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Natalie visited courtrooms in two counties, practicing how to address witnesses and learning the layout of each courtroom.

Ruschell was ecstatic when the artificial eye was inserted. She would now be able to look a jury in the eye to build rapport, even though she wouldn't be able to see them.

Ruschell, a diabetic had no hope of regaining eyesight but wanted an artificial eye so jurors wouldn't be shocked by her disfigured left eye.

Natalie attatched symbols of the legal profession to the top of her cane as a reminder to accomplish her goal.

Despite becoming blind during her last year of law school, Natalie Ruschell was determined to become the state's first blind female attorney. She passed the bar and began to work toward her goal.

After his conviction, state law dictated that Woodson would serve a minimum of five years.

I couldn't bear to watch them take my baby away, said mother Cassandra as she wept in a dingy basement stairwell of the courthouse. She had run away and was found there an hour after jurors convicted her son of voluntary manslaughter.

Moments before the jury returned its verdict, Woodson's mother reminded him to be strong.

On the stand, Woodson demonstrated how the victim John Bolden allegedly choked and beat him. He said he fired in self defense.

The dazed suspect didn't realize that his attorney was greeting him during the four day homicide trial. Woodson claimed self defense, the district attorney asked for murder one.