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Impending Battle

IN few months from now, I will be joining thousands of others in the battlefield. The playing field holds very strict rules of procedure. Technicality is the common enemy. Everyone is soaked with fear of losing their fight. Countless time, effort and money are sacrificed by each aspiring candidate. Like them, I share the same fear. Afterall, we are talking of an estimate of $10,000 just to take the bar exam.

The New York Bar Examination is impending and most likely unstoppable. I already conquered the same battle before but in a different playing field – the Philippine Bar Examination. It was a dreadful fight but passing it was truly beyond price. The first battle may be similar in some aspects but totally different in most of it. I studied four years in a law school in the Philippines and then took six months bar review as preparation for the examination day. Here, I just enrolled two months bar review class for the New York bar exam. Not to mention that it is even an online review class to which I paid around $3,500. So do not tell me not to worry because right now my anxiety level is already high.

But this one posted in my friend’s Facebook timeline gave me mixed emotions. It says, “You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it.” - Margaret Thatcher

I know, I am hoping so badly… But I am pretty sure that I am sweating blood here to prepare for the big day in July.

Posted by ayee at 06:00 PM on January 27, 2012.

E-legally Speaking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spiritual Corner

Free Verse of Day

Dear Lord God

Lord, You are our Almighty God,
We glorify your name,
We give you all the praises.
Thank you for this wonderful day.
In you we place our faith and hope,
that our prayers will be answered.
You know our needs and you provide them.
You know we are weak and you give us strength.
Lord, use us as instruments in accomplishing your work.
It is the greatest honor to serve you.
Amen.

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The Jensen Letter

Julie Jensen, 40-year-old, a wife and mother of two then young boys, was found dead in her bed in December 1998. Initially, the investigation report stated that it was a case of suicide. Truly, the autopsy report supported this initial theory. Not until two neighbors brought a sealed envelope claimed to be Julie's letter she wrote and delivered to them specifically telling them to turn over to police just in case something happen to her.

The said envelope contains a photo of her husband's daily planner which listed strange list of items. The list includes syringe and some kind of drugs. Also, inside the envelope is a letter that became crucial in the decision of the murder case.

The lower court admitted the letter as dying declaration and, therefore, is a hearsay exception.

In its decision, the Court of Appeals of Wisconsin ruled that admitting the letter is a harmless error. The forfeiture by wrongdoing doctrine would apply to the husband's confrontation rights.