Ep 156: Trial By Media: King Richard with Donald V. Watkins (Part 2)
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Ep 156: Trial By Media: King Richard with Donald V. Watkins (Part 2)
Episode 156: Show Notes
Welcome back to the Light Watkins Show as we bring you the second half of Light’s chat with his father, attorney Donald V. Watkins. The conversation resumes with Donald explaining how going to prison as a Black man in the 1960s was as good as attaining a Ph.D.
While in prison, Donald found himself rubbing shoulders with many innocent men who were mostly there as a result of poor legal representation. He took it upon himself to be their voice in the darkness and he describes the tactics that he used to free 47 of his fellow inmates, as well as the intricacies of why the criminal justice system in America is failing.
We learn how the prison staff received Donald’s charity toward the other inmates, why he never stopped writing and publishing articles, how his legal acumen saved his life, and the best and worst moments of his time in incarceration.
Our guest then shares some very useful tips for how to find and properly vet a lawyer that you want to work with, before detailing how he would change the criminal justice system and why his plan to own an NFL team is not as audacious as it seems when you consider his tenacity for working hard to get what he wants!
Finally, after two remarkable, informative, and emotional podcast episodes, the sensational Donald V. Watkins offers some important advice for green-eared lawyers who are looking to make their mark on the world. Tune in for all this and more!
Key Points From This Episode:
Recapping part one of our conversation with Attorney Donald V. Watkins.
Why going to prison as a Black man in the 60s was akin to attaining a credential.
How Donald ended up helping his fellow inmates with their cases (and the tactics he used).
Insight into the incompetence of court-appointed lawyers and a failing legal system.
The criteria Donald assesses before taking a case.
His experience of the time he spent in “the hole.”
How his work with inmates was received by prison staff and the articles he wrote from inside.
The way his legal skill got him out of being killed by two gang members in a prison in Atlanta.
Donald recounts the best and worst moments from his time in prison.
What he learned about himself as a person after being incarcerated.
How to find and properly vet your own lawyer when embarking on a legal case.
Changes Donald would make if he could wave a magic wand at the criminal justice system.
Donald’s advice to new, fresh-from-law school attorneys, and his plans to own an NFL team.
Tweetables:
“In the cell, when everybody left, I said a prayer. I said, ‘God, if I'm ever in this situation, please give me the strength that you gave [Mandela]. That's all I ask you for. I'm not asking you to free me or nothing. Just give me the strength that you gave him.’” — @donaldvwatkins [0:06:29]
“Over the course of the three years, I was able to get 47 of [my fellow inmates] out [of prison].” — @donaldvwatkins [0:11:16]
“You believe in yourself, you believe in your innocence, you be your lawyer. I’ll teach you what you need. You only need to be a lawyer for a moment in time. Just one moment in time, and you'd be unrelenting because your freedom is at stake.” — @donaldvwatkins [0:18:26]
“The prison system has tried to shut me down several times and they couldn't figure out how I was still getting my stuff done.” — @donaldvwatkins [0:24:22]
“Two [gang members] were supposed to kill me. They told me that. They knew who I was when I got there. So, I had to talk to them there to help them with their cases. They went from potential assassins to staunch allies because of my legal skill.” — @donaldvwatkins [0:26:19]
“‘Did you walk out the gladiator pit with the other guy on the ground and you went on about your business until the next fight?’ If a lawyer cannot answer that question, get up and walk out. You’re with the wrong guy.” — @donaldvwatkins [0:35:29]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Donald V. Watkins on Instagram
‘Ep 156: Trial By Media: King Richard with Donald V. Watkins’