From Law & Order to Suits and Better Call Saul, we get plenty of legal drama on TV. But when the fate of government agencies, businesses, and, of course, people is on the line, real-life courtrooms can be just as dramatic and unpredictable.
So, to give you an idea of what really happens once everyone is sworn in, we went through every corner of the internet and compiled a list of the wildest courtroom stories shared by lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals who have truly seen it all.
#1
I read this comment a few weeks ago, where someone was robbed by two guys. The judge asks the victim if those two guys are in the courtroom. Before he could answer, those morons lifted their hands, as in "Here we are.".
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47points
#2
During my court reporting internship I met a really nice bailiff. Sometimes attorneys have to approach the judge for a side-bar conversation that’s supposed to be unheard by the jury. But because court is boring, attorneys having secret whisper arguments with a judge seems fascinating to a jury. This bailiff would distract them by playing Marvin Gaye on his phone and dancing around like a Motown backup singer. Dude loved his job and went above and beyond his duties.
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45points
Regardless of what you think about these stories, real-world courtrooms are facing a massive reality check. In October, the World Justice Project (WJP) released its 2025 Rule of Law Index, the latest in its annual series of reports measuring people's perceptions and experiences of the rule of law worldwide.
The publication is a valuable resource for understanding the status and long-term trends of the rule of law, presenting detailed data on 44 variables for 143 countries.
The 2025 WJP report shows that in the last year, the rule of law declined in 68% of the countries surveyed, compared with 57% in the prior year. This, unfortunately, accelerates a steady decline in the rule of law over the past eight years.
#3
Well, I second-chaired for a client during a jury trial who really, really needed to go to the bathroom, and the judge said no. Pissed his pants during voir dire.
Court officers had to replace the chair, and likely had to clean it, too. And of course everyone in the system automatically blamed the defendant.
It's "funny" how little it takes for a so-called civilized legal system to stop treating people like human beings. Wanting to rush through an already-rushed process, for example. Or having a person be "presumed innocent" which clearly means they're a horrible lying sociopath that's faking having to pee just to be a petty piece of s**t.
In a better legal system, that f*****g *judge* would've had to have cleaned that chair.
Court officers had to replace the chair, and likely had to clean it, too. And of course everyone in the system automatically blamed the defendant.
It's "funny" how little it takes for a so-called civilized legal system to stop treating people like human beings. Wanting to rush through an already-rushed process, for example. Or having a person be "presumed innocent" which clearly means they're a horrible lying sociopath that's faking having to pee just to be a petty piece of s**t.
In a better legal system, that f*****g *judge* would've had to have cleaned that chair.
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44points
#4
"He's been cheating on me! I found underwear that wasn't mine in his car."
"Hold on! There was no underwear!"
"Yes, there was! And it was plus sized. As you can see, I'm not a plus sized lady."
"First of all, they weren't plus sized and second-"
Judge "Wait. I thought you said there was no underwear"
"oh......umm.... It flew in from the window?"
Divorce court is hilarious.
"Hold on! There was no underwear!"
"Yes, there was! And it was plus sized. As you can see, I'm not a plus sized lady."
"First of all, they weren't plus sized and second-"
Judge "Wait. I thought you said there was no underwear"
"oh......umm.... It flew in from the window?"
Divorce court is hilarious.
41points
#5
So I've told this one quite a few times but I used to intern for a judge. Most of his cases were d***s,dui, or p**********n. One day a woman is brought up from jail for a hearing. (d**g related) She is a regular in the courtroom, and is in one of the d**g dependency programs.
Paraphrasing the conversation:
Judge: Tell me what happened
Woman: I was leaving the clinic and this guy asked if I wanted some fire a*s d*pe
J: He asked what?
W: If I wanted some fire a*s d*pe
(Lawyer whispers to her)
J: Some fire a*s d*pe?
W: Yes fire a*s d*pe
J: I take it you used it and that is why you are here
W: I did and it was d**n good
Paraphrasing the conversation:
Judge: Tell me what happened
Woman: I was leaving the clinic and this guy asked if I wanted some fire a*s d*pe
J: He asked what?
W: If I wanted some fire a*s d*pe
(Lawyer whispers to her)
J: Some fire a*s d*pe?
W: Yes fire a*s d*pe
J: I take it you used it and that is why you are here
W: I did and it was d**n good
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32points
This decline is profoundly disturbing. The report highlights several key findings that help explain the decline:
A rise in authoritarianism is driving the rule-of-law recession. Three core variables measuring checks on government power declined in over 60% of countries.
Civic space is shrinking in many countries. In the past year, more than 70% of countries experienced increased restrictions on the civic freedoms necessary to maintain open, accountable, and responsive governments.
The last line of defense against executive overreach is weakening. In 2025, core safeguards of judicial independence weakened in most countries. Hopefully, there's less drama and more cohesion in 2026.
#6
I know I'm coming in here with the tired "I am not a lawyer/judge/courtroom worker" but this is still relevant and I have my doubts the judge uses reddit.
I was in there to contest a $250 ticket, which was issued in error when a cop ticketed everyone in one lot for parking illegally on private property. Mine was the only car actually allowed to be there.
So the guy who went up before me had been ticketed for parking illegally in front of a handicap only meter, which has a red top in DC. He had brought pictures to show that there were no signs near where he parked to indicate that red top meters are exclusively for handicap use. He lived in Maryland, he said, and was not aware of that DC law. Since there were no signs, he argued that he couldn't have known.
From what the judge was saying it seemed like he was about to excuse the ticket, when the guy, I can only guess thinking that this would somehow *help him*, threw in that he was MPD, and as such he was a very upstanding citizen who would never break the law knowingly.
The judge immediately ordered him to pay the full ticket amount, and advised that since he was a DC cop, he should probably make sure to familiarize himself with the laws he was supposed to enforce.
I was in there to contest a $250 ticket, which was issued in error when a cop ticketed everyone in one lot for parking illegally on private property. Mine was the only car actually allowed to be there.
So the guy who went up before me had been ticketed for parking illegally in front of a handicap only meter, which has a red top in DC. He had brought pictures to show that there were no signs near where he parked to indicate that red top meters are exclusively for handicap use. He lived in Maryland, he said, and was not aware of that DC law. Since there were no signs, he argued that he couldn't have known.
From what the judge was saying it seemed like he was about to excuse the ticket, when the guy, I can only guess thinking that this would somehow *help him*, threw in that he was MPD, and as such he was a very upstanding citizen who would never break the law knowingly.
The judge immediately ordered him to pay the full ticket amount, and advised that since he was a DC cop, he should probably make sure to familiarize himself with the laws he was supposed to enforce.
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32points
#7
I'm a legal secretary. I used to assist attorneys who practice Juvenile Dependency. We were funded the county to defend indigent parents whose children were removed by CPS. A mother came to court with a tattoo "F**k CPS" on her neck.
A client (father) was on the witness stand being questioned.
Attorney: How much m*******a do you use currently?
Client: Well... Not as much as I'd like.
[Face palm]
A client (father) was on the witness stand being questioned.
Attorney: How much m*******a do you use currently?
Client: Well... Not as much as I'd like.
[Face palm]
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29points
#8
I was installing furniture/equipment in a courthouse office.
I’m walking into the building with all of my tools waiting in line to be cleared by security. The man in front of me steps up the to metal detectors and grabs one of the baskets you use to empty your pockets.
Into the basket the Man places his watch, his necklace, wallet, keys cell phone, w*ed sack and p*stol. He then casually walks through the metal detector and looks back to the officer to get his belongings.
The three officers and several people standing around are stunned. After a few seconds the officer with the basket says, “Uh... put your hands behind your back?”
The guy didn’t fight them, he just refused to believe he had done anything wrong. He was there for a d**g offense.
I’m walking into the building with all of my tools waiting in line to be cleared by security. The man in front of me steps up the to metal detectors and grabs one of the baskets you use to empty your pockets.
Into the basket the Man places his watch, his necklace, wallet, keys cell phone, w*ed sack and p*stol. He then casually walks through the metal detector and looks back to the officer to get his belongings.
The three officers and several people standing around are stunned. After a few seconds the officer with the basket says, “Uh... put your hands behind your back?”
The guy didn’t fight them, he just refused to believe he had done anything wrong. He was there for a d**g offense.
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29points
#9
Nothing too terribly crazy.
There was the lady who fake fainted during a hearing when the attorneys were at sidebar. Like held onto the chair as she got on her knees and threw herself on the ground like a 2 year old having a tantrum. Judge and attorneys glanced her way and continued speaking.
Then there was the time I told my client we would lose about eleventy billion times but she still insisted on going to trial. And, shocker, we lost. So when I took the group around the corner to tell them the news she started sobbing and slid down the wall all dramatic while her new guy threatened to beat up the other party.
At a restraining order hearing, some guy decided it would be a good idea to threaten to k**l his wife in the hallway. My client heard it and told me, I told the bailiff and left. Apparently the bailiff told the judge. Dude was immediately handcuffed and thrown in a holding cell and I was called back to court about it. Apparently he didn’t really mean to threaten to k**l her. All that bravado went away real quick once steel cuffs hit his wrist.
First appearance criminal court, bailiff misses the wood block when using the gavel and shatters the glass covering the table top. We had to stop the hearings and used file folders to sweep up all these chunks of glass before a defendant cut themselves or smuggled some glass into the jail. That bailiff was teased about breaking the glass for years.
And a story I heard but did not witness...criminal hearing, victim’s father jumps across the barrier to attack the defendant. Bailiffs jump in. Judge can’t see what’s happening so he pulls out his personal handg*n. All attention immediate goes towards the bench with the judge standing there packing heat. I believe bailiffs took the judge’s g*n and got control over the father and defendant. Unsurprisingly, someone ran against the judge in the next election and won.
Most people just say ridiculous things rather than do ridiculous things.
There was the lady who fake fainted during a hearing when the attorneys were at sidebar. Like held onto the chair as she got on her knees and threw herself on the ground like a 2 year old having a tantrum. Judge and attorneys glanced her way and continued speaking.
Then there was the time I told my client we would lose about eleventy billion times but she still insisted on going to trial. And, shocker, we lost. So when I took the group around the corner to tell them the news she started sobbing and slid down the wall all dramatic while her new guy threatened to beat up the other party.
At a restraining order hearing, some guy decided it would be a good idea to threaten to k**l his wife in the hallway. My client heard it and told me, I told the bailiff and left. Apparently the bailiff told the judge. Dude was immediately handcuffed and thrown in a holding cell and I was called back to court about it. Apparently he didn’t really mean to threaten to k**l her. All that bravado went away real quick once steel cuffs hit his wrist.
First appearance criminal court, bailiff misses the wood block when using the gavel and shatters the glass covering the table top. We had to stop the hearings and used file folders to sweep up all these chunks of glass before a defendant cut themselves or smuggled some glass into the jail. That bailiff was teased about breaking the glass for years.
And a story I heard but did not witness...criminal hearing, victim’s father jumps across the barrier to attack the defendant. Bailiffs jump in. Judge can’t see what’s happening so he pulls out his personal handg*n. All attention immediate goes towards the bench with the judge standing there packing heat. I believe bailiffs took the judge’s g*n and got control over the father and defendant. Unsurprisingly, someone ran against the judge in the next election and won.
Most people just say ridiculous things rather than do ridiculous things.
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23points
#10
I was an intern working for an attorney: family law. Annoyingly nasty divorce, leaving the courtroom opposing party leaves first and we hold back for a bit before leaving. Standard operating procedure.
We go down the stairs and around the corner towards the exit, and what do you know it's the disgruntled former husband with a barrage of colorful insults and he has cranked the volume k**b to about 12/10.
Enter me: about '6, 175 lbs, clearly working for an attorney, and in notably better shape than him. Confident he wouldn't try anything as there are cops everywhere and one approaching to investigate the disturbance, I feel emboldened and step between my client and opposing party and begin to say, "hey, calm down man now is not the time or--"
M**********r punched me in the gut, and I was not expecting that s**t. I double over immediately. He gets tackled by the nearest officer, cuffed, and dragged away presumably to the jail next door.
The partner is clearly trying to contain her laughter and our client is on one knee asking if I'm okay. Meanwhile, I'm dying of embarrassment and trying not to vomit up my breakfast.
We go down the stairs and around the corner towards the exit, and what do you know it's the disgruntled former husband with a barrage of colorful insults and he has cranked the volume k**b to about 12/10.
Enter me: about '6, 175 lbs, clearly working for an attorney, and in notably better shape than him. Confident he wouldn't try anything as there are cops everywhere and one approaching to investigate the disturbance, I feel emboldened and step between my client and opposing party and begin to say, "hey, calm down man now is not the time or--"
M**********r punched me in the gut, and I was not expecting that s**t. I double over immediately. He gets tackled by the nearest officer, cuffed, and dragged away presumably to the jail next door.
The partner is clearly trying to contain her laughter and our client is on one knee asking if I'm okay. Meanwhile, I'm dying of embarrassment and trying not to vomit up my breakfast.
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23points
#11
Defense attorney was tased and tackled by federal marshals after the acquittal of his client.
He had been insufferable for the entire trial and threw a fit when the marshals tried to bring his client into custody. Although his client had been acquitted in that trial, he was awaiting trial for a separate crime in another state. Thus, he was supposed to be taken into custody and transferred. His attorney shouted at the judge and tried to block the marshals from accessing his client and ended up getting tased in the process.
His conduct during the trial was outrageous. So much so that the chief judge sought to block the guy from federal practice in the state (he had pro hoc’d in) and pursued sanctions in his home state.
He had been insufferable for the entire trial and threw a fit when the marshals tried to bring his client into custody. Although his client had been acquitted in that trial, he was awaiting trial for a separate crime in another state. Thus, he was supposed to be taken into custody and transferred. His attorney shouted at the judge and tried to block the marshals from accessing his client and ended up getting tased in the process.
His conduct during the trial was outrageous. So much so that the chief judge sought to block the guy from federal practice in the state (he had pro hoc’d in) and pursued sanctions in his home state.
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22points
#12
I was in court because my car was broken into. We found out i.t was my neighbor who did it, and since we were both in high school at the time it went to juvenile court. He stole my cell phone, face plate for my CD player and all my cds. His mom found out and turned him into the police, and I got some of my stuff back minus the phone and some cds. At trial his mom told the judge he gave the cell phone to someone else and shouldn’t be responsible for paying for it. The judges mouth wouldn’t close at her stupidity.
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22points
#13
I saw a woman who wanted to plead "guilty and not guilty". When asked why by the judge, she explained that she did turn left in front of the other car and failed to yield but she didn't mean to hit anyone...so she was "guilty AND not guilty".
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21points
#14
Prosecuting a mental health commitment, subject stands up at the end, points to everyone in the room - the judge, his attorney, the doc, the social worker - calls them all [jerks]. "You're a [jerk], you're a [jerk], you're a [jerk], etc" points to me and says, "You're okay."
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20points
#15
Went to school with a guy who always carried a knuckle brass (illegal in Germany). Eventually he got pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt and was caught with the kb sitting next to the radio. Police confiscated it and he had to appear in court for possession of an illegal weapon. He then went on to completely deny everything he was accused of. Said the cops lied, he was being framed etc.
To prove that the kb didn't belong to him, he (in court) pulled out another one and put it on, claiming that this one is barely fitting him and it was way bigger than the one they found in his car.
Needless to say he got convicted for both of them and had to pay a 1200€ fine, plus 80 hours of community work.
To prove that the kb didn't belong to him, he (in court) pulled out another one and put it on, claiming that this one is barely fitting him and it was way bigger than the one they found in his car.
Needless to say he got convicted for both of them and had to pay a 1200€ fine, plus 80 hours of community work.
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19points
#16
I'm an observer for Plaintiff in a 200 million dollar intellectual property case. It's the second trial in Federal Court, the first verdict was tossed on procedure.
The case concerned cell phone chip manufacturing process, quite complicated and technical, but it was a jury trial. It also had been litigated in Europe as well as Japan, South Korea and China. The Judge gave stern and EXPLICIT instructions to the attorneys that there could be NO mention of these cases, NONE.
So.....at one point a couple days in.....defense guy brings up the European case IN FRONT OF THE JURY.
I might add the Firms involved were the number 1 and number 2 law firms in Los Angeles, some of the biggest and most prestigious in the nation.
The Judge excuses the Jury, admonishes the guy and reaffirms, NO MENTION of the other cases. Jury returns, the guy BRINGS IT UP AGAIN. Judge sends the jury out, angrily tell the guy, NO MENTION OF THE OTHER CASES! Warns him.
Jury returns, HE DOES IT AGAIN! The Judge dismisses the jury again, tell the Federal Marshals to open their handcuffs, and if the guy does it again, to cuff him and take him to jail.
Judge angrily asks if all the defense lawyers are going to ignore his instructions, they stammer and say nooooooo, he isn't with them. The Judge is visibly STEAMED, Jury returns all eyes on the stupid defense lawyer, Marshals ready, standing in the courtroom with cuffs out. Guy is so flustered he's all red, visibly shaking. Can't continue, adjourned for the day.
A lawyer simply DOES NOT BEHAVE THIS WAY in front of a Federal judge, just DOESN'T do it. It was crazy.
We won the case Plaintiff) and the original award of 200 million was reduced to .......$20,000. The antics did NOT help their case.
The case concerned cell phone chip manufacturing process, quite complicated and technical, but it was a jury trial. It also had been litigated in Europe as well as Japan, South Korea and China. The Judge gave stern and EXPLICIT instructions to the attorneys that there could be NO mention of these cases, NONE.
So.....at one point a couple days in.....defense guy brings up the European case IN FRONT OF THE JURY.
I might add the Firms involved were the number 1 and number 2 law firms in Los Angeles, some of the biggest and most prestigious in the nation.
The Judge excuses the Jury, admonishes the guy and reaffirms, NO MENTION of the other cases. Jury returns, the guy BRINGS IT UP AGAIN. Judge sends the jury out, angrily tell the guy, NO MENTION OF THE OTHER CASES! Warns him.
Jury returns, HE DOES IT AGAIN! The Judge dismisses the jury again, tell the Federal Marshals to open their handcuffs, and if the guy does it again, to cuff him and take him to jail.
Judge angrily asks if all the defense lawyers are going to ignore his instructions, they stammer and say nooooooo, he isn't with them. The Judge is visibly STEAMED, Jury returns all eyes on the stupid defense lawyer, Marshals ready, standing in the courtroom with cuffs out. Guy is so flustered he's all red, visibly shaking. Can't continue, adjourned for the day.
A lawyer simply DOES NOT BEHAVE THIS WAY in front of a Federal judge, just DOESN'T do it. It was crazy.
We won the case Plaintiff) and the original award of 200 million was reduced to .......$20,000. The antics did NOT help their case.
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18points
#17
I know this is probably looking for funny stories, but I have one that's a little more serious.
My dad was a lawyer. My senior year our school let students who didn't have to retake the standardized test do service learning for those days. I chose to shadow my dad at a big jury trial he had going on and a friend of mine who'd already graduated tagged along.
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in September. When my friend and I were driving to my dad's house we heard a news report that someone crashed a plane into the World Trade Center. Bob & Tom were joking about it. We walked into my dad's house just in time to see the second plane hit on live TV. Bob & Tom weren't joking when we got back to the car to go to court.
That day in court was surreal. The lawyers knew what was going on. The judge and prosecutor knew what was going on. The jury had no f*****g clue though, and everyone was stuck in the courtroom and on a media blackout since they weren't going to have the TV on in the background during a jury trial.
My friend and I were the only ones there watching the trial as observers. We were the only ones who could go out and listen to the news, and so we were the only way for anyone in that room to have any idea what was going on outside. So we'd bring in updates when they had brief breaks, and people were low key freaking out as they were trapped in this room going ahead with a trial that probably shouldn't have happened that day and the only news was coming from a high school kid walking across the street to listen to updates on NPR in his car.
Security also really tightened up between arriving in the morning and leaving for lunch. We didn't end up spending much time in the court room observing because people were asking for updates. The justice center was like a ghost town with only the guards up front, and they were looking around like they were expecting an attack at any moment.
The guy got convicted. My dad tried to get a retrial or something because of the circumstances, but it never happened.
My dad was a lawyer. My senior year our school let students who didn't have to retake the standardized test do service learning for those days. I chose to shadow my dad at a big jury trial he had going on and a friend of mine who'd already graduated tagged along.
It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in September. When my friend and I were driving to my dad's house we heard a news report that someone crashed a plane into the World Trade Center. Bob & Tom were joking about it. We walked into my dad's house just in time to see the second plane hit on live TV. Bob & Tom weren't joking when we got back to the car to go to court.
That day in court was surreal. The lawyers knew what was going on. The judge and prosecutor knew what was going on. The jury had no f*****g clue though, and everyone was stuck in the courtroom and on a media blackout since they weren't going to have the TV on in the background during a jury trial.
My friend and I were the only ones there watching the trial as observers. We were the only ones who could go out and listen to the news, and so we were the only way for anyone in that room to have any idea what was going on outside. So we'd bring in updates when they had brief breaks, and people were low key freaking out as they were trapped in this room going ahead with a trial that probably shouldn't have happened that day and the only news was coming from a high school kid walking across the street to listen to updates on NPR in his car.
Security also really tightened up between arriving in the morning and leaving for lunch. We didn't end up spending much time in the court room observing because people were asking for updates. The justice center was like a ghost town with only the guards up front, and they were looking around like they were expecting an attack at any moment.
The guy got convicted. My dad tried to get a retrial or something because of the circumstances, but it never happened.
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16points
#18
Lawyer here. Client (female) shows up for court to be sentenced to probation on minor charge (w*ed? shoplifting? can’t remember) wearing what looks like a one-piece bright yellow bathing suit, with flip flops and a yellow fishnet wrap over the bathing suit. I held my breath when the case was called. Judge does the sentencing, and then:
Judge: And next time don’t show up for court looking like you’re going to the beach!
Client (deadpan, as if confused): But I am going to the beach.
Judge: And next time don’t show up for court looking like you’re going to the beach!
Client (deadpan, as if confused): But I am going to the beach.
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16points
#19
Was trying a toxic smoke exposure case for the defendant in Newark NJ. Plaintiff claimed she lost her sense of smell as a result of exposure to toxic fumes at workplace. I represented the roofing contractor and the "toxic fumes" were the smell of the liquid asphalt being applied to the flat roof of the office building where she worked.
Just so happens that back in the day, the Essex County Jail had an annex adjacent the courthouse. Apparently there was some unrest in the jail and the inmates were burning a mattress in protest of something. This was occurring during the trial, while plaintiff is on the witness stand and just got done testifying how she can no longer smell and how horribly it's effected her life. Sure enough, she takes a deep breath, does two strong sniffs and says "does anyone else smell something burning or is it just me"..... I laughed out loud.... Judge declared a mistrial. Plaintiff's counsel accepted a minimum settlement to avoid a retrial.
Just so happens that back in the day, the Essex County Jail had an annex adjacent the courthouse. Apparently there was some unrest in the jail and the inmates were burning a mattress in protest of something. This was occurring during the trial, while plaintiff is on the witness stand and just got done testifying how she can no longer smell and how horribly it's effected her life. Sure enough, she takes a deep breath, does two strong sniffs and says "does anyone else smell something burning or is it just me"..... I laughed out loud.... Judge declared a mistrial. Plaintiff's counsel accepted a minimum settlement to avoid a retrial.
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16points
#20
A family case. Pro se litigant sits at the table in front of me. Before the judge comes out, I hear thumps like something being poured on the table. This gets my attention, and I start watching her. I see her set down a silk cloth. I see her reaching and finding polished stones that she starts arranging on the cloth. About then, I notice the tissue box with phrases written in a foreign language sitting in front of her and realize it isn't the standard court issued tissue box. I notice the unlit candle sitting next to it. As the judge comes out, I'm googling the phrases to see that this woman has effectively set up a Buddhist shrine in the courtroom for her divorce trial.
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15points