Once I'm at work, I torture the prosecution as mercilessly as possible. Get home at 6:00, grill something edible (hopefully). Play with the kids until about 8:30, put the little buggers to bed. Fall over in my own bed until its time to start over.
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