Why Will a Federal Judge Be More Inclined to Listen If They See Their Own Values in You?
Description
When I stood in front of Judge Steven Wilson, I never thought about his values—or how mine compared. Looking back, I should have. Judges, prosecutors, probation officers—they all form opinions about you, and if you don’t create a record, the only version they see is the government’s. In this episode, I walk through an exercise I wish I had done as a defendant: list your judge’s values and ask how yours align. Discipline, accountability, public service—are you showing those in your life right now? I also share ten questions every defendant should answer, from how prosecutors see you, to what victims think, to what steps you’ve taken to make things right. Judges notice effort, not empty promises. They discount boilerplate apologies. You don’t need a million ideas—you need one executed well. The stonecutter’s blows matter, not silence. Start now.
Justin Paperny
United States
