The Injustice of Justice
Documenting Truth.
Demanding Accountability.
“Whether or not I agree with everything about how Justice is applied, the legal system must serve everyone equally, not just those with attorneys or resources. The 14th Amendment of The United States Constitution: ensures due process, which includes access to a fair hearing, whether represented or not.
It’s important to understand that under the law, having counsel is not a requirement; it’s a choice, and that choice deserves the same respect as any right protected by law.
Our constitutional rights guarantee due process and equal protection, whether or not we have an attorney, yet, in practice, those rights often disappear the moment an ordinary citizen tries to seek justice alone. The facts get buried, and due process gets lost in conversations about the intricacies of the law.
In my experience, I was repeatedly told that I would be “held to the intricacies of the law,” and I took that to heart. I studied, learned, and devoted significant time to understanding and respecting those principles. Every effort I took was out of respect, for the court, for the process, and for the truth. And I expected that same respect in return from the judges who sit in that position of trust, not eye rolling and ridicule for trying to meet the very standard they demanded.
Even when the evidence clearly shows that the intent was to harm, lawyers often brush it under the rug, twisting the narrative and burying the truth beneath layers of confusion. They protect one another, hide the damage done by their clients, and weaponize procedure to silence the very people the law was meant to protect.
What I’ve learned through this journey is that knowledge of the law isn’t the problem, it’s that the system was never designed for everyday citizens to use it without protection from those who manipulate it.
In criminal cases, defendants have the right to an attorney even if they cannot afford one, because liberty is at stake. In civil cases, however, there is no such guarantee, yet the consequences in civil court can still be devastating. Even a dispute over $10,000, just above the threshold for small claims, can be life-changing for the average person. That amount might represent months of rent, a car, or basic savings. But when you ask a lawyer about taking such a case, you’re often told outright that it isn’t worth it, because their fees will exceed what you’re fighting for.
That leaves people trapped. You can’t afford an attorney, but you can’t realistically succeed on your own either. How could a system like that not be weaponized? People learn to exploit it, knowing the cost of defense will push others to surrender. And if you do try to stand up for yourself, you may find the court finds your fight trivial or a nuisance, yet for the person living it, it is anything but. In fact, being forced to unjustly forfeit any amount of money or property is not just a loss; it’s an injury that ripples through every part of your life.
When you step back and compare the actual laws and rules to the facts and documented experiences in these cases, the picture becomes even clearer: you’re not really paying for justice, you’re paying for the camaraderie and relationships behind the scenes. That reality erodes public trust, because rights on paper mean little if they aren’t applied consistently in practice.
Worse still, the more you speak up, the harder the pushback becomes. Every attempt to assert your rights can feel like moving a pawn in someone else’s game, met not with fairness, but with resistance. Over time, it begins to seem as though standing up for yourself is not only futile but an added injury, draining your time, your resources, and your spirit. That cycle of punishment for persistence silences people and compounds the very harm the system should prevent.
Justice must be applied with even greater care in civil courts. When professionals, especially those who have sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, use their knowledge to manipulate or disadvantage an unrepresented person, it is not only unethical, it’s dangerous to the integrity of the entire system.”
-Charlene Pateman
About the Curator
Charlene Pateman is the organizer behind this project, created to share a transparent record of her personal experience navigating the legal system without an attorney, referred to as pro se, something every person has the right to do, yet few are prepared for. This archive aims to illuminate how overwhelming, costly, and emotionally draining that journey can become for everyday people simply seeking fairness, truth, and accountability. See Disclaimer
About the Case Library
This library exists so the truth can live somewhere outside the courtroom.
What began as my effort to organize the overwhelming paperwork of my own cases has become a tool for learning, a place where others can see how easily the legal process can be twisted by complexity, silence, and confusion.
Every document shared here is real. Every note and explanation is written to make sense of what most people are never told.
I built this library so no one else has to feel lost, outmatched, or dismissed simply for not speaking the language of the law. See Disclaimer
Charlene lives and works in Putnam County, New York, where she runs Cait Christopher’s Salon & Day Spa, a salon, boutique, and wellness space focused on self-care, connection, and empowerment.
She is available for interviews, podcast conversations, and speaking opportunities focused on legal self-advocacy, navigating the system without legal training, and the emotional toll of injustice.
She also shares her experience as a salon founder and small business owner, navigating hardship with strength and heart.