By Judge Steve Walker
Last
week “Ask the Judge” informed you about little “Jayzee” the five year old Pre-K
student who stood in front of the bench crossing her arms and blurting out, “I
graduated from Pre-K yesterday and I have a diploma, and I can prove it!”
Indeed an inspiring success story to say the least. A day I won’t forget.
Some
time back I related the story about the woman who received a traffic ticket and
asked that it be dismissed on a medical excuse. (Which we can do if legitimate)
Her excuse was she was driving while dizzy! Needless to say she did not get her
ticket dismissed on those grounds after she admitted speeding five miles over
the speed limit. Careful what you admit to when you are in a courtroom setting.
In
Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Court we have many scenarios over time that occur
in the court that either makes you say, “huh?” or “what the?”
With
that in mind, “Ask the Judge” has another interesting story to relate that
occurred in Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace Court last year.
Two
attorneys come into court and immediately engage in a heated discussion over
some information that was to be presented to the court by one of the lawyers. In
an excited moment the opposing lawyer grabbed the other attorney’s file that
was lying on the bench.
He
began waving the file in front of the other attorney’s face. Not a good thing
to do. Protocol prohibits the opposing attorney from handling the other
attorney’s file unless the first attorney hands it to him or her. Before we
knew it, the offended attorney made a fist and drew back and threatened to
strike the other attorney.
Without
thinking and reverting to my classroom days as an elementary teacher, I
responded, “Time Out, you guys are not 3rd graders, but officers of
the law, and you (pointing to the one who grabbed the file) give him his file
back and you (the aggressive attorney) don’t hit him!!” Sound like an
elementary squabble?
I
have always maintained since I became a Judge that the only difference between
third graders and my Judge Judy Court (Small Claims) is that I am able to have
adult conversations with third graders!
It
is never dull in my Small Claims Court. As an aside, the two attorneys’ did
apologize and shake hands before leaving the court, before I cited them for
contempt for behaving unprofessionally.
Lastly
as always, if you are due in court, be sure to show up to court on time. It is
in everyone’s best interest.
Justice of the Peace, Pct. 2 Steve Walker is a Vietnam
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