13 Closing

The judge thanked the witnesses and asked the attorneys if they had any closing statements. The prosecutor stood up and addressed the court.

"Your Honor, the evidence presented by the prosecution clearly shows that Mr Smith embezzled funds from the company and caused significant financial losses. While he has expressed remorse and a willingness to make amends, the harm he caused cannot be undone. We ask that you hold him accountable for his actions and impose a sentence reflecting the crime's severity."

Jack also stood up to give his closing statement. "Your Honor, while Mr Smith made a terrible mistake in embezzling funds from the company, it is important to consider his overall character and the circumstances that led to his actions. We ask that you consider his cooperation with the investigation, sincere remorse, and willingness to make amends. We also ask for a fair and just sentence, but not overly punitive."

After hearing the closing statements from both sides, the judge took a moment to consider the evidence presented and the arguments made. Finally, he rendered his decision.

"Based on the evidence presented, the court finds Mr Smith guilty of embezzlement. However, the court also considers Mr Smith's cooperation, remorse, and willingness to make amends. Therefore, I sentenced Mr Smith to three years of probation, 500 hours of community service, and restitution of the funds he embezzled from the company. This is my final decision."

With the judge's decision made, the trial came to a close. As the courtroom emptied out, Jack approached Mr Smith to offer some words of encouragement. "I know this has been a difficult time for you, John. But I think the judge was fair in his decision, and I'm glad you'll have the opportunity to make things right," Jack said. Mr Smith nodded, looking relieved. "Thank you, Jack. I appreciate everything you've done for me throughout this process."

"You're welcome, John. I'm just glad I could be of help," Jack replied.

Jack couldn't help but reflect on the trial as they shook hands and parted ways. While he had successfully defended his client and secured a relatively light sentence, he couldn't shake the feeling that justice had not been fully served.

Jack's sense of unease is not uncommon among lawyers. Defending a client is not just about getting them off the hook or securing a favourable outcome; it's also about ensuring that justice is done. In this case, while Mr Smith received a relatively light sentence, he still has to make amends for his actions. The community service he will perform will benefit others. Moreover, the restitution of the funds he embezzled will go a long way toward rectifying the harm he caused. While the outcome may not have been perfect, Jack can take comfort in knowing that he did his best to defend his client while still upholding the principles of justice.

As Jack left the courthouse, he bumped into his old law school friend, Tom.

"Hey, Jack! Long time no see," Tom exclaimed.

"Hey, Tom! How are you doing?" Jack replied.

"I'm doing great. I just won a big case last week," Tom said smugly.

"Really? What case was that?" Jack asked, trying not to roll his eyes at Tom's bragging.

"It was a copyright infringement case. My client was a famous artist whose work was being used without permission. I got them a huge settlement," Tom said, puffing out his chest.

"Well, that's impressive. Congrats," Jack said, trying to hide his lack of enthusiasm.

Tom noticed Jack's lack of excitement and raised an eyebrow. "What's up with you? You seem a bit down," he said.

"It's nothing; I just finished up a trial," Jack replied, not wanting to go into the details.

"A trial? That sounds intense. Did you win?" Tom asked, trying to sound interested.

"Yeah, I did," Jack said with a small smile.

"Well, that's great. What was the case about?" Tom asked, genuinely curious now.

"It was an embezzlement case. My client was guilty, but I got him a relatively light sentence," Jack said, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Tom's eyes widened. "Wow, that's impressive. Did you manage to get a guilty client off lightly? How did you do that?" he asked, genuinely curious.

Jack chuckled. "Well, I can't give away all my secrets, but let's just say I put on a good show in court," he said with a wink.

Tom laughed. "You always were a smooth talker, Jack. That's why you're one of the best in the business," he said, clapping Jack on the back.

"Thanks, Tom. I appreciate that," Jack said, feeling a bit better.

Tom: "So, did you have any crazy witnesses or anything like that?"

Jack: "Actually, this one witness kept contradicting themselves. They couldn't remember what they said five minutes ago."

Tom: "Ha! That's always a good time. Did you grill them on the stand?"

Jack: "Oh, you know it. I had them stuttering and stumbling over their words in no time."

Tom: "Classic Jack. That's what I always admired about you. You know how to handle a witness."

Jack: "Well, it's all part of the job, right?"

Tom: "Absolutely. So, what will you do now that the trial is over?"

Jack: "Honestly, probably just take a few days off. It's been a stressful few weeks."

Tom: "I hear you. I always take a vacation after a big win. It would be best if you came with me to Mexico next month. I hear the beaches are beautiful."

Jack: "That sounds tempting. Let me check my schedule and get back to you."

Tom: "Great. Just let me know. And congrats again on the win. You deserve a break."

As Tom and Jack continued catching up, they shared stories about their careers.

"So, what's the most interesting case you've ever worked on?" Tom asked.

Jack thought for a moment before answering. "Well, I had this one case a few years ago where the client was accused of stealing priceless artwork from a museum. It was a real whodunit case, and we had to do much digging to uncover the truth. In the end, we found out that the client was innocent and that the real culprit was a security guard working at the museum for years."

Tom's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, that's crazy! How did you figure it out?" he asked.

"We had to do a lot of detective work, but in the end, a lucky break led us to the security guard. One of the janitors had seen him acting suspiciously on the night of the theft and reported it to the police. Once we had that information, we could track down some other witnesses who saw him leaving the museum with the artwork," Jack explained.

Tom nodded, impressed. "That's some real Sherlock Holmes stuff, Jack. I'm impressed."

Jack laughed. "Yeah, it was one of the more exciting cases I've worked on."

The two continued to chat and catch up, swapping stories and sharing advice. Jack was grateful to have a friend like Tom in the legal profession, someone who understood the ups and downs of the job and was always there to lend a sympathetic ear. Jack couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose and camaraderie with his fellow lawyers as they parted ways.