So my wife got a speeding ticket a few weeks ago, and decided to fight it.
(got the charge reduced so no insurance surcharges, whew!)  We go to court
today and we are like the only TRAFFIC charge there.  This was pre-trial
hearings.  Most of the other cases there, the defendants were prisoners in
prisoner uniforms, or they required the service of a "public defender" or
both.  The ADA starts with the prisoners first, so the sheriffs can get back
to the donut shop sooner.  (!)  Then there were a few soldiers in uniform.
One of them had his case called before us.  No privacy, the DA was
discussing the case in open court, so everybody heard.  Charge was felony
burglary, DA was seeking one year prison sentence.  Soldier tells DA that
he's deploying to Iraq in a month.  DA reduces charge to something-or-other
and asks for a $400 fine.  Plea agreement is made, soldier pays $400 and
walks.

Avoid jail, go to Iraq.  -Dave