Solarbird Goes to Testify, But Doesn't
Sep. 16th, 2004 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
solarbirdI got a subpoena to testify at a noise complaint hearing - which would be, as far as I know, the first residential noise complaint prosecuted in Seattle in at least a decade. It's a little late to help me, really, but I still want "yay!" and all that.
Unfortunately, you have to be there at 8:30am (big type) or 8;15 (small type) with an explanation saying you really need to get here at 8;:5 to make sure you get through security. Whose idea is this? So I get up a little after 6am, shower, eat, feed the birds, and catch the bus down on Bothell Way. As usual, Metro gets me there on time, which means a little bit early... and there are no people waiting at security and I'm sitting in the courtroom by 8:15.
It's now almost 8:45. A small assortment of people are finally getting here; when i arrived, it was only the bailiff and court clerks. My case appears to be last on the docket, but I'm not allowed to leave. They even admit in the paperwork that after you check in (8:30! Sharp! So far, no sign of the person with whom I'm supposed to check in, though) that you'll be sitting around for at least a couple of hours and that you should bring a book. So I brought a Powerbook, which is probably not what they meant, but, well, whatever. (I also bought a real book - I'm finally going to read Snow Crash.)
Oh look! She's here! 8:43am, by the computer clock; 8:46am by the courtroom clock. She just took my subpoena and walked off. I guess that means I'm checked in or something. w00.
Foo. I'm not going to get to update this the entire time. I'm going to be stuck With Out Computer as soon as the judge gets here. Sadness. It's not like it's loud. Oh well.
Someone just came in looking for the defendant in my case. I wonder if they've not shown up. That'd be ... cool? I don't know! It might just mean the case gets delayed again. I know that trials in absentia are only for extreme cases for important charges, and I've no idea whether this might be trivial enough that the court can just enter a summary judgment against the defendant. That'd be good.
Hm, someone very prosecuting-attourneyish just came in - yep, he's on the prosecution desk. That's good. Now if someone from the defense side arrives, maybe something will happen.
The person - it's 9am now, court time, btw - who asked for my case's defendant just walked back in. She's sporting a stylish 90s dyke haircut and is sitting behind the defense table, but is not actually at the desk. 9am seems to have been a magic time - several people who all went up past the gate up to the main courtroom area (the thing that separates witnesses and observers from court officials, the prosecution and defense desks, the jury, and another bunch of chairs I don't know what are for) arrived at the same time, and the talking is getting louder. (My keystrokes are n
Hee. Judge showed up. Everybody stands UP and laptops go OFF. He was not pleased with any of the lawyers involved as everyone is late and nobody has their people here. I'm here! Not that this helps anything. There's one group that is mostly ready to go, and they're first in line. They've also worked out some sort of disposition for the case I'm witnessing, so I suspect that means I won't be doing anything. But I still can't leave. (The defendant still hasn't shown up, even. Blah. He gets to get away with screwing around and fucking with other people, but I'm still stuck here. Asshole.)
A bunch of witnesses were taken out of the court in preparation for that case; I think the name was Valdes. So I guess they're going first. Gooooooooood for them. The judge also went out of the court to talk to a defense person in chambers, which is why I can type again - the court is officially in recess. A bunch of prosecution group are standing around their desk chatting a little and not doing very much at all. Mmmm, waiting.
I've been trying to figure out this three-month calendar they've got over the jury box. Only some of the days' numbers are up. I thought originally that the blank spots meant holidays, but Labour Day has an H. You can tell how bored I am when I try to puzzle out the system for that. Do they just not have enough Hs? Or do they fill in the blanks with random alphabet letters (or all Hs) after the holiday is over? Do different people own different months and use different systems? What?
I know, nobody cares. Not even me, really. I'm just bored.
(Another break)
The judge came back in at 9:24 and they went through a bunch more cases. Including mine! The defendant still hasn't shown up as of now (9:35), so at 9:30 the judge had an opportunity to issue punitive action and didn't (gir), so the prosecution asked if they could cut me loose since they were still willing to go along with the plea agreement, and both the bench and the defense were okay with that, so I'm gone. He's getting probation - two years, I think? He said "a couple of years" - and community service; if there's a subsequent violation in that time period it doesn't even go to trial; the judge sees the arrest record and it's automatic.
His name is Forrest Smith. La la la. That was already public record, so there it is again.
Anyway, I'm done much earlier than I would have been if it had gone to trial. So, um, yay? Whatever. I'm going home.
Addendum later: Eight minutes down to the bus stop, 11 minutes back up. That's carrying the laptop, a second battery, power back, a little papework, and a book.
I'm kind of annoyed about the whole plea-bargain thing. I mean sure, it was arranged out in advance, but he just didn't bother showing up. Very funny minus ten. Plus, it's that kind of crap that made us move. Fuckers.
Oh well, at least there was something, at least.
Unfortunately, you have to be there at 8:30am (big type) or 8;15 (small type) with an explanation saying you really need to get here at 8;:5 to make sure you get through security. Whose idea is this? So I get up a little after 6am, shower, eat, feed the birds, and catch the bus down on Bothell Way. As usual, Metro gets me there on time, which means a little bit early... and there are no people waiting at security and I'm sitting in the courtroom by 8:15.
It's now almost 8:45. A small assortment of people are finally getting here; when i arrived, it was only the bailiff and court clerks. My case appears to be last on the docket, but I'm not allowed to leave. They even admit in the paperwork that after you check in (8:30! Sharp! So far, no sign of the person with whom I'm supposed to check in, though) that you'll be sitting around for at least a couple of hours and that you should bring a book. So I brought a Powerbook, which is probably not what they meant, but, well, whatever. (I also bought a real book - I'm finally going to read Snow Crash.)
Oh look! She's here! 8:43am, by the computer clock; 8:46am by the courtroom clock. She just took my subpoena and walked off. I guess that means I'm checked in or something. w00.
Foo. I'm not going to get to update this the entire time. I'm going to be stuck With Out Computer as soon as the judge gets here. Sadness. It's not like it's loud. Oh well.
Someone just came in looking for the defendant in my case. I wonder if they've not shown up. That'd be ... cool? I don't know! It might just mean the case gets delayed again. I know that trials in absentia are only for extreme cases for important charges, and I've no idea whether this might be trivial enough that the court can just enter a summary judgment against the defendant. That'd be good.
Hm, someone very prosecuting-attourneyish just came in - yep, he's on the prosecution desk. That's good. Now if someone from the defense side arrives, maybe something will happen.
The person - it's 9am now, court time, btw - who asked for my case's defendant just walked back in. She's sporting a stylish 90s dyke haircut and is sitting behind the defense table, but is not actually at the desk. 9am seems to have been a magic time - several people who all went up past the gate up to the main courtroom area (the thing that separates witnesses and observers from court officials, the prosecution and defense desks, the jury, and another bunch of chairs I don't know what are for) arrived at the same time, and the talking is getting louder. (My keystrokes are n
Hee. Judge showed up. Everybody stands UP and laptops go OFF. He was not pleased with any of the lawyers involved as everyone is late and nobody has their people here. I'm here! Not that this helps anything. There's one group that is mostly ready to go, and they're first in line. They've also worked out some sort of disposition for the case I'm witnessing, so I suspect that means I won't be doing anything. But I still can't leave. (The defendant still hasn't shown up, even. Blah. He gets to get away with screwing around and fucking with other people, but I'm still stuck here. Asshole.)
A bunch of witnesses were taken out of the court in preparation for that case; I think the name was Valdes. So I guess they're going first. Gooooooooood for them. The judge also went out of the court to talk to a defense person in chambers, which is why I can type again - the court is officially in recess. A bunch of prosecution group are standing around their desk chatting a little and not doing very much at all. Mmmm, waiting.
I've been trying to figure out this three-month calendar they've got over the jury box. Only some of the days' numbers are up. I thought originally that the blank spots meant holidays, but Labour Day has an H. You can tell how bored I am when I try to puzzle out the system for that. Do they just not have enough Hs? Or do they fill in the blanks with random alphabet letters (or all Hs) after the holiday is over? Do different people own different months and use different systems? What?
I know, nobody cares. Not even me, really. I'm just bored.
(Another break)
The judge came back in at 9:24 and they went through a bunch more cases. Including mine! The defendant still hasn't shown up as of now (9:35), so at 9:30 the judge had an opportunity to issue punitive action and didn't (gir), so the prosecution asked if they could cut me loose since they were still willing to go along with the plea agreement, and both the bench and the defense were okay with that, so I'm gone. He's getting probation - two years, I think? He said "a couple of years" - and community service; if there's a subsequent violation in that time period it doesn't even go to trial; the judge sees the arrest record and it's automatic.
His name is Forrest Smith. La la la. That was already public record, so there it is again.
Anyway, I'm done much earlier than I would have been if it had gone to trial. So, um, yay? Whatever. I'm going home.
Addendum later: Eight minutes down to the bus stop, 11 minutes back up. That's carrying the laptop, a second battery, power back, a little papework, and a book.
I'm kind of annoyed about the whole plea-bargain thing. I mean sure, it was arranged out in advance, but he just didn't bother showing up. Very funny minus ten. Plus, it's that kind of crap that made us move. Fuckers.
Oh well, at least there was something, at least.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:01 am (UTC)As for the defendent, if he's not there, (unless he has a damn good excuse, like he got hit by a bus) he should be found GUILTY and given the MAXIMUM sentence allowable. Plus he has to clean your trashcans for a month, with a tooth brush.
That's the big problem with a lot of the legal system, the Judges and the Lawyers are all elitists. They don't live with us, they don't work like us, and they don't care about us. Even worse Judges are a law to themselves, and there is no real oversite of Judges or even lawyers in this country.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:15 am (UTC)I'm not fond of the plea bargain, but with both sides being for it, it's kind of hard to say no. :-p At least they got something on his record.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 11:53 am (UTC)My experience with Judges (Maybe because this was in Oregon) was that they really weren't very nice.
no subject
Date: 2004-09-16 12:06 pm (UTC)don't you just hate...
Date: 2004-09-16 01:40 pm (UTC)