The Judge Suddenly Stood Up and Left the Bench… What Happened Next Left the Courtroom Staring!
The courtroom was calm before the hearing officially started but the look on the eyes of the defendant standing before the judge spoke volumes.
Dressed in a bright orange outfit, the young man kept shifting his weight side to side while keeping his hands clasped together in front of him. Across the room
his attorney sat behind the defense table watching every move. Behind the elevated bench was the judge reading over the details of the case. The American
flag hung next to him with a court officer watching from the side. Nobody could have expected this hearing to be a big deal or even a heart-wrenching moment
in the history of the courts. In this fictionalized account based upon the video footage, one young man’s life goes from one second to the next based on his decision and the patience of the people around him.
Darius Coleman, a 27-year-old defendant, struggled to calm his nerves as he looked to his attorney, Michael Hayes, for reassurance. “Listen to everything the judge
has to say. Save your questions for when you have the chance,” Michael whispered as he leaned toward Darius. “Okay,” he responded, fixing his gaze on the judge,
having already heard what he needed to from his attorney. The last thing on Darius’s mind was the hearing. Judge Thomas Bennett looked down at his papers, flipped a
few pages, and read out what the court needed to set the hearing in order.
“Mr. Coleman, pay attention,” The Judge stated in a calm but firm voice as he placed his papers down and stood.
“Yes, Your Honor,” Darius replied as he stood attention in front of the bench. The Judge picked up his papers and read over what the court needed to do before hearing Darius’s case.
He reminded Darius of what he had told him and what he should do while there. For the most part, Darius seemed to hear what the judge said but had to be nudged by his attorney
to listen carefully. The room was tense, and everyone was aware of the importance of the hearing, as much as much as it could have been an uncomfortable situation for the defendant.
“Mr. Coleman, do you understand what I have asked you?” Judge Bennett asked him. “I think so, your Honor.” The judge asked him to go over what he understood, but Darius could not seem
to put it all together. He turned to his attorney and waited for his help. “Take it slow and just answer one question at a time,” Michael encouraged as he stood beside his client.
Darius exhaled a deep breath, and he seemed to relax for a second as he prepared his response. The Judge stopped him and told him that the court needed answers and not his opinions.
“If I am misunderstanding something, just say so. It is no shame to the contrary,” The Judge reminded him.
Darius nodded, and for once, he seemed happy to be able to admit that he did not understand. Michael leaned closer to his client. “All you can do for now is be honest.
“I’m trying,” Darius muttered as he gave his attorney a thumbs up sign. As his attorney gave him a thumbs up sign, Judge Bennett turned his attention to his papers and reviewed
the details of the case. The courtroom fell silent apart from the occasional shifting of those present.
The judge did something that caught the attention of everyone in the room. He put his papers down on the bench and slowly stood. Darius turned to watch him as Michael did the same.
An eerie silence filled the room as the bench stood empty for a second or two. The defendant stood still in front of the judge, and the court officer continued to watch from the side.
Michael waited for further instructions while watching his client.
The judge stepped away from the bench, and Darius looked up. He seemed confused as to what was happening next. Nobody knew what had prompted the judge to leave the bench,
but it was enough for Darius to be extra tense and nervous. He looked toward his attorney and silently asked him not to leave him hanging. “Don’t expect anything else,”
Michael whispered as he looked at his client. “Just stay right here and I will let you know when to move,”
Darius took a deep breath and followed his attorney’s orders. He was tired of thinking of the worst that could happen before he had any control over it. He stood and listened
to every word and allowed things to settle in before responding or getting too worked up. He was calmer, and for the most part, he stood at the defense table with his attorney.
There was no magic bullet for his hearing, but he had the time and space he needed to listen and prepare his questions before giving his answers.
As the hearing continued, Darius once again looked to his attorney. Michael gave him a thumbs up sign telling him that he was doing a good job. Once again, Darius turned his attention to the judge,
who was still handling the necessary court business. Whatever was to come, the final decision on Darius’s fate would be made by the man in the center of it all. It was hard to believe that any
hearing could be so intimidating, but Darius’s life just kept going as if nothing had happened.
The judge handled the hearing and gave the necessary instructions to Darius. There was no moment of destiny or an epiphany that set things right in this courtroom. All that mattered was
that the defendant did what he needed to do to get through it all. Darius kept looking to his attorney and then to the judge as if he was waiting for something to change.
The truth was, he did not have any control over what happened next, and he was just waiting to find out what it would be.
There are many things to consider when it comes to a criminal hearing. The video footage shows only a fraction of what goes into such a proceeding. The thoughts of the defendant,
the reason for the judge’s reaction, and the hearing outcome are not for us to decide. However, there is value in seeing the life lessons that such experiences can teach us.
The Lesson
When we feel nervous, our minds start racing with what could happen if we are not careful enough with the details of the situation.
Patience will help us to understand what is happening and the words we need to say to get what we need without risking our dignity.
Nobody can guarantee us the outcome we desire, but listening and questioning will allow us to have control over our circumstances.
Editorial Note: Darius Coleman, Michael Hayes, Judge Thomas Bennett, and all dialogue are fictional and are used for illustrative purposes only and do not represent real people or events.