Here are a few more. There may be duplicates from previous posts, as I have lost track.

Enjoy!

Above are some more random pics from the ferry ride. They were out of chronological order in the camera, but worth seeing. I believe that most of these are around Bellingham, WA.

Here's "the bunker", my basement apartment still in the process of being moved into and furnished.

Top is the road to Kenai from Whittier. Pictures do not do this justice.

Middle is the ferry ride from Juneau to Whittier.

Bottom are random pictures of Juneau.

Below are the Alaskan Hotel, my room at the hotel and downtown Juneau.













This is Ketchikan, I think...

Here are some pics of the trip up. They are out of order, but they'll give you a general idea of what the trip's all about. There are a number of settlements depicted along the way, mostly of Ketchikan and Juneau.

What a difference a couple of weeks make!

As you can plainly see, after two weeks of torture, my friend has chosen freedom.

Compare this photo with the one previously posted. I think the jug of home-brewed whisky speaks for itself.

The original plan was that he and I would convoy up through the British Columbia wilds to Kenai. However, the problem of transporting guns through Canada has made this plan impossible. Therefore, I'll be transporting them on the ferry from Washington to the Kenai peninsula. I had hoped for another long driving adventure, but efficiency is far more important. Therefore, instead of living life through the eyes of a northern expedition a la Shackleton, you will live life through the eyes of a cruise ship.

Which shouldn't be too bad. Some people spend lots of money to travel along the Alaskan coast and take in the wildlife and vistas. I hope the pictures hold your interest.

Other related news is that the law firm has lost another experienced attorney in Ben. That leaves a handful of felony attorneys with any appreciable felony experience. I spoke with the judge in my court, and he's expressed serious misgivings at the prospect of inexperienced attorneys in his court. I don't blame him. As much as Placer County likes to think a good defense is not important, judges rely on defense attorneys to ensure they are not making mistakes. Mistakes put people behind bars. People like you.

The big move will proceed as planned. To the left is a picture of Alyeska; the ski resort where I will be for a public defender conference in October. I can't wait.

I gave my two weeks notice this week. Even though I have made my decision to move to Alaska, giving notice still hard for me to do. It was made more difficult by the fact that three other lawyers quit as well, leaving criminal defense in Placer County far worse off.

Not that things could get much worse for criminal defense.

Besides my need for change, Placer County itself has conspired to drive me away. During my short time as a Public Defender, I have seen some disturbing changes.

I witnessed an 80 year old WWII veteran tackled to the ground by two 250 lbs police officers because he was a little drunk and hard of hearing. I saw a jury of our peers, Placer County residents, convict him of public intoxication and shake the hands of the officers, proclaiming them heroes.

I've seen District Attorneys intentionally over charge kids with felonies when they should have been misdemeanors because they want the scared minors and their families to plea bargain for the misdemeanor rather than risk a felony at trial.

We have District Attorneys demanding time in jail for 2nd time DUI's even though doing time (often 20+ days) this misdemeanor mistake will lead to the loss of a defendant's job, his family's only source of income, because he can't take time from work. However, at the same time, a person selling methamphetamine, a felony, does little or no actual time at all. Does that penalty really fit the crime? The District Attorney certainly thinks so. As does the judges and, apparently, the county legislature. Below are the County Board of Supervisor's minutes giving Stephanie Macumber District Attorney of the Year for making that happen.

BRADFORD R. FENOCCHIO
PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Bradford R. Fenocchio, District Atto
Date: June 13,2006
Subject: Prosecutor of the Year Award
ACTION REOUESTED
Presentation of the Prosecutor of the Year Award to the 2006 recipient, Stephanie A.
Macumber, by Bradford R. Fenocchio, at the Board of Supervisors Meeting on July
1 1,2006.
BACKGROUND
The District Attorney's Office established the annual award entitled "Prosecutor of the
Year Award" in memory of Anne-Marie Bourgeois, who died as a result of a tragic
fire in her home in 1994.
Each Deputy District Attorney within our office is given an opportunity to vote for the
colleague whom they feel should be honored for his or her display of outstanding
effort; one who shows enthusiasm, excellence and courage in prosecuting cases.
FISCAL IMPACT
None

Why am I leaving? Because Placer County makes the same mistake other municipalities make when they get frightened of a growing population; the knee jerk reaction of punitive rather than rehabilitative measures.

The question Placer County must ask itself is whether this approach has ever been effective. In court, judges joke about the "liberal" cities, such as Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. In every large city, before they became large cities, they tried the punitive approach. Because they learned that this approach costs more than preventative and rehabilitative measures, they became "liberal". The question is, why hasn't Placer County learned this lesson?

The answer is, of course, the people. And that's one big reason why I leave.

Check one off the list! Today I bought a 3/4 ton Chevy truck (with the help of and many thanks to B). I have to take it to my buddy's house now so he can drive it into the ground out of sheer jealous spite. Just wanted to update you.