Four Hours of Court I'll Never Get Back

So after a week or so waiting to see my Thousand Dollar Thief again, it was time to face him in court. I arrived at the court on tim,e and slid right through the bad guy riddled waiting room, and walked right through the door labelled "Authorized Personell Only." After frequenting this courtroom so many times in the past twelve months, I have decided, I am authorized. Nine times out of ten, on the other side of the door are police officers and/or constables I know.

I made my way through the hall, past the offices and into the courtoom through the back door. I took my seat on the side of the room quietly awaiting for my turn to have my name mispronounced across the room, so I can testify. In my hand was the folder for this incident. I reviewed the report so the facts were fresh in my mind.

Eventually, the Judge took his seat, the Assistant District Attorney's took their seats and one or two Public Defenders floated in and out of the room, each preparing a defense for the Crime of The Century, they were assigned.

A few DUI hearing waivers lead off the morning. The offenders would walk in dressed to the Nines...as I am sure they were when they were stopped for Drinking and Driving, and read the riot act by the Judge. After that, they are asked to sign an agreement that they will behave themselves and attend a class on not drinking and driving. In a few minutes, their day in court is finished. They then return to their cars...

Finally the criminal cases can begin. First, the continuances are continued, then the waivers are waived. Hearings are next. But as luck would have it, I am not the only Retail Theft hearing waiting. Mine is no doubt the highest dollar theft, but apparently that doesn't count. I have to sit through a few retail Theft hearings at stores near mine. First an LP from a local "Food Store" testified. Apparently...or allegedly, a guy and a gal entered his store and teamed up to take some Prilosec, Whitening Strips and Razors. A third person was waiting in the SUV in the Fire Lane. However, in this hearing, they were only pressing charges on one guy, who according to testimony I heard, didn't do anything illegal. I felt bad for the LP testifying as the Public Defender tore him a new one. Did you see my client take anything from your store? Did you see my client help anyone else take anything from your store? Did you see what he did with the merchandise he selected from the shelf? Unfortunately, all of the above answers were the same...NO.

If in preparation for any of my cases I found that my respsonses were no to any or all of those questions, I wouldn't be sitting on the witness stand. Somehow, after all of the testimony, cross examination and rebuttal, the Judge held the guy for trial. What case he was listening to, I am not sure, but if nothing else, it looked good for me and my case. I could tell it was going to be a good day for the prosecution.

Next, th DA's and the PD's left the room for a brief conference and it was decided the next client was pleading guilty, and waiving a hearing. Great! I thought. I may be moved up on the schedule. It was already an hour after past the hearing time, but I don't mind listening in on other hearings. I am on the clock, and after all, I watch Law and Order for a reason.

A long pause in the action takes place as the Public Defender consults with defendants, families, counselors, cell phones and Blackberry. The pause was long enough that the Judge himself excused himself and asked someone to call him when they were ready to proceed with something.

After another hour, a stenographer pushes through the door carrying his equipment. He began setting up at the front of the courtroom, within reach of the witness stand. This was a sign that whatever was about to happen, was the real deal. Until now, it was all preliminary hearing stuff. It soon became apparent that I was being pushed back on the agenda instead of up. This case that just came bustling through the door, was going before mine.

Turns out, all of the wandering around by the Public Defender, caused a huge backlog in the hearing schedule. As a result, my thief hadn't even been spoken to by the PD. Nothing can be done until that occurs. And now in the courtroom, was a real District Attorney, and a real Defense Attorney.

"Sorry about this.." the Asst. District Attorney said to me with a shrug of his shoulders. Seems they had to step aside while this real hearing was given the green light. Defendants, two of them, for this case were brought into the room cuffed and shackled. Witnesses were sequestered in rooms on the other side of the building. Me, I sat up straight and acted like I belonged there!

Turned out to be a hearing for two guys being charged with making a Meth Lab in their house. And in the small world category, these two defendants were the same two guys who visited my store in August to buy the ingredients for their Meth Lab. Detectives were called to the stand, Police Sergeants were called to the stand, then I was called out of the room.

The Asst. District Attorney had decided he wasnt staying. He had places to be, and that our hearing would either be continued to another date, or waived, and the guy would be held for trial. This, four hours after the scheduled hearing time.

I was about to ask if I could just go back in and observe the Meth Lab hearing, but then he mentioned he would just tell the Judge I had to be somewhere, and I already waitied four hours. This was his attempt to stay off the bad side of the court. Since he was still an intern, I didn't blame him, and gave him prermission to say I had to leave. Truth was, I had a "mandatory" LP meeting starting at 9am, and expected to last several hours. Now that it was 2pm, and I still hadn't even testified...I didn't really want to face the District Manager with that bit of news either.

We both exited the courtroom with a feeling of frustration. My frustration was slightly relieved when he made sure I knew my Thousand Dollar Thief would still be residing in the County Prison until we decided what to do about the hearing.

I then decided, we could put it off for a while, that was perfectly fine with me.