Day Three: The day of Free.

Free Day. A day ripe with promise - like a new-born baby or a blank canvas.

The day (which was actually Wednesday, March 11) started quite early, as we had breakfast with Judge Flanagan at 8:30 am. Melissa, who will be clerking with Judge Flanagan next year, was gracious enough to set up the date, which included bagels (rye bagel + honey walnut cream cheese = awesome), an intimate question and answer session with Judge Flanagan, and the privilege of sitting in the jury box while watching a few criminal sentencing hearings (dare I say, even more awesome than bagels?).

If all of this wasn't enough, we were also given the opportunity to witness Madison's father, a public defender, advocating passionately for his client during the third and final sentencing hearing. During the court's recess, we gathered 'round while Mr. Perry gave a lovely and moving account of his experiences as a public defender in Eastern NC and his reasons for practicing this type of law. Once tears were dried, and many photos were taken, we posed for a final group photo on the courthouse steps, and departed for out next appointment.

Next was lunch at the law firm of Sumrell, Sugg, Carmichael, Hicks & Hart. The office was right down the street from the courthouse (which was right down the street from our hotel), so traveling on foot was a breeze. Not only did the firm's attorneys treat us to a delicious lunch of sandwiches, pasta salad and chocolate chip cookies, but they kindly answered any questions volunteers had about legal practice in New Bern.

Around 1:30, we left Sumrell Sugg and had a couple of hours of actual "free" time. Some students walked around downtown New Bern (along the way picking up snacks, gifts, and a belt featuring the New Bern crest - Gus is to thank for spawning this phenomenon), others hung around the hotel and basked in the sun, and others cought up on some much-needed sleep.

At 4:00 we had our final debriefing session in a gazeebo outside the hotel, which was led by both Melissa and Evan. To the delight of some and the dismay of others (me), all volunteers were allowed (forced) to participate in the debriefing by answering a question pulled out of an ice bucket. Questions ranged from "What was the biggest challenge you faced on this trip?" to "Did the trip meet your expectations?" The latter was my question, and Colin's - therefore, my answer went something like this: "Colin took my answer." This is what happens when I am forced to speak in public.

Others' answers were more poignant, though. Some spoke of the rage and frusration that they felt when working with clients facing tough situations. Others told anecdotes about funny or unique experiences during the trip (e.g. the New Bern Team's stop at a gas station awash with the colors of the Indian flag, and Saurabh's consequent delight). Our team leaders, Seema, Dean Novinsky, and Mark Dorosin (that's Dean Dorosin to you), were all thanked enthusiastically for their hard work and dedication to the project. In all, it was, appropriately, the trip's most warm-and-fuzzy debriefing (though the others came pretty close).

At 6 we had our alumni cocktail hour at Captain Rattys. Though no actual alumni showed up, we were happy to see our friends from LANC come out and share some drinks and food with us. After dinner, the group went to a neighboring bar, where we drank a little more, played pool, and listened to an eclectic musical mix on the jukebox. I promised I wouldn't tout my personal failures on this blog, but I have to mention that Mark and I played a rousing game of pool with Jackson and Zac. Though it was close, Jackson / Zac won on a technicality when I sank the cue ball with only the 8-ball remaining on the table. Not that I'm a sore loser or anything, but I did that on purpose, just to be nice; plus, I'm pretty sure Jackson and Zac cheated somehow.