On the Line

Timothy 'Timmo' O'Connor O'Leary is a street attorney. He is a sole practitioner because straight out of law school, 40 years ago, he couldn't find anyone who wanted to practice with him. "Why?", you ask. Could it be that he is overweight? Could be. Is it because he always looks as if he owns one suit (He actually owns two.) and looks as if he'd just awakened from a deep turbulent sleep in it (He did and has for the past week. His housekeeper, Geraldine, hasn't seen him in over a week. Otherwise she would have grabbed it and had it cleaned and pressed.)? Could it be that he drinks too much? Could be. (He always has something near to "warm" him.) Could it be that he knows more about criminal law (and will tell you so) than any other attorney in town? Could be. Could it be that he knows more about our Constitution and how the protects his client? Could be. Could it be that he always seems to have but one client at a time? And that the presiding judges seem to keep him busy as court appointed attorney for the most the most needy despite Timmo's eccentricities, his habits, his weaknesses, his dependencies, his attire, his temperament, his character because no other lawyer would take the case.