Grassroots lawyers also have their day

Chapter 73 The real show begins

After a less-than-intense debate, the middle-aged male judge finally struck the gavel, ending the trial and setting the verdict for a later date. Just when Wang Chuan thought he could finally breathe a sigh of relief, the real show began!

Ms. Gao and her relatives and friends believed that the criminal punishment recommended by the prosecution was too severe. Soon after the gavel fell, they surrounded the male and female prosecutors. At the same time, three or four middle-aged women rushed in front of the middle-aged male judge, blocking his way out of the courtroom, and began to plead their innocence and complain. The scene briefly spiraled out of control, with cries and screams filling the courtroom.

"Defense attorney Wan, please calm down the defendant's family..." The middle-aged male judge hurriedly shouted to Fatty Wan and Wang Chuan when he realized he couldn't leave the courtroom.

Upon hearing the middle-aged male judge's call, Fatty Wan stood up from the defense table and shouted, "Please everyone, calm down and trust the judge. He will give the defendant a fair verdict. Please believe me..."

Wan Pangzi made a lot of noise but did little. He stood there shouting for a long time but didn't take a single step forward. Wang Chuan seemed to have figured it out. Since Wan Pangzi hadn't made a move, he should stay obediently by his side to avoid being accidentally hurt.

The middle-aged male judge was getting a headache from the commotion caused by the defendant's family. The two prosecutors next to him weren't in much better shape; they stood against the wall, too afraid to speak, looking utterly helpless. They seemed quite experienced, probably having been surrounded like this before.

The defendant's family members were very well-behaved; they simply surrounded the judge and prosecutor, complaining or questioning them. No one laid a hand on them or hurled insults.

It wasn't until a large number of bailiffs arrived that the crowd was dispersed, and the prosecutors and judges were escorted out of the courthouse.

"Let's go! Our work is done." Just as a large number of bailiffs rushed into the courtroom, Fatty Wan, having finished signing the court transcript, whispered to Wang Chuan beside him.

Wang Chuan had already packed up the documents, and carrying his briefcase, he followed Fatty Wan out of the courthouse.

"Attorney Wan, will the judge and prosecutor cause us trouble?" Wang Chuan asked worriedly.

"Don't worry! The family can't accept the prosecutor's suggestion, but they're upset and want to reason with them. It's not like the lawyer encouraged them, so what's there to be afraid of!"

"Besides, the victim was also at fault in this case, and the defendant didn't pose as much of a threat to society as the prosecutor claimed. Giving him five months of detention is really too harsh!" Fatty Wan said with a look of disdain.

Wang Chuan's first time handling a criminal case, and he never expected the scene to be even more chaotic than a civil or commercial case. Oh well, he'll just have to leave it to fate!

The next day, Wang Chuan and Pan Jinlian went to the legal services office for their shift. In the morning, Fatty Wan strolled in, carrying a bag.

"Attorney Wan, why aren't you sitting in the office? What are you doing here? Have you been relegated to a lower-level position?!" Pan Jinlian said with a grin.

"No! I came to the court to pick up a judgment. I just happened to be passing by and stopped in to rest for a bit!" Fatty Wan said with an awkward smile.

Wang Chuan immediately knew that Fatty Wan was out looking for a relaxing break. Normally, the intern lawyers involved in the case could easily handle picking up the judgment. If they were feeling lazy, a lawyer could simply add a name to the client's signed authorization form, authorizing the intern lawyer to collect it from the court.

Fatty Wan personally went to the court to pick up the judgment in the sweltering heat. It must be because the boss was at the office. He was afraid that the boss would assign him more tasks, so he went to the court to make himself seem busier!

As for coming to the legal services office, it's definitely not because they really wanted to visit Wang Chuan and the other two, but rather to kill time, have lunch, and then leisurely return to the office. This is what is known as "loafing around"!

Just as Fatty Wan was speaking, his phone rang: "Hello..."

Five minutes later, Fatty Wan hung up the phone and looked at Wang Chuan: "The criminal court just called. They want us to persuade the Gao family, saying they went to the court again today to cause trouble for the judge! Also, the judge wants us to submit a written sentencing opinion."

"We can't really persuade the Gao family! It mainly depends on the court's attitude," Wang Chuan said with a bitter face.

"Well, we don't care. Let Ms. Gao and the others go to court if they want. They have legs to stand on, and we can't tie them down!"

"Besides, she's our client. You think we'd go and persuade her? Don't be ridiculous! They'd definitely suspect we're in cahoots with the court and the prosecutor. We'd be lucky not to get beaten up!" Fatty Wan said, pursing his lips.

"Attorney Wan, how should we write the sentencing? Two months?" Wang Chuan asked.

"Hey! Gao Yunxiu is indeed guilty of intentional injury. It's impossible for her to be exempted from punishment, and the court and the procuratorate won't allow it either."

The defendant has already been detained for some time, and the court will need time to issue a verdict. Two months is definitely not enough; we need to give the court time to issue a judgment.

"How about this? We suggest three months of detention. That should be acceptable to the family, and the judge will probably agree considering their attitude. This is a minor case anyway. Gao Yunxiu has a good attitude, and the social harm is not significant. I don't think the prosecutor's office will raise any objections," Wan Pangzi said after thinking for a moment.

Holy crap! There are so many things to consider when sentencing! Wang Chuan was somewhat surprised.

Fatty Wan glanced at Wang Chuan and laughed, "You don't need to write the sentencing opinion, I'll write it."

On Friday, Wan Pangzi and Zheng Penzi said goodbye to everyone.

"Goodbye, brothers! We're going to Inner Mongolia for a court hearing next Monday," Zheng said excitedly. This was her first time going to Inner Mongolia for a court hearing, and she was incredibly excited.

"When are you coming back?" Pan Jinlian asked enviously.

"If everything goes smoothly, we'll go on Monday, the court hearing will be on Tuesday, and we can be back on Wednesday," Fatty Wan said with a smile.

"Can I bring my family?" Pan Jinlian asked shamelessly.

"Bring family members? This isn't a vacation, of course you can't bring them. Besides, I can't bring them even if I wanted to!" Fatty Wan said.

"You don't have it, but Zheng Shuang does!" Pan Jinlian said, and Zheng Shuang was stunned.

"What family do I have?! I can't possibly bring my parents to court! Are you kidding me!" Zheng glared at Pan Jinlian.

"No need, just take me with you, I'm your family member! We're sisters, aren't we? You agree, right?" Pan Jinlian said with a smile.

"Damn it! Forget it, we'd better distance ourselves from each other. I'm leaving, see you next Wednesday!" Zheng said, picking up his bag and walking out of the law firm.

"Two sisters? More like plastic sisters." Hao Renyuan, the tool, muttered under his breath.

"What did you say?" Pan Jinlian turned her head and glared at her.

"...No...I didn't say anything! You're sisters, pure and innocent!" Hao Renyuan, the tool, finished speaking and ran out of the law firm as if fleeing.

"Hmph!" Pan Jinlian put her hands on her hips. Seeing that the tool Hao Renyuan had run away, she had nowhere to vent her anger. She turned her head and saw Wang Chuan organizing the case files.

When Wang Chuan saw Pan Jinlian looking at him, his heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head, thinking to himself: This has nothing to do with me, nothing to do with me...

(End of this chapter)