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“Now, for the last time, sit your ass down,” Prentice says.
Whoa.
Jacobson does. I ask the judge if I can have a brief word with my client.
“I encourage it.”
So I walk over to Rob Jacobson, smiling at him as if what has just happened in court happens all the time. I lean down then and cup my hand around my mouth and quietly say, “If you open your mouth again while I am questioning this witness I will stick your elbow in it. Now nod if you understandthat.”
And he does.
Prentice says, “Ms. Smith, do you need more time?”
“How about a month?”
It actually gets a smile out of Judge Jackson Prentice. I even hear some muffled laughter from the jury, muffled because they don’t want Prentice turning on them, too.
“Seriously, Your Honor, my client understands the possible consequences of another outburst, and I know he’s sorry for this one.”
“Then if it’s just the same with him, because we certainly wouldn’t want to upset him, would it be all right if we proceed?” Prentice says.
“Yes, Your Honor.”
I walk back toward Brigid.
“As I was saying.”
Now she smiles.
“Brigid, was my client aware you would be testifying here today?”
“Yes.”
“Did you tell him any of the specifics of the testimony you are prepared to give?”
“In general terms, yes.”
“And what was his reaction to it?”
“He told me that I didn’t need to lie for him, because the truth is that he’s innocent,” Brigid says.
“So you must have been as surprised at his outburst as the rest of us.”
“Yes,” she says. “I can’t imagine the stress he’s under.”
She offers a weak smile. Clears her throat. I start to ask another question, but she holds up a hand to stop me.
“By the way, I told him that at least we were in agreement about that. Not the lying part. That he’s innocent.”
“Objection!” Kevin Ahearn says. “Your Honor, this witness has made it abundantly clear that she is a longtime friend of the defendant. In addition, she is the sister of defense counsel. Is she now auditioning to be judge, too? Or should I say jury?”
“Sustained,” the real judge says.
“Sorry,” Brigid says to him.
Still the nice one.
“No need to apologize to the court.”
