Day in the life --.

• Author: Hill, David

David Hill is a senior Crown Prosecutor in the Edmonton General Prosecutions office. He has been prosecuting for the Attorney General of Alberta since 1986.

This diary of his workday will be particularly illuminating to those of us whose only impression of a prosecutor comes from watching the legal dramas on television and movies. Now, climb into the role of a prosecutor yourself for one day in April of 2002:

Even after 16 years as a prosecutor in Edmonton, my mornings still begin with a momentary shock (or thrill) as I quickly run through my head what trials I have to run that day. People wait for months for their day in court and I want to be certain I'm ready.

At the office, my heart rate picks up as I power up my computer and start to listen to my voice mail messages. I scroll through my email messages and discover one that advises that I'm being sued for $50,000,000 (that's 50 million dollars). I'm not alone though; several other prosecutors, dozens of police and others are named as well. I've heard of other prosecutors being sued and wondered how it affected them. But, since court starts in only an hour, there's no time to commiserate. Ultimately I decide there's no need to fret as I always do my best with the resources available and the government lawyers will give me fair representation.

One of my phone messages is from a victim on one of my morning trials. She just remembered that she has court today and has no transportation or babysitter for her children. When I call to confirm her situation she sounds sincere and anxious to give her evidence in court. I ask her if she has checked with her neighbor, also a witness, who had come to her assistance the night of the incident by providing a phone and temporary refuge.

As I'm waiting to hear back from her, a staff member from the Edmonton Police Service Court Liaison office stops by my office with a computer printout. It's to notify me that a police witness on of my afternoon cases is unavailable for court because of an eye injury sustained the night before during an arrest. I quickly glance through the file to see if I will be able to prove my case without the officer. I'm relieved to see there were two police officers subpoenaed who saw the victim's injuries.

One of our office's support staff is at my door with a smug look and a pile of files a foot thick for me for next week. I sarcastically thank her. Just then I hear back from my witness that her neighbor has wheels and is willing...