In dec 2021 I was caught with marijuana(5-10lbs), I was 19, now 20. I’m in WI, with very strict laws, very conservative DA. Yesterday was read a guilty verdict(poss with intent to distribute), with Sentencing on June 1.

I grew up poor, couldn’t afford opportunity, and I made a bad decision rooted in desperation. I was offered a plea deal in pre-trial for one and a half years. I declined and took it to trial. Prosecutor is looking for max sentence because of rising drug figures in the county, presumably to make an example out of me, 5 years, with no record.

What are some talking points I can hit on, in my 5mins I get to speak directly to the judge? I don’t want an entire script, I just need to sound articulate, somewhat intelligent, and not appear to be a complete bottom feeder. My life hangs on it.

Thank you

Edit - thank you everyone for responding, from jokes to people being extremely real, I mean it from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Do you think cows are more like "aw fuck yeah gonna go eat some fuckin GRASS" or are they more like "guess I need to eat some more grass :/"

I don't believe in God, but I call myself an agnostic and not an atheist because I want to believe in God. I really, really want to.

For the record, I do believe that the universe was created rather than formed, but there lies the extent of my religious belief. There are dozens of religions out there, but if there really is a God, only one of them can be completely right.

The simple acceptance of a singular organized religion requires me to accept that humans can comprehend the wishes of an omnipotent being, which is enough of a hurdle in and of itself. The fact that there are multiple religions makes this acceptance almost impossible. Each religion proclaims they are the one true religion, and while they have certain similarities, you can't say that Presbyterianism is the same as Catholicism. Even if I accept the aspects that these religions have in common, only one of them can be correct.

Religious faiths such as Jehovah's Witness and Mormonism demonstrate that religious faiths are man-made ideologies, given that they were established recently, relative to their older counterparts. Tens of millions of people around the world subscribe to these religions. To them, they are just as valid as those that have been around for thousands of years.

Even if I discount the newer faiths, Islam and Judaism have been around for ages. Christianity has been around for a long time as well, but is a relative newcomer when compared with those two. Again, only one can be right.

I would love to believe that my life means something other than simply the short time I have to live it, and religion is the only way for that to be true. I don't have any reason to believe that any of it's true, however, and that is perhaps the scariest thing of all. Sometimes I wish I was like other people, and I could believe. Even if they're all wrong, at least I'd live my life believing that my life is more than just the time I spend on this planet. Unfortunately, my brain doesn't work that way.

[removed]

Just think about it, when do you even use cursive? Maybe knowing your initials in cursive is important for signing something, but even then most documents require you to print your name and you don’t even NEED to write your initials in cursive. And honestly, if I was a lawyer or boss or something I would rather have something written in regular writing cuz it’s easier to read. Idk what are other opinions?

Especially when, odds are, you are NOT the only one who believes/think as such. Seriously, why bother? And if it does indeed make a difference, why does it make a difference? Why would prefacing as above make some people more receptive to the question?

If smoking evidently causes harm on people and has no health benefits, is a cause for cancer and indirect cause of death, why is it not banned or illegalised?

For the past few months, I've been wondering about getting a tattoo on my forearm. kinda scared to commit to it, and I expect it to be very painful... Is it really worth it?

Devastating ones are popping up in places that rarely see tornados at all

If you’re pressing 100 lb. dumbbells and you practically throw them after each set, or drop your deadlift bar from hip height, what’s the point? Ego? Or is there a case to be made for finishing your rep/grip at full extension?

If not, then why? I tried googling it but I couldn’t find a clear answer.

Yes, there's all the popular employment apps, going in and asking, or even a quick Google search but everyone I know has a job I have never seen or heard of before that pays very well. I have never been able to find such jobs with all 3 options.

Let me clarify these are jobs that do not require degrees.