He sure does...I struggle mightily. My excuse is having a 40+ year career as a court stenographer; stenotyping other peoples' words, I had no time to develop my own. But I can spell like the dickens!
He sure does...I struggle mightily. My excuse is having a 40+ year career as a court stenographer; stenotyping other peoples' words, I had no time to develop my own. But I can spell like the dickens!
Oh, please, you must! One instance (among many) that comes to mind for me is after the witness said, "I do," to my "Do you swear or affirm..." oath, everyone sort of kept looking at me as if I was going to say something else. To break the silence, I just said that that was the only speaking part I had and they were free to commence the deposition!
Mine is during a trial, the defendant was in custody, ergo, I was there as well (past the bar, just behind the defense table). The defendant had chosen to go to trial over a Sodomy II case (abused his 13 year old step-son) and declined a plea to Sexual Abuse (a lesser charge). Everyone in the defendant's purview were Jehovah's Witnesses; himself, his wife, his paramour, and his step-son/victim. Present to "witness" the trial were 5 elders in the JW church. The jury had 7 people of "strong faith" on it, including the man who ended up being jury foreman who was also a Methodist minister.
Defendant is on the stand, testifying during the DA's cross examination. It is shortly after lunch. The fire alarm rings out. (Sidebar: my chief goal beyond preventing the escape of the accused is for the jury NEVER to see him in custody in any way, shape, or form). The Judge is on the bench, chin resting on his chin, eyes closed. The Judicial Assistant is at his desk, to the judge's right, head back and eyes closed. Neither of them hear the fire alarm (which is not super loud, but plainly audible.) 10 seconds in, the court reporter starts with a tense whisper "Glenn. Glenn." The JA does not move. She looks up at the bench, sees the judge in his position of repose. Pauses. Looks at the JA and says "Glenn" in a more forceful manner.
This causes the DA to chuckle in the middle of a response by the defendant, who says "Mr. Smith, this is a serious case and is not funny!" DA replies "Sir, you are absolutely correct. What I am laughing at is the court reporter, attempting to notify the JA that the fire alarm is sounding, and we should perhaps take a quick adjournment."
Glenn wakes up, goes in the hallway to listen, returns and says "Yes, there is a fire alarm." Judge says "jury, go with the bailiff; we are in recess" and leaves the bench. The jury gets up to leave. When the jury leaves, I get the defendant, handcuff him, and we have a very brief and meaningful conversation. By the time I get him in handcuffs and the jury has cleared the back hallway, the "all clear" sounds.
I had been in Court Transport about 3 weeks at this point, and I was pretty excited by the whole thing.
Too funny, Ally, and absolutely believable! Great "minds" seem to miss the obvious perils around them. One day I watched as two coffee pots that ran out of coffee were melting the base of the coffee maker. It was the smell of the burning plastic that first got my attention. A room full of brainiac lawyers never noticed a thing. Fortunately, I was forgiven for sounding the alarm during the proceedings so somebody could remove the pots from the offending plastic!
Then there was the case of a building we were in that was on fire, but because the fire was on the 7th floor and we were on the 2nd, the lawyers decided it was okay not to evacuate because they figured the fire would be contained shortly. Being tethered to brainiacs can be hazardous to your health!
He sure does...I struggle mightily. My excuse is having a 40+ year career as a court stenographer; stenotyping other peoples' words, I had no time to develop my own. But I can spell like the dickens!
Someday I must tell you of the time the court reporter saved the day...
Oh, please, you must! One instance (among many) that comes to mind for me is after the witness said, "I do," to my "Do you swear or affirm..." oath, everyone sort of kept looking at me as if I was going to say something else. To break the silence, I just said that that was the only speaking part I had and they were free to commence the deposition!
Mine is during a trial, the defendant was in custody, ergo, I was there as well (past the bar, just behind the defense table). The defendant had chosen to go to trial over a Sodomy II case (abused his 13 year old step-son) and declined a plea to Sexual Abuse (a lesser charge). Everyone in the defendant's purview were Jehovah's Witnesses; himself, his wife, his paramour, and his step-son/victim. Present to "witness" the trial were 5 elders in the JW church. The jury had 7 people of "strong faith" on it, including the man who ended up being jury foreman who was also a Methodist minister.
Defendant is on the stand, testifying during the DA's cross examination. It is shortly after lunch. The fire alarm rings out. (Sidebar: my chief goal beyond preventing the escape of the accused is for the jury NEVER to see him in custody in any way, shape, or form). The Judge is on the bench, chin resting on his chin, eyes closed. The Judicial Assistant is at his desk, to the judge's right, head back and eyes closed. Neither of them hear the fire alarm (which is not super loud, but plainly audible.) 10 seconds in, the court reporter starts with a tense whisper "Glenn. Glenn." The JA does not move. She looks up at the bench, sees the judge in his position of repose. Pauses. Looks at the JA and says "Glenn" in a more forceful manner.
This causes the DA to chuckle in the middle of a response by the defendant, who says "Mr. Smith, this is a serious case and is not funny!" DA replies "Sir, you are absolutely correct. What I am laughing at is the court reporter, attempting to notify the JA that the fire alarm is sounding, and we should perhaps take a quick adjournment."
Glenn wakes up, goes in the hallway to listen, returns and says "Yes, there is a fire alarm." Judge says "jury, go with the bailiff; we are in recess" and leaves the bench. The jury gets up to leave. When the jury leaves, I get the defendant, handcuff him, and we have a very brief and meaningful conversation. By the time I get him in handcuffs and the jury has cleared the back hallway, the "all clear" sounds.
I had been in Court Transport about 3 weeks at this point, and I was pretty excited by the whole thing.
Too funny, Ally, and absolutely believable! Great "minds" seem to miss the obvious perils around them. One day I watched as two coffee pots that ran out of coffee were melting the base of the coffee maker. It was the smell of the burning plastic that first got my attention. A room full of brainiac lawyers never noticed a thing. Fortunately, I was forgiven for sounding the alarm during the proceedings so somebody could remove the pots from the offending plastic!
Then there was the case of a building we were in that was on fire, but because the fire was on the 7th floor and we were on the 2nd, the lawyers decided it was okay not to evacuate because they figured the fire would be contained shortly. Being tethered to brainiacs can be hazardous to your health!
Oh, I want to hear this story, too, Ally!!
Hope we get to hear from her soon, MaryPat!
Tell it, Ally!
yes, the heart is fickle here today!
Morning, Liz!