Word On The Street: Callaghan Suits Up

Brent Callaghan took time out before action resumed, ready to race up and down the stairs to move three teammates closer to the goal line.

Three ​“clients,” to be specific.

Callaghan, 33, was representing two accused intoxicated drivers and a man arrested in connection with a verbal domestic dispute. Their cases were scheduled to be heard in three separate courtrooms at some point Thursday after the morning session began at 10 a.m.

The attorney had been inside talking with prosecutors about the cases; now he was outside on a cigarette break before returning for the next quarter in front of the ref.

Back when he played tight end for Amity High School, Callaghan dreamed of playing pro football like Pittsburgh Steeler Troy Polamalu.

Life had other plans. Callaghan found his way to University of Massachusetts Law School. He graduated in 2020 with a new competitive career path.

“I like it,” he said of criminal law during a conversation on the ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s ​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program. He enjoys the ​“debate and arguing,” the cases, the people he meets, the different cities he travels to. And ​“no brain injuries.”

Traveling to compete in courtrooms from Stamford to Meriden to Waterbury to New Haven’s ​“GA” on Elm Street as a criminal defense attorney for the Shelton-based Ruane firm, Callaghan has picked up moves and strategies they don’t teach in the classroom.

“You learn all the practical stuff on the job: How to get around the courthouse. How to get into the courtroom before they open it to the general public. The side doors you use.”

He huddled with his clients Thursday before meeting with the prosecutor. It was early in all cases. ​“All I said was I need discovery on this case. They said OK. So they gave me the evidence and another date” to continue the cases.

He told his clients they could go home while he reviewed their files to spot any weaknesses in the opposing team’s evidence and strategize about whether to seek and accept a plea. He said he was skeptical any of the clients would face time behind bars.

“Don’t worry. We’ll handle this,” he reassured a man arrested one recent evening in West Haven for allegedly driving drunk. ​“Everything will be all right.”

The clock struck 10. Attorneys and arrestees and court employees filed back into the marble courthouse. Callaghan plotted his moves: One case was in Courtroom B, one in Courtroom A, both on the first floor; the other on Courtroom F, on the third. The cases get called in rapid succession during busy morning sessions.

He expected to run up the stairs between cases, he said with a smile, rather than take the elevator.

He wasn’t worried about missing his moment before each judge to obtain continuances for his clients. The prosecutors ​“will wait for you if they know you’re in multiple courtrooms. When you come back in, when they see you, they’ll call your case.”

Callaghan was asked if criminal justice is a fair contest when played out in busy courtrooms like New Haven’s. Does the system work?

“Usually,” he responded.

Then he added: ​“It really helps to have a lawyer.” Someone who knows the turf.

Click on the video to watch the conversation with Brent Callaghan on the ​“Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s ​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” program.

Meanwhile, the word on Day Street Thursday morning was: Demolition. A crew from Carabetta Companies was in the process of finally smashing the empty Antillean Manor former housing coop into rubble in advance of constructing a new apartment complex. (Read more about that here.)

Click here to subscribe to WNHH FM’s​“LoveBabz LoveTalk” and here to subscribe to other WNHH programs.

Click here and see below for previous​“Word on the Street” episodes and write-ups.

Officer McKernan Refuels For Double Duty
Word On The Street: Fred Keeps Moving
Word On The Street: Mimosa Mania
Word On The Street: Terry Hands Over The Brakes
Safety Hunter Keeps Eye On The Rising Tiers
Leather’s Grandson Returns To The Soil
Jorge Opens A Door
Word On The Street: Dad Awaits The Call
Word On The Street: Bridgette Beats The Sun
Word On The Street:​“Blessed,” & Ready For Busy Barber Season
The Word On Brownell Street: Call Luciano
Nana Readies Leaf Bag #32
Word On The Street: Groom Plans Hectic Holiday, Needs Car Back
The Word On Garden Street: Turkey Times Two
Dr. J Clears The Way
Estelita Makes The Journey Back Home
Butts, Burger King Wrappers Vanish At Wendy’s Drive-Thru
Skateboard J Does A 360
Word On The Street: The Banana Vote Emerges
Word On The Street: Sprinkler Heads
Word On Orchard Street: Cheap Gas
Word On The Street: Keep On Truckin’
Martin Readies 1 Last Bridge To Nature
Word on the Street: Call Her​“Queen”
Word on the Street: Coach Lance Called It
Word On Dixwell: Scooter Saves Gas
Budding Architect’s Word On The Street: New Haven’s More Laid Back Than Hong Kong
Word On Street:​“Smell Good In Your Hood”
Blood (Pressure) Talk Comes To Barber’s Chair
Word On Street: Rizzo Can Stand The Heat
The Tomato Plot Thickens
Without Illusions, Lamont Stewart Makes The Most Of His Morning Walk
Pro-Punk Poet Prof Starts Summer Stretch
Barista Soaks Up New Hometown Flavor
Word On The Street: Park Pre-Work Workout Sets The Tone Homeless, & Working Exit 5 
Aldo Salazar Does The Circuit
Brisa Mendoza STEMs The Graduation Tide
Timmy Turner Takes The Long View
Bike To Work Week Pulls Up To State Street Station
He’s Making Sure Soldiers Won’t Be Forgotten
Legion Ave. Rite Aid Closing; Actor Bummed
Word On Church St.: Drugs Are Everywhere
Indoor​“Sunrise” Breakfasts Resume For The Hungry & The Homeless 
​“VillaFame” Has Designs On The World
Cherry Trees & NFTs Blossom In Wooster Square
9th Square Grows On New New Havener
Warbler Watcher Waits In The Woods
Reggie Gibson Makes A Clean Sweep
Sorry, Wooster Street: This New New Havener Has His Eye On Whalley Pie
Demons Stalk Methadone Run
Surveyor Bundles Up
Grandpa Boyd’s Toes Froze
Jay Jordan Shows Up Early For First Day At Mickey D’s
Track Champ Sets Sights On Firehouse
Can Collector Seeks Redemption
Reborn Stetson Library Opens Its Doors
Mom Prays To Pause Violence
Commuter Rolls With Switch To Train
Word on the Street: Math
Word At The Barber Shop: Ukraine Needs Our Help
Word On The Street: Pain At The Pump
Hamden’s Female Leadership Team Marks International Women’s Day
Taylor Picks Up Her Step
Wednesday’s Word on Grand:​“Survival”
Turbocharged Community Soup Kitchen Plans Return To Indoor Dining
Prof On Track To Put Pain Behind Him
Word on The Street: New Beginnings
Lyric Hall Goes With The Flow
1 Valentine’s Day Later, Love Survives
Budget Airline Celebrates 100 Days At Tweed
Bobby’s Not Snitching »Grill Goes Cold After Inspector’s Visit
(Waste)Water St. Report: Omicron Still Fading
Word On The Street: Love Rides On Metro-North
Strolls Keep Soulmates On Life’s Path »Word on the Street: Where’s There’s Smoke …
Dude, Where’s His Car?
Word On The Street:​“Level Up”
Word On The Street: Paying Rent, Staying Safe
Word On The Street: Brrrr!
Word On The Street: Caffeine
Word On The Street: 10 AM Georgia Hots