Testimonials

The man standing.

I call my review the man standing, because I remember a lost boy, in a confused life. Standing in a world that was ready to consume him. I remember waking up with palms that that were drenched with sweat. Loud noises from heavy doors slam shut, and men standing in uniforms talking numbers, and walking past us. They leave and we stay. Five years of the same crap! Five years of the same men and women that comes to work dedicated to make our lives a living Hell. As a innocent man I stand tall and firm…. heck who am I kidding. I was broken, afraid, worried, even excepted defeat. I was no longer the man standing. But one man would change that and one man would put the life back in my eyes. Antonio F. Valiente is the Clark Kent of the Public Defenders Office. I have read articles about his successful outcomes in the courtroom, and after a year home Mr. Valiente continues to bring justice to court rooms and to family’s. He is the man standing.

Antonio picked up my case. He was the only lawyer that was sure and willing to go to trial…. and he was ready. I had three different lawyers since my five years in the county. And they all told me that my case wasn’t something that we would win. I was lost and confused cause I was completely innocent. Antonio was my new lawyer on the case and when he jumped on my case. He was confident, walked and talked it. You could see that there was no backing down from Mr. Valiente. When Antonio Valiente was performing in the court room – he not only moved me in opening argument he also moved me in closing as well. His words touched the court and the jury, when he expressed himself. He was the man standing in that room. My life was in his hands. And he fought for me like I was his very own. I remember when the verdict was in, and the jury made there way in the courtroom. Everyone stood and I was still sitting…. too weak to stand…. but that man next to me looked me in the eyes and told me to stand. I look down with defeat in my eyes. He whispered in a firm voice…. Stand up Watson. I slowly rose to my feet and stood at attention. I was now standing side by side with the man next to me when they read the verdict of not guilty. I cried and I fell to the chair in total shock and relief. The man standing looked at me in the eye and said…………. not guilty.

- Watson