People v. State

Today’s my 41st birthday, my Facebook friends have graciously reminded me. Some of my other friends will try to take my money tonight in our weekly poker game.

Another reminder of my mortality is today’s news of the passing of a fellow member of the bar, albeit one with whom I had only the briefest of contact. James Tsoutsouris was from nearby (though not neighboring) Porter County, in which I’ve handled only a couple cases. He was “opposing” counsel in a divorce in which we were able to work out an agreement for our clients, so all of our contact was over the phone or by mail. Turns out he was also the county’s chief public defender since creating the office in 1970, a year after I was born.

Tsoutsouris also served as defense attorney in the 1991 high profile trial of Ronald Harris, who was convicted of the murder of a Portage gasoline station attendant as an accomplice of “shotgun killer” Christopher Peterson.

While disappointed with the outcome of that case, Tsoutsouris said at the time he refused to believe the fact that Harris is black and was tried by an all-white jury was a factor.

“If I believe that, I’d quit my practice today,” he said. “If I can no longer believe in the system, I’ll go sell cars.”

Such faith appears conducive to longevity in the law. Like Mr. Tsoutsouris, in my relatively short time in the trenches I’ve defended a black client and been “disappointed” by the all-white jury that convicted him. Unlike Mr. Tsoutsouris, I don’t share the faith that sustained him.

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