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00:00:00This is one of the most egregious cases I've ever had.
00:00:02That's it.
00:00:03When you shoot and murder your mother, the woman that brought you into this world, and your sister,
00:00:08you're going to spend the rest of your natural life in prison.
00:00:11Hopefully someday you'll think about that.
00:00:13Get him out of here.
00:00:13I'm done.
00:00:17This is ridiculous for me, not for you.
00:00:21That's basic law.
00:00:22It's been basic law in this country.
00:00:24Next time it happens, I'll be asking for a mistrial with prejudice.
00:00:28Some indication as to what the conflict is.
00:00:32No, you didn't.
00:00:34Bond revoked.
00:00:35We're done.
00:00:36Bond revoked.
00:00:37Bond revoked.
00:00:38I'm unable to continue.
00:00:38He will sit.
00:00:39Whoever can sit here at a tragic moment like this and laugh and smile when somebody has
00:00:44lost a family member, that clown, and that's what I'm going to call him, a clown, was sitting
00:00:49there smiling and laughing.
00:00:50This is Amanda Kosal, who's accused of causing a deadly crash in Detroit, Michigan.
00:00:55In June 2016, Amanda had a fatal head-on collision with 31-year-old Jerome Zerker and his fiancee
00:01:02Brittany Johnson while driving under the influence.
00:01:05Tragically, the crash took the life of the father of five while Brittany was severely injured.
00:01:10Amanda was arrested and charged.
00:01:13The 25-year-old later pleaded guilty to operating under the influence, causing death.
00:01:17During Amanda's sentencing, Jerome's sister, Doreen, read a powerful victim impact statement
00:01:22written by his children.
00:01:24Amanda, look what you did to my life.
00:01:28You ruined everything I had, like my dad's life.
00:01:31While Amanda seemed to be moved by Doreen's words, a couple in the court found it amusing,
00:01:36raging Judge Kiana Lillard.
00:01:37Yeah, it's time for him to go.
00:01:39And I don't know who he is, but whoever can sit here at a tragic moment like this and laugh
00:01:46and smile when somebody has lost a family member.
00:01:49I mean, the entire time that Mr. Zerker's sister was speaking, that clown, and that's
00:01:56what I'm going to call him, a clown, was sitting there smiling and laughing.
00:01:59Judge Lillard threw the man out of the courtroom, but the woman was not so lucky.
00:02:03That you can go too, because if you don't know how to act, you can go to jail.
00:02:07So leave.
00:02:10Anybody that can sit there and laugh and smirk with somebody, take her.
00:02:15She's going in a bag.
00:02:16She's going in a bag.
00:02:18It was Amanda's mother, Donna Kosol, who was sent to 90 days in prison for direct criminal
00:02:23contempt.
00:02:24Ma'am, you are being taken into custody for criminal contempt.
00:02:28Your disruptive and disrespectful behavior disrupted today's proceedings, and you, ma'am,
00:02:33are going to the Wayne County Jail for 93 days for direct criminal contempt.
00:02:38Anybody else want to go?
00:02:40Try it.
00:02:41Try it.
00:02:42Oh, my mouth?
00:02:43Well, thank you.
00:02:44Your mouth got you 93 days.
00:02:46Judge Lillard then had some stern words for the Kosol family.
00:02:49Anybody else want to go?
00:02:51You can go too.
00:02:52This is a court of law, and these are very serious matters, and I understand you all are
00:02:57upset because your loved one is going to prison, but guess what?
00:03:01She's going to prison for the choices that she made.
00:03:04These people are here grieving, saddened, because a senseless act took away their loved
00:03:11one, and you all are sitting around here like it's a joke?
00:03:15Not in courtroom 502.
00:03:17Not today, and not any other day.
00:03:19After order was restored, Amanda was sentenced to 3 to 15 years in prison.
00:03:24So it'll be the sentence of this court that you will serve 3 to 15 years in the Michigan
00:03:28Department of Corrections.
00:03:30The following morning, Donna appeared before Judge Lillard.
00:03:33She seemed a changed woman after just one night in jail.
00:03:36She apologizes to the court.
00:03:38I ask that you discharge the contempt of hearing judgment.
00:03:41All right.
00:03:44Ms. Poster, is there something you'd like to say?
00:03:46Yes, I deeply apologize for what I did.
00:03:49I was under a lot of stress.
00:03:52I'm going through some Thatcher's appointments today from my heart.
00:03:57It's just everything overwhelmed.
00:03:59And I deeply apologize for what I did in your court.
00:04:03I just needed to get out.
00:04:06It's been very hard for me this year, and I know for the other family.
00:04:11And I'm so sorry for what I did.
00:04:15And I know it was wrong, and I apologize.
00:04:19After the apology, Judge Lillard had a few words of wisdom for the defendant.
00:04:23What you have to understand is, as hard as this is for you, to see your baby going to prison,
00:04:30imagine what that family feels like when their child's dead.
00:04:34I understand that.
00:04:35I feel for them, too.
00:04:36So I hope that you've learned a valuable lesson from this.
00:04:40And I hope that it will serve as a message to anyone doing business in the Frank Murphy Hall of
00:04:47Justice,
00:04:48or any court for that matter, that there's just a manner, things have to be conducted in decency and order.
00:04:55You can't come to court acting a fool.
00:04:58I know people watch a lot of shows on TV where you see different things happening in make-believe courtrooms
00:05:05that give people a skewed sense of reality, but this is real life here.
00:05:10And we just can't have people behaving like that.
00:05:13It can't be tolerated.
00:05:14So I will give you, modify your sentence for direct criminal contempt from 93 days to one day,
00:05:21with credit for time served, and you should be released today.
00:05:24God bless you. Thank you.
00:05:26And I apologize very slowly and for the other family.
00:05:32You're welcome.
00:05:33While Donna Casals spent a night in jail for laughing at the victim's family,
00:05:38how does it compare to smashing a computer in court?
00:05:48Like in the case of Antonio Rosales, who's on trial for sexual assault and attempted murder in Sanford, Florida.
00:05:55In 2003, Rosales, who was homeless at the time, reportedly kidnapped a 10-year-old girl,
00:06:01dragged her into the woods, then strangled and s***ed assaulted her.
00:06:05The 41-year-old later confessed to the police.
00:06:09During his trial, as the prosecution was delivering closing arguments,
00:06:12Rosales expressed his discontent through a translator.
00:06:20Then, out of the blue, he erupted.
00:06:26In a fit of rage, Rosales grabbed a computer keyboard and smashed a monitor off the table.
00:06:41He then knocked over a table as two officers tackled him to the ground and attempted to restrain him.
00:06:56As officers struggled to subdue the defendant, the judge called for additional help.
00:07:09Rosales was handcuffed and hauled out of court.
00:07:16The next day, Rosales was convicted and sentenced to three consecutive life terms.
00:07:22While Antonio Rosales' courtroom fight couldn't prevent a prison sentence,
00:07:26what happens when a judge rebukes the prosecutor?
00:07:29Will you take him up for perjury?
00:07:30He admitted it was a mistake, Your Honor.
00:07:32No, but he lied. He lied on a sworn citation.
00:07:35Next, we head to the Seminole County Circuit Court in Sanford, Florida,
00:07:39where a trial has just reached its conclusion.
00:07:4246-year-old Lisette Gonzalez was convicted of driving under the influence.
00:07:47However, her attorney argued that Gonzalez was never given a breathalyzer or a blood test,
00:07:51and the arresting officer, Michael Wagner, had wrongfully recorded that she had tested
00:07:56above the legal limit in his official report.
00:07:59Your Honor, I have not enough evidence presented for the jury to find the verdict that they did.
00:08:02They didn't do all the field sobriety examinations that should have been done.
00:08:06I respectfully ask that this court grant the judgment notwithstanding the verdict.
00:08:11All right. This isn't a purely circumstantial case, and so I'm going to deny the motion for J.O.A.
00:08:17After Judge Fred Schott granted the motion to overturn the jury's verdict,
00:08:21he moved on to a separate case related to the same defendant.
00:08:24Now, we have this other case for driving a license suspended.
00:08:27Gonzalez also faced additional charges after Officer Wagner's mistake had left her without a valid driver's license.
00:08:34I want to be enlightened.
00:08:36It was a mistake, admittedly, by Michael Wagner.
00:08:39I know.
00:08:40We testified to that today.
00:08:41He caused her to have her driver's license suspended for at least a few months for nothing.
00:08:47The outraged judge then turned his attention toward Prosecutor Diana Myers.
00:08:52Are you going to null prostat case?
00:08:53Or am I going to get mad at you today?
00:08:56Perhaps you can get mad at me, Your Honor, but at this point...
00:08:58Why wouldn't you... Wait a minute.
00:08:59Do you hear the uncontroverted testimony of this officer?
00:09:02Will you take him up for perjury?
00:09:04He admitted it was a mistake, Your Honor.
00:09:06No, but he lied.
00:09:07He lied on a sworn citation.
00:09:09Absolutely, Your Honor, and that is not true.
00:09:11I am...
00:09:12I am...
00:09:13For us to be able to respond to...
00:09:16After dismissing Gonzalez's upcoming case, Judge Schott dropped another bombshell.
00:09:21This whole case was fishy, and I have no idea how the...
00:09:25To keep their address on file...
00:09:27You know what?
00:09:28The state intends to amend...
00:09:29I'm granting...
00:09:30I am...
00:09:32I'm rescinding the sentence.
00:09:34I'm granting the J.O.A.
00:09:35Judge Schott reversed his decision and acquitted the defendant on the spot.
00:09:40So you're granting it because you don't agree with the state's decision on the other trial?
00:09:42I'm granting the J.O.A. in fairness.
00:09:44In fairness, because you don't like the state's decision today, Your Honor, on the case?
00:09:48No, you're not...
00:09:49Now that I consider what Officer Wagner testified to, and how many times he basically tripped
00:09:55over himself just to arrest this lady with no real probable cause, you're done.
00:10:01Motion to J.O.A. is granted.
00:10:03And you're not going to provide a written order on that?
00:10:05Nope.
00:10:06You want to appeal me?
00:10:07Appeal me.
00:10:08Thank you, Your Honor.
00:10:09The case should have never been done.
00:10:10Never.
00:10:11Thank you for letting us know that, Your Honor.
00:10:13In the end, Lisette Gonzalez's case was dropped, and she walked out of the courtroom free of
00:10:18all charges.
00:10:19While a prosecutor was reprimanded for providing false evidence, what happens when a defendant
00:10:24throws a table at the judge?
00:10:26You have 42 days to appeal.
00:10:28You're remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections for service of this sentence.
00:10:34I love you, baby.
00:10:35I love you, Mom.
00:10:37Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom, Mom.
00:10:39Like in the case of Jaleel Hoskins.
00:10:41Did you kill Latrice Mays?
00:10:44No, I did not.
00:10:46In March 2013, police responded to a domestic violence call made by 26-year-old Latrice Mays
00:10:52against her boyfriend, Jaleel Hoskins.
00:10:55Neither one of you have any injuries.
00:10:57So at this point, I know the two of you aren't getting along this morning, but I don't have
00:11:00enough to interrupt either one of you.
00:11:02But I can tell you that I don't get along.
00:11:04You know, certainly I can't make you leave.
00:11:07You can't make him leave.
00:11:07The officers offered to take Mays someplace safe, but she refused.
00:11:12If you have somewhere you can go, maybe I can give you a ride there.
00:11:19If you don't have anywhere to go, I can take you to a shelter.
00:11:23And if you don't want to do either of those, you don't have to.
00:11:27In fact, you can stay here.
00:11:28Hours later, Hoskins strangled Mays to death and dumped her body at an apartment complex.
00:11:34Her body was never recovered, as police believed it to be incinerated.
00:11:39Hoskins was arrested and charged with open murder, but he maintained his innocence.
00:11:43Did you kill Latrice Mays?
00:11:46No, I did not.
00:11:47The first few days of the trial are startling, as witness after witness testify against Hoskins.
00:11:54I guess he choked her or something.
00:11:56Did you say he choked her?
00:11:58Yes.
00:11:59If he said I did her, I need her, I need some help, I can't carry her by myself.
00:12:06Much to the relief of the victim's family members.
00:12:09Hoskins pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
00:12:11It's just a relief to know that, you know, it's all said and done, and that he finally
00:12:17admitted to his guilt of choking her and putting her body in the dumpster and disposal.
00:12:23During sentencing, Mays' mother and aunt had a chance to confront her killer.
00:12:28You tell me how I explain what happened to their mom.
00:12:34First of all, I want you to stand there and look at me and quit standing there looking at
00:12:37the ceiling like a little coward.
00:12:39You know, I'm going to face you and I'm going to tell you exactly how I feel.
00:12:42While Hoskins seemed remorseful during the victim impact statements, what followed was
00:12:47utter pandemonium.
00:12:48You have 42 days to appeal.
00:12:50You're remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections for service of this sentence.
00:12:55You're welcome.
00:12:59I love you, baby.
00:13:01I love you, mom.
00:13:03As Judge James Redford slapped the defendant with a hefty prison sentence, Hoskins knocked
00:13:08down a lectern and charged toward the judge.
00:13:11I love you, baby.
00:13:17He was immediately grabbed by three deputies and removed from the courtroom.
00:13:30As Hoskins was being ushered away, a brawl broke out between the families of the victim and
00:13:35the defendant.
00:14:00Ultimately, Hoskins was sentenced to 50 to 100 years in prison for murdering his girlfriend.
00:14:06Hoskins' disregard for the court system is appalling, but as we see in the next case, it's not always the
00:14:11defendants who stunned the courtroom with their shocking antics.
00:14:14You're saying that you can't be fair and impartial to both sides. You're going to completely throw out our entire
00:14:20justice system. You're on this jury. We're going to remove it. Go on.
00:14:25Take, for example, Judge Richard Scotti, a courtroom veteran who has two terms as a governor of Nevada State Bar
00:14:32under his belt.
00:14:32Today, he's presiding over jury selection in the trial of Jose Azucena. Azucena is facing 40 counts of sexual misconduct,
00:14:40including first-degree kidnapping and sexual assault of a minor under 14.
00:14:45Police say that he used candy to lure multiple youths to the Northeast Valley apartment he shared with his wife
00:14:50before attacking them.
00:14:52Many of the details are too graphic for us to tell you about, and others are simply disturbing.
00:14:56In one case, the report indicates a victim says he took her into his apartment where he tied her up
00:15:01and taped her mouth shut before assaulting her.
00:15:03Police say he also told victims he would harm or kill their parents if they told anyone.
00:15:07Yesterday was a contentious day of jury selection in the court, and as day two kicks off, Judge Scotti is
00:15:13in no mood for trivialities.
00:15:15Okay. So can you be fair to both sides?
00:15:19I think I would be biased.
00:15:22Azucena's attorney questions potential jurors, and as one juror in particular admits that she doesn't think she can remain impartial,
00:15:29it hits a sharp nerve with the judge.
00:15:31You didn't say that yesterday.
00:15:32Well, I said I had a...
00:15:33No, listen, what we're not going to have in this jury is people coming in overnight and thinking of a...
00:15:38and trying to mix it up now so they can get out of the jury. That's not going to happen,
00:15:42all right?
00:15:43An argument ensues between Judge Scotti and the woman, who is just out of camera shot to the right of
00:15:48the screen.
00:15:49Clearly incensed, the judge launches into a foul-mouthed tirade.
00:15:53Right, because if I find if someone said something yesterday in the road and changes it because they're trying to
00:15:58fabricate something to get out of serving on this jury, there's going to be repercussions, right?
00:16:03I did say.
00:16:03Now what's going on here? Tell me what's going on.
00:16:06I said I had other issues yesterday, and you said you'd get back to me.
00:16:09He continues with his incredible rant, and as the juror scrambles to explain herself, you won't believe how Judge Scotti
00:16:16responds.
00:16:17So why you got issues? Why can't you... you're saying that you can't be fair and impartial to both sides.
00:16:23You're going to completely throw out our entire justice system because you don't want to be fair and impartial.
00:16:28In a shocking loss of control, the judge grows more and more irate, to the point where he picks up
00:16:33a pocket Constitution and hurls it at the wall.
00:16:36Yes, you heard that right.
00:16:38He picks up a miniature version of the U.S. Constitution and throws it at the wall in anger.
00:16:44So why do you have issues?
00:16:46You're saying that you can't be fair and impartial to both sides.
00:16:50You're going to completely throw out our entire justice system because you don't want to be fair and impartial.
00:16:55The Honour, may we approach.
00:16:57We can't approach.
00:16:59You're not going to be fair and impartial.
00:17:00Like I said, with my nursing history, and I've been involved with child abuse, and I've been involved with incest
00:17:07with young girls that deliver 13 years old, it makes me rather, you know, biased.
00:17:17The juror gives a valid and understandable reason, but Judge Scotti just can't let it go, and he releases her
00:17:23from service in a very abrupt manner.
00:17:25You're off this jury.
00:17:27You're removed.
00:17:28Go home.
00:17:29All right?
00:17:32Azucena is ultimately convicted of 25 felonies and five gross misdemeanors, for which Judge Scotti sentences him to life in
00:17:40prison.
00:17:40However, his earlier outburst comes back to bite him, when in 2020, Judge Scotti is brought up on ethics charges
00:17:47in relation to the incident.
00:17:49As a result of this, Azucena's conviction is overturned, and a new trial is ordered, which is yet to come
00:17:55before the courts.
00:17:55Let's hope the judge throws the book in the right sense this time around.
00:18:00Given the nature of his job, Judge Scotti's outburst at a juror was shocking, but it's nothing compared to the
00:18:06pure rage this judge had when she realized the lawyer was using an AI version of himself in court.
00:18:12May it please the court.
00:18:14I come here today, a humble proceed before a panel of five distinguished justices.
00:18:19Is this?
00:18:20Hold on.
00:18:21Like in the case of Jerome DeWald, who's representing himself in an employment dispute in New York.
00:18:27In his first act as plaintiff, DeWald submitted a video file for the panel of judges to review.
00:18:32Okay, we will hear that video now.
00:18:39There's just one problem.
00:18:42May it please the court.
00:18:43I come here today, a humble proceed before a panel of five distinguished justices.
00:18:48Is this?
00:18:49Hold on.
00:18:50Is that counsel for the case?
00:18:52First, the judges thought the man in the video was DeWald's lawyer.
00:18:57The truth was much worse.
00:19:01I generated that.
00:19:03I'm sorry?
00:19:04I generated that.
00:19:06That is not a real person.
00:19:09DeWald, who works as an AI developer, used his skills to create a fake persona that could present his arguments
00:19:17to the court.
00:19:19Okay, it would have been nice to know that when you made your application.
00:19:24You did not tell me that, sir.
00:19:27I received the application.
00:19:28DeWald got approval for a supporting video, but didn't explain the full intent.
00:19:33In a news interview later, DeWald explains the reasoning behind his decision.
00:19:37There's a couple of reasons.
00:19:39I had throat cancer 25 years ago, and so my throat tends to give out over a period of time.
00:19:46A conversation is one thing, but talking for a long time, I start hacking and coughing, and it's difficult.
00:19:54But there was another reason, too.
00:19:55And then there's the pressure and the intimidation that a pro se feels in the courtroom by himself.
00:20:04He was afraid he'd be intimidated by the panel and stumble over his words.
00:20:08So instead, he chose to clone himself.
00:20:12I intended to use a replica of myself, an avatar of myself, but I had some technical difficulties getting it
00:20:19completed.
00:20:20It was the first time he ever tried it.
00:20:22I couldn't get it completed by the time of the hearing, so I had to go with James, who you
00:20:26see there is much more handsome than I am.
00:20:29Back in court, however, the judge didn't seem too pleased.
00:20:32I don't appreciate being misled.
00:20:37So either you are suffering from an ailment that prevents you from being able to articulate, or you don't.
00:20:46Unaware of his medical history, the judge suspected another ulterior motive for the video.
00:20:50You are not going to use this courtroom as a launch for your business, sir.
00:20:57The judge may seem harsh now, but she's just getting started.
00:21:02Shut that off.
00:21:05If you want to have oral argument time, you may stand up and give it to me.
00:21:13You have five minutes.
00:21:15DeWald was forced to give his argument himself.
00:21:18Later, he says the judge seemed to regret the outburst.
00:21:22Later, when I was giving the argument, she acted as though she was maybe, felt she had been a little
00:21:29bit harsh with me.
00:21:30She was being a little, you know, she was being encouraging to me, shall we say.
00:21:35And I did send in a letter of apology.
00:21:40So, so far, everything seems to be all right.
00:21:43DeWald's case has yet to be concluded, but it looks like his sentence won't be affected by the misunderstanding.
00:21:49DeWald's misstep may have been unintentional, but how does that compare to a prosecutor who does their job so badly
00:21:56that the judge has to step in?
00:21:59You are already, you were, I was astonished when you began your examination by commenting on the defendant's post-arrest
00:22:09silence.
00:22:10That's basic law.
00:22:11It's been basic law in this country for 40 years, 50 years.
00:22:15I have no idea why you would do something like that.
00:22:17Like in the case of Kyle Rittenhouse, who's charged with five counts of homicide in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
00:22:31In 2020, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse joined a racial justice protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, armed with an assault rifle.
00:22:40Rittenhouse claimed he intended to be a medic and brought the rifle for self-defense only.
00:22:46However, he quickly realized he was out of his depth and ran toward police to escape the fight.
00:22:52Then, he claims protesters followed him, threatening to get him.
00:22:57That's when he fired the gun.
00:23:12Now in court, Rittenhouse is facing charges for killing two protesters and wounding one more.
00:23:18His attorney painted a perfect picture of self-defense.
00:23:21It wasn't until you pointed your gun at him that he fired, right?
00:23:26Correct.
00:23:27However, the prosecution had a bit more trouble.
00:23:31Pardon me?
00:23:32That was before the defense has made.
00:23:33Don't get brazen with me.
00:23:34The prosecuting attorney tried to use Rittenhouse's silence against him, a direct violation of his Fifth Amendment right.
00:23:41I was astonished when you began your examination by commenting on the defendant's post-arrest silence.
00:23:51That's basic law.
00:23:52It's been basic law in this country for 40 years, 50 years.
00:23:56I have no idea why you would do something like that.
00:23:58But instead of admitting his mistake, he insisted the judge was the one in the wrong.
00:24:04First of all, Your Honor, this was the subject of a motion.
00:24:07I'm well aware of that.
00:24:08And the court left the door open.
00:24:11For me, not for you.
00:24:14I want...
00:24:14May I respond to what you just said, Your Honor?
00:24:17I'd like to respond to what you just said.
00:24:18Can you slow down, please?
00:24:19I apologize, Madam Court Reporter, but I'd like to try and make a record without anyone interrupting me, if that's
00:24:25okay.
00:24:26Well, I said you were over the line, close to, or over the line on commenting on the defendant's pre
00:24:33-trial silence,
00:24:34which is a well-known rule.
00:24:35Well, I'm astonished that that would have been an issue.
00:24:41So I don't want to have another issue as long as this case continues.
00:24:44Is that clear?
00:24:45It is.
00:24:45Even the defense attorney was fed up.
00:24:48He knows if you're going to go into something that's been excluded in a pre-trial order,
00:24:53you better ask the court.
00:24:54You better get permission.
00:24:56This is ridiculous.
00:24:58It wasn't excluded, Your Honor.
00:25:00But eventually, the jury came back with their verdict.
00:25:04The defendant will rise and face the jury and hearken to its verdicts.
00:25:08We, the jury, find the defendant, Kyle H. Rittenhouse, not guilty.
00:25:15Members of the jury, are these your unanimous verdicts?
00:25:18Is there anyone who does not agree with the verdicts as read?
00:25:23Would you wish the jury pulled?
00:25:25Rittenhouse almost fainted with relief when he heard his sentence.
00:25:29But how does that compare to a defendant whose sentence fills him with murderous rage?
00:25:34The bruises, some of the bruises were in the shape of a belt belt.
00:25:39I'm going to let you sit here, say no crazy shit about me, man.
00:25:43Like in the case of Elise Ortiz Nieves, who's facing charges for felony murder
00:25:49and first-degree child abuse in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
00:25:52On June 13, 2017, Ortiz was babysitting his girlfriend's seven children
00:25:58when he realized one of them, four-year-old Giovanni, wasn't breathing.
00:26:02Kett County Sheriff's Department says that he was watching seven kids this morning
00:26:06who live here at this house on Green Meadow Street Southeast.
00:26:10Deputies received a call about a four-year-old who was not breathing.
00:26:13He was rushed to the hospital where he later died from blunt force trauma.
00:26:18At the hospital, doctors found evidence of child abuse,
00:26:22two broken ribs, cigarette burns, and bruises in various stages of healing.
00:26:27In court, Ortiz came face-to-face with the cold, hard truth.
00:26:31You beat this child, you bruised this child, and you tortured this child.
00:26:37However, Ortiz maintained his innocence.
00:26:40I'm going to continue to say I will take a lot of technical tests to prove that I never abused
00:26:44any of Sonya's kids
00:26:45or never abused Giovanni and never intentionally meant to hurt Giovanni but to help him.
00:26:50The judge didn't believe him.
00:26:52There is no question whatsoever that you committed this murder
00:26:57and that you beat this little boy to death.
00:27:01I ain't going to let you sit here and say no crazy shit about me, man.
00:27:06No, man, because he's saying shit he don't even know, man.
00:27:10Sir, the testimony showed that you put this child and other child in a shower with cold water.
00:27:23The judge tried to maintain order, but Ortiz was out for blood.
00:27:28Salsis!
00:27:30Salsis, please!
00:27:35They took three deputies, but Ortiz was eventually overpowered.
00:27:50After that, the judge called him back to hear his sentence.
00:27:54You are the lowest form of human life that I've been able to observe or see.
00:28:00You are a monster, and quite frankly, you are evil.
00:28:04What you did was sickening and disgusting.
00:28:08We're done.
00:28:09Take him to prison, please.
00:28:12Ortiz was sentenced to life without parole.
00:28:14Ortiz Nieves was outraged and looked like he was ready to fight the judge.
00:28:19But how does that compare to a lawyer who actually did fight the judge?
00:28:24If you want to fight, let's go out back and I'll just...
00:28:27Let's go around.
00:28:27Next, we go to the Moore Justice Center in Brevard County, Florida,
00:28:32where public defender Andrew Weinstock and his client are appearing before Judge John Murphy.
00:28:37You're Mr. Runkles?
00:28:38Yes, sir.
00:28:39Two charges of assault and resisting.
00:28:42You have the public defender.
00:28:44Public defender, what do you want to do?
00:28:46Have they filed?
00:28:47They have.
00:28:48I'm not waving.
00:28:48Since the court already had a packed schedule,
00:28:51Judge Murphy wanted the defendant to waive his right to a fast trial.
00:28:54All right, what do you want to do?
00:28:58What do you want to do?
00:28:59I'm not waving.
00:29:01If you want to set it for trial, set it for trial.
00:29:04All right.
00:29:04If you want to set it for docket sounding, set it for docket sounding.
00:29:06I'm not waving in any case.
00:29:08Tensions in the courtroom reached an all-time high
00:29:10when public defender Weinstock refused to budge.
00:29:12This is an emergency created by the state.
00:29:14You know, if I had a rock, I would throw it at you right now.
00:29:16You know, this is...
00:29:17Stop pissing me off.
00:29:18Just sit down.
00:29:19I'll take care of it.
00:29:20I don't need your help.
00:29:22Sit down.
00:29:22You know what?
00:29:22I'm the public defender.
00:29:23I have a right to be here, and I have a right to stand and represent my clients.
00:29:27See, moments earlier, Weinstock had a confrontation with Judge Murphy while representing another client.
00:29:33This is Mr. Rodriguez, public defender.
00:29:36What do you want to do?
00:29:37Talk to the center.
00:29:42Tomorrow?
00:29:44Your discretion.
00:29:46Well, it's going to expire before I can get them in, so...
00:29:51It's not my emergency.
00:29:53Let's see.
00:29:56Question.
00:29:57You want to set it for trial?
00:29:59You can set it for trial if you want to set it for trial instead.
00:30:02Sure.
00:30:04Well...
00:30:06I'm not waiving.
00:30:07That's...
00:30:07If the question is, am I waiving, the answer is, I'm not waiving.
00:30:11Just say it.
00:30:11Okay, I'm not waiving.
00:30:12I don't care.
00:30:14I don't care either.
00:30:14I'm not waiving.
00:30:15I just need to set it for a date.
00:30:17Well, normally we go to Dockertown after that.
00:30:19If you want to go to trial, we'll set it for trial.
00:30:21That's fine.
00:30:22All right.
00:30:23Speedy trial.
00:30:24However, what Judge Murphy suggested next was never heard of in a courtroom before.
00:30:29If you want to fight, let's go out back and I'll just beat you around.
00:30:35Incredibly, both Weinstock and Judge Murphy went to the back of the courtroom and actually
00:30:41had a physical altercation.
00:30:42Courtroom microphones pick up what happens next.
00:30:46You want to fight, shit?
00:30:48You want to fight?
00:30:49You want to fight, shit?
00:30:51You want to fight?
00:30:52You want to fight?
00:30:52You want to fight?
00:30:52All right.
00:30:54He backed me up.
00:30:56He had me pinned to the wall with his right arm, and he brought his left hand back in a
00:31:03fist.
00:31:03Then he punched me in the face, hitting me here.
00:31:06After a while, Judge Murphy returned to the courtroom alone.
00:31:11I understand.
00:31:23I'm a Patriots fan.
00:31:26Man, I'm an old man.
00:31:29You're awesome.
00:31:31Later, the incident was investigated by Florida's Judicial Qualifications Commission, and Judge
00:31:36Murphy was charged with misconduct.
00:31:38The case eventually reached the Supreme Court, which ordered Judge Murphy to be immediately
00:31:42suspended and permanently removed from his post.
00:31:46Weinstock later resigned from his position at the public defender's office.
00:31:49While Judge John Murphy ruined his career by fighting a lawyer, how does it compare to
00:31:54threatening to kill a judge?
00:32:00Like in the case of 27-year-old Tobias Roman, who was facing multiple felony charges in Bakersfield,
00:32:06California.
00:32:07Threatening with the intent to terrorize exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm and stalking.
00:32:12Three days earlier, Roman was arrested after he allegedly tried to rob a mall employee
00:32:16and threatened to kill her with a knife.
00:32:18Today, Roman was facing Judge Charles R. Bremer.
00:32:22And right off the bat, things went off to a rough start.
00:32:26Roman, stand up.
00:32:28I can't stand up right now.
00:32:30I can't stand up right now.
00:32:31I'm right here.
00:32:32Gable.
00:32:33Stand up, Roman.
00:32:36This is BF 140.
00:32:39After the defendant was on his feet, Judge Bremmer started proceedings.
00:32:43Mr. Roman, what is your true and correct name?
00:32:45Tobias, my first name.
00:32:46That's it.
00:32:47Gable or Tobias.
00:32:48That's it.
00:32:49Don't call me to announce.
00:32:50At this time, I will appoint the public defender to represent Mr. Roman.
00:32:56The charges, Mr. Roman, are attempted robbery.
00:32:58It's all alive.
00:32:59Mr. Roman, you need to be quiet.
00:33:01Yeah, you need to be quiet.
00:33:02Judge Bremmer gave Roman a final warning.
00:33:05The defiant defendant refused to budge.
00:33:07You have one more chance and then you're going to be removed from the courtroom.
00:33:11That will be your choice.
00:33:12Don't call him.
00:33:13Go to hear him.
00:33:14All right.
00:33:14You need to be quiet.
00:33:15As he was being removed from the courtroom, Roman had one final comment for the judge.
00:33:21Good.
00:33:22Good.
00:33:23Good.
00:33:23Good.
00:33:23Good.
00:33:24Good.
00:33:24Good.
00:33:25Good.
00:33:26Well, I got admitted to the record Mr. Roman's statement on the record that he will murder
00:33:31me if he sees me, and I'm going to request law enforcement to take the appropriate action.
00:33:36Tobias Roman was later charged with threatening a public official and sentenced to eight months
00:33:41in prison, while a defendant threatened to murder the judge. In this next case,
00:33:45one lawyer's childish behavior leaves the judge speechless.
00:33:50When these people are upset about specific things that have gone on from that table,
00:33:55like shooting the middle finger up at this court and laughing and joking.
00:34:01This is Melissa McNeil, who's defending Nicholas Cruz in the infamous Parkland school shooting case.
00:34:07In 2018, 19-year-old Nicholas Cruz had a deadly plan.
00:34:13You're all going to die.
00:34:17Cruz entered Stoneman Douglas High School with a gun hidden in his guitar case.
00:34:35Crews opened fire in the first floor hallway of Building 12.
00:34:41Photos and videos from the shooting flooded social media.
00:34:45Oh my God!
00:34:57While surveillance videos showed what was happening outside.
00:35:01But by then, 14 students were already dead, and others were seriously injured.
00:35:06I have the gunshot victim.
00:35:09I have the gunshot victim.
00:35:11Just hours after the carnage, Cruz was arrested and charged with 17 counts of premeditated first-degree murder.
00:35:17In court, Cruz acted more or less composed.
00:35:20It was his defense team that was the problem.
00:35:23During active trial, the defense team talked, shouted, laughed, and even flipped the middle finger at the judge and at
00:35:30the victim's families.
00:35:31The judge wouldn't stand for it.
00:35:34It's got to stop.
00:35:35This is a courtroom.
00:35:36It needs to run like a courtroom.
00:35:39It's become somewhat of a playground, okay?
00:35:42I don't want anyone talking back and forth to one another.
00:35:46It's inappropriate.
00:35:47You all know better than that.
00:35:49Don't do it.
00:35:50She reprimanded them in front of the entire courtroom.
00:35:53I don't want any rude, any further rude or disrespectful behavior.
00:35:59It's gotten quite out of control.
00:36:01But if you thought the defense team would rethink their behavior, think again.
00:36:05One morning, the court geared up for the first of many witnesses brought forth by the defense.
00:36:10But the second court was in session.
00:36:13Defense lawyer Melissa McNeil dropped a bomb.
00:36:16Yes, at this time the defense rests.
00:36:20Other than putting in our records.
00:36:24During each trial motion, both the defense and the prosecution have the floor to speak.
00:36:30When they're finished speaking, they rest.
00:36:33Meaning, in this case, that the defense has no witnesses to bring.
00:36:39We're not playing chess.
00:36:41I mean, will you please take the jury back in?
00:36:45Yeah.
00:36:46All right, go ahead and put in your records.
00:36:49The judge is irate.
00:36:51And for good reason.
00:36:52The entire day was supposed to be dedicated to hearing the defense's witness.
00:36:55But apparently, they had none.
00:36:58I just want to say, this is the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try a case.
00:37:07You all knew about this.
00:37:09And even if you didn't make your decision until this morning, to have 22 people plus all of this staff
00:37:15and every attorney march into court,
00:37:17be waiting as if it's some kind of game.
00:37:20Now I have to send them home.
00:37:22The state's not ready.
00:37:23They're not going to have a witness ready.
00:37:24We have another day wasted.
00:37:25I just, I honestly, I have never experienced a level of unprofessionalism in my career.
00:37:34It's unbelievable.
00:37:36McNeil got upset at the judge's words, and she wasn't afraid to show it.
00:37:41I have been practicing in this county for 22 minutes.
00:37:43You know what?
00:37:44I don't want to hear it.
00:37:44I don't want to hear it.
00:37:45Well, judge, you're insulting me on the record in front of my client, and I believe that I should be
00:37:48able to.
00:37:48Okay, you can do that later.
00:37:50You can make your record later.
00:37:51But you've been insulting me the entire trial.
00:37:53So, blatantly, taking your headphones off, arguing with me, storming out, coming late intentionally if you don't like my rulings.
00:38:02So, quite frankly, this has been long overdue.
00:38:05Despite the tensions between the judge and the defense team, Cruz's case went forward as scheduled.
00:38:11This is the moment Cruz learned his sentence.
00:38:13The court imposes a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
00:38:21Cruz got life in prison for all 17 murder charges.
00:38:24After the trial, McNeil and the judge parted ways without further incident.
00:38:29Luckily for McNeil, this judge didn't hold her in contempt for her audacity.
00:38:33How does it compare to throwing a defendant out of court?
00:38:37Hopefully, someday you'll think about that.
00:38:39Get him out of here.
00:38:40I'm done.
00:38:41Like in the case of Stefan Roby, who was facing charges of double murder in Saginaw, Michigan.
00:38:46This is one of the most egregious cases I've ever had.
00:38:49When you shoot and murder your mother.
00:38:52The woman that brought you into this world and your sister.
00:38:56A year earlier, Roby allegedly murdered his mother, Leigh King, and 11-year-old sister,
00:39:02Charlia, inside their Saginaw home.
00:39:04Police said King suffered two fatal gunshot wounds to the back of her head while her daughter
00:39:09was shot two times in the face before Roby dragged her body inside and shot her for a third time.
00:39:15The 22-year-old was arrested and charged with six felony charges, including two counts
00:39:20of first-degree premeditated murder.
00:39:22Roby pled not guilty and represented himself at trial.
00:39:26He was also made to wear a stun vest after police found multiple shanks in his jail cell.
00:39:32During the trial, a friend of Charlia testified that Roby had threatened to kill the victims
00:39:36just days before the shootings.
00:39:38After Roby rested his case, the jurors took 30 minutes to reach a verdict.
00:39:44Guilty of first-degree premeditated murder of Charlia and S. King.
00:39:49Guilty of first-degree premeditated murder of Leigh Angrier King.
00:39:54At sentencing, Roby's grandmother took the stand and addressed her killer grandson.
00:40:00My grandson, Stefan Roby, has been found guilty of being responsible for the deaths of two
00:40:07of the most vulnerable, non-threatening people in his life, his mother and his little sister.
00:40:12But in spite of his terrible crime, his mother would still want him to receive the mental health
00:40:18treatment that he so adamantly rejected in the past.
00:40:22When Roby got a chance to apologize, he chose to complain and throw accusations at Judge Fred Borchard.
00:40:29And I feel as though that most of my motions didn't get passed because you were distracted.
00:40:34Well, that is totally untrue.
00:40:37Well, when she was on the stand, your phone kept going off a couple times and you kept asking
00:40:41if it was her phone.
00:40:42When I came into the courtroom, I saw you on the phone.
00:40:46Not while the court was in session.
00:40:48Okay, but your phone was still going off and you were still distracted by the phone.
00:40:51No, that is untrue.
00:40:53That is totally untrue.
00:40:55And that has nothing to do with the sentence?
00:40:58Yes, it does have something to do with it.
00:40:59Do you have anything you want to tell me in regards to this sentence?
00:41:03Yes, I'm the fault of the mistrial because I don't believe it.
00:41:07After denying his mistrial plea, Judge Borchard threw the defendant out of the courtroom.
00:41:13This is one of the most egregious cases I've ever had.
00:41:16When you shoot and murder your mother, the woman that brought you into this world,
00:41:22and your sister, and you're going to spend the rest of your natural life in prison.
00:41:27Hopefully someday you'll think about that.
00:41:29Get him out of here.
00:41:30I'm done.
00:41:32Ultimately, Stefan Roby was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole
00:41:36for murdering his mother and sister.
00:41:44Steven Roby wanted a mistrial because he felt Judge Borchard wasn't paying attention during trial
00:41:50and sentenced him unfairly.
00:41:52But sometimes the killer isn't mad he got sentenced.
00:41:55He's mad it wasn't the death penalty.
00:41:58You need to be careful.
00:41:59Do you understand?
00:42:00We'll be to death.
00:42:01That's what's happening anyway.
00:42:04It's framed.
00:42:06It's the way it is.
00:42:08Justice will be served.
00:42:09Like in the case of Jonathan Sander, who's facing three counts of homicide in Raleigh, North Carolina.
00:42:16Sander was arrested when a neighborly dispute led him to kill his neighbor, his neighbor's wife, and her mother.
00:42:22Well, he is accused of killing three people in cold blood,
00:42:24and the murder trial of John Sander continues to be full of twists and turns.
00:42:28Yes, it does.
00:42:29We now know that Sander told investigators that he went blank
00:42:33and doesn't even remember killing three of his neighbors in their home.
00:42:36During the interrogation, Sander's voice was chillingly calm.
00:42:40It just went blank, and the last thing I remember was seeing Sandy laying on the floor.
00:42:49In court, Sander showed even less remorse.
00:42:52There was no blood under it.
00:42:54Mr. Sander, please be quiet.
00:42:56It's a fact.
00:42:57Mr. Sander, please be quiet.
00:42:58Mr. Sander.
00:42:59What were her last words?
00:43:01What everybody else did that's watching us.
00:43:04What if?
00:43:04No blood under that wound.
00:43:06Sander was so disruptive that even the judge was sick of him.
00:43:10Mr. Sander, please be...
00:43:13This is my life involved.
00:43:14I was frank.
00:43:15Remove him from the courtroom, please.
00:43:16Remove me from the courtroom.
00:43:18Hey, stop it!
00:43:19Hey!
00:43:19Yeah!
00:43:20His actions were even more heartless,
00:43:22considering the only surviving family member was in the audience watching him.
00:43:27My wife, once she got shot, she said three words.
00:43:31Three words.
00:43:32Oh my God!
00:43:36Salvatore Mazzea could barely give his testimony.
00:43:43I saw him with a gun pointing at my wife.
00:43:51And I tried to go back in the dining room to get something heavy to hit him on the head.
00:43:58But I didn't have a chance.
00:44:00And Sander's repeated outbursts made things even more difficult.
00:44:05Laundry room?
00:44:06Yes.
00:44:07And...
00:44:07You're telling me I blasted you to the Lord from the Lord by the time...
00:44:10Mr. Sander, get him out of here.
00:44:12Get him out of here.
00:44:13Get him out of here.
00:44:16Mr. Sander?
00:44:17Mr. Sander?
00:44:20Mr. Sander?
00:44:20Mr. Sander?
00:44:20You'll go down for it.
00:44:23Sanders claimed he only shot one bullet.
00:44:26He blamed the three deaths on Salvatore Mazzea himself.
00:44:29I did shoot Sandy.
00:44:31I shot him low on his stomach one time.
00:44:33That's the one with the bullets that made the black marks.
00:44:36I barely wounded him.
00:44:38And I left.
00:44:42I left.
00:44:45After I left, Sal Mazzea shot and killed his family.
00:44:49Why?
00:44:49For insurance money.
00:44:51There was only one time Sanders showed a motion in court.
00:44:54And it was this.
00:44:56Hey, Dad.
00:44:57I really, really love you.
00:44:59I also miss you.
00:45:01I miss you every day.
00:45:02I remember when we used to buy Hot Wheels and watch Spongebob.
00:45:06If you were never to come back, I will be so sad.
00:45:09I will cry every day.
00:45:12Sander's wife came to court and read him letters from their three young children.
00:45:16The family and cats miss you.
00:45:17I hope you get out of jail soon.
00:45:20Love your best friend.
00:45:22I'm sorry.
00:45:25But shockingly, Sander's wanted to set his own sentence.
00:45:29You need to be careful.
00:45:30Do you understand?
00:45:31Put me to death.
00:45:32That's what's happening anyway.
00:45:35It was framed.
00:45:37It's the way it is.
00:45:39And justice will be served.
00:45:41He asked the judge for the death penalty.
00:45:44Then, the moment he was waiting for.
00:45:46We, the jury, by unanimous verdict, find the defendant, John Frederick Sander, to be guilty
00:45:52of first-degree murder of Sandy Mazzella.
00:45:55The judge did not grant Sander's request.
00:45:57Instead, he sentenced him to life in prison.
00:46:01And when you take your last breath, you're going to die alone, and you're going to die
00:46:06forgotten.
00:46:07Sander's theory that Mazzella killed his own family was too ridiculous to entertain.
00:46:12But what happens when the defendant calls their judge every ugly name under the sun?
00:46:17Who is this bitch in Cynthia Cuba?
00:46:19Tell me.
00:46:20I thought I was actually going to tell you.
00:46:21I was going to try to hit with the pliers.
00:46:23Like in the case of Sherry Lynn, who's facing charges for felony battery and violently resisting
00:46:29arrest in Miami, Florida.
00:46:31Lynn was arrested after beating and or stabbing a woman named Cynthia Cuba with a pair of pliers.
00:46:37In court, things start off with a bang.
00:46:41Have you ever been treated for any mental health issues?
00:46:44Why don't you go fuck yourself first?
00:46:47Another judge might have found that offensive, but Judge Grazier let out a chuckle.
00:46:54I'm sorry, ma'am.
00:46:56I said go fuck yourself.
00:46:59Okay, well, I'm a little busy right now.
00:47:02But soon enough, she gets down to business.
00:47:04And I'm ordering that you stay away from Cynthia Cuba.
00:47:07Do not have any contact with her.
00:47:09You must stay away from a home in place of business.
00:47:11As to the other case...
00:47:12Who is this bitch in Cynthia Cuba?
00:47:14Tell me.
00:47:15Um, I thought the video actually tried to hit with the pliers.
00:47:19Apparently, that doesn't ring a bell.
00:47:21The other case...
00:47:22F-15-14267.
00:47:25The bond on count is $5,000.
00:47:28Hey!
00:47:28Hey!
00:47:30Hey!
00:47:30Hey!
00:47:31Hey!
00:47:32Hey!
00:47:32Hey!
00:47:33Hey!
00:47:35Hey!
00:48:03Hey!
00:48:03Hey!
00:48:03rights are in full effect. I will say what I choose to say when I choose to say it and
00:48:08that
00:48:08is my right in this country. In the case of Machancey Kramer who's defending a child custody
00:48:14hearing in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kramer's representing Jonathan King who's fighting his ex-wife Shelby
00:48:19Bachman for shared custody of their two-year-old Joseph. Here's my point as a UPS driver. His
00:48:25schedule though is not a set schedule. It varies. So he has to keep her notified of when his
00:48:31schedule is changing so that she's aware of pickup. She has told him now if he's more than
00:48:36half an hour late then what's on the order. He forfeits his entire weekend and can't see the kid
00:48:42and she has she refused to allow him to arrange for a third party to pick up. The judge,
00:48:48Sanda Pomeranzi, asks attorney Don Corcopius his side of the story. Has Joseph gone weekends that
00:48:57he would have expected to see his father without seeing his father. He's not missed one weekend.
00:49:03Not one. His statement directly contradicts Kramer and she rushes in to defend herself.
00:49:09The threat was made. Not one. I didn't ask you if the threat was made. I asked if it happened.
00:49:14You
00:49:14led me to believe that it was happening. During the discrepancy, judge Pomeranzi focuses on finding
00:49:20a solution. What I see here is parties not being creative, not coming up with creative solutions
00:49:28to a problem that neither of them has control over. Kramer's emotional response will be her
00:49:34client's downfall. My client has come up with all kinds of solutions, your honor, and it comes down
00:49:41to what mom wants is what mom is going to demand. Okay, I don't buy that. Well, your honor, that's
00:49:48how it
00:49:48is. What I'm telling you is, have you discussed this issue with Mr. Procopius? Yes, I have in the
00:49:53hallway. Okay. And has it been a matter of making demands or saying, what are we going to do? No,
00:49:59it's a
00:49:59matter of calling my wife a fucking bitch. No, if I did not, and if I was going to call
00:50:04her names, I would do it to
00:50:05her face, and your honor knows I would. So, and I would admit it to you if I had called
00:50:10her back. This case took an
00:50:12unexpected turn, but Kramer only digs herself deeper. I do have experience with you using inappropriate
00:50:20language. And you know that I would admit it if I had done it, and if I was going to
00:50:23do it, I would have done it to
00:50:24her face. If she happened to hear me cussing in the hallway, that's because I cuss all the time. Okay,
00:50:29but you know
00:50:30what? Fed up, the judge tries to give Kramer a word of advice. You want to be a sailor? Fine.
00:50:36Go be a sailor in your
00:50:37private life. Go be a sailor not practicing law. But don't be a sailor in my court or in my
00:50:43cases.
00:50:43So what I'm suggesting to you is, if you used an epithet, maybe not to her face, but to her
00:50:49attorney,
00:50:49that is absolutely inappropriate and unprofessional. And ma'am, I warn you, one of these days,
00:50:58the state bar is going to catch up to that. Because if you read the rules, there is an ethical
00:51:03rule
00:51:03about fairness to opposing counsel. But instead of setting her straight, the judge's words set her
00:51:09off. There are also rules about treating people equally without regard to race, ethnicity, or gender.
00:51:17And so the fact that I work in an office full of male attorneys that cuss all the time, and
00:51:22they have
00:51:22never been rebuked by a single judicial officer or opposing counsel, I find it highly objectionable
00:51:30that anyone constrains about my language. Because I know all kinds of male attorneys who have no
00:51:36problem picking up the phone and screaming cuss words at me. So if I am outside there where my
00:51:41First Amendment rights are in full effect, I will say what I choose to say, when I choose to say
00:51:46it,
00:51:46and that is my right in this country. Are you done? For now. Okay. At this point, the trial isn't
00:51:54about
00:51:54the custody hearing anymore. It's about Kramer's foul mouth. I don't care if you're male or female,
00:52:00and you know better than that. This is my case. This is my case that I will control. And if,
00:52:07in fact,
00:52:10I learn that you have engaged in that behavior again toward Mr. Procopius, in this case,
00:52:19I will set, I will issue an order to show cause, and we will consider contempt.
00:52:24Kramer goes off again, but the judge won't have it.
00:52:28Waste the court's time on irrelevant information, and I'm not going to go ratting out someone.
00:52:33You weren't giving me a headache because you're yelling, and I don't like having a headache.
00:52:36Well, I'm being attacked, Your Honor.
00:52:37No, you're not.
00:52:38And we are wasting time on something that is not relevant to this case.
00:52:41Sit down, counsel.
00:52:44I'm done hearing from you.
00:52:45Tired of arguing, the judge ended the trial for that day to resume at a later date.
00:52:51Hopefully, Kramer's actions won't affect the judge's ruling. At least he wasn't facing
00:52:55prison time for his mistakes.
00:52:57But who in the right mind would send these texts?
00:53:00She used to be held without bail in the trial of this matter.
00:53:04Like in the case of Alexis Plunkett, a lawyer who's facing crimes of her own after illegally
00:53:10communicating with prison inmates in Las Vegas, Nevada.
00:53:13On December 5th, 2018, Plunkett reposted a post from the police department with photos of 29 recently
00:53:20arrested members of the 18th Street gang.
00:53:23In Plunkett's post, she said,
00:53:25I see a confirmed snitch among them, and we have one rat at a minimum here.
00:53:31On a separate account, Plunkett also posted the photo of the alleged informant, therefore exposing
00:53:37their identity publicly. On top of that, jailhouse footage shows Plunkett offering a mobile phone
00:53:44to an inmate, also her ex-boyfriend. These two incidents led to a search warrant on Plunkett's
00:53:50devices, and the police didn't like what they found. In a group chat with other attorneys,
00:53:55Plunkett revealed that after she gave her ex-boyfriend the phone, he physically attacked her.
00:54:00Then, she confessed to sending out multiple hit jobs on him, saying, quote,
00:54:05This POS will never survive prison now. One attorney responded to her messages,
00:54:11recommending that she stop. But of course, she didn't. She doubled down, saying she was going
00:54:16to take care of business first. And, as a cherry on top, said, she's not joking.
00:54:22Within days, Plunkett was arrested and charged with intimidating a witness to influence testimony,
00:54:27and dissuading a witness from testifying. Plunkett's lawyer swears she didn't mean it.
00:54:33It still shows somebody in a bad situation venting about it. It doesn't show a serious threat,
00:54:37that the police never took this seriously as a real threat.
00:54:40The prosecuting attorney has a different opinion.
00:54:42She has said in these texts what she wanted to do. She wanted to have Mr. Arabello killed
00:54:48or get down severely. She mentioned who would do it, particularly gang members, lifers,
00:54:54shot callers, her clients. She mentioned how she's going to pay for it, providing them
00:54:59televisions, legal services, whatever, for life. She is a danger to the community, and we do have
00:55:05concerns about the way she has been behaving with certain inmates. If something needs to be done
00:55:09about this judge, we ask you to do it. As for the judge, he doesn't care that Plunkett has a
00:55:15law
00:55:15degree. In a gang case, and we had the same text, there wouldn't be any hesitation for that person
00:55:22to be in custody. But who in the right mind would send these texts? Because, like I said,
00:55:28I've been doing this since 1982, and I've never even heard of this, let alone seen this.
00:55:32She refused to drop the charges against Plunkett. She would have to go to trial. But would she wait
00:55:37for her court date behind bars? This is the moment she finds out. She is to be held by bail,
00:55:43without
00:55:44bail, pending trial in this matter. In the end, Plunkett was suspended from the practice of law for five
00:55:49years and one day as a punishment for her crimes. Plunkett lost her career over bad decisions. Nothing
00:55:56compares to a lawyer whose first mistake is opening her mouth. I just have the worst cold,
00:56:02your honor. Objection, character evidence. Once again, if you open your mouth again, I'm going to
00:56:12hold you in contempt. Like in the case of Curtis Meeks, who's facing serious fraud, theft and arson
00:56:18charges in Austin, Texas. Unfortunately for Meeks, he chose the worst lawyer possible to represent his
00:56:24case, Mia Alexia of Alexia Law Firm. First, she appeared late to the Zoom meeting because of
00:56:30technical issues. She finally did arrive. Her excuse didn't make any sense. Turn on your camera and your mic.
00:56:45How's that? Great. Well, I can hear you now. That's wonderful. I'm so sorry. I just have the
00:56:53worst cold, your honor. And may it please the court. I respect you immensely. So sure.
00:57:01Then the court got down to business. According to reports, Meeks contracted builders to build luxury
00:57:06apartments on land that he didn't technically own. Served a TRO, a temporary restraining order,
00:57:13ordering him to stay away from the property. He ignored it. They violated the temporary restraining
00:57:18order. Mr. Meeks and his agent were enjoined from enforcing an illegal and fraudulent deed of trust.
00:57:27Trouble begins the moment that the prosecuting attorney, Mr. Coomer, begins questioning the defendant.
00:57:34So overall, how many attorneys have you hired to represent you in various capacities in this case?
00:57:44Objection, character evidence. Well, I would say relevance, but I, you know,
00:57:50um, just answer the question overruled as to that. Attorney Alexia couldn't choose the right
00:57:56objection, but after this next question, that's the least of her worries. Okay. Do you understand
00:58:02my clients want to be paid for their work and building these luxury condo units at the Denfield
00:58:08property? Excuse me, Ms. Alexa, please. If you open your mouth again and words come out other than
00:58:27objection and then a rule, statute, rule of evidence, etc., etc., doesn't come out after it,
00:58:36I'm going to hold you in contempt. I'm tired of this. You don't get to just stop and start
00:58:44instructing the witness. I think the threat of contempt would be enough for Alexia to reconsider
00:58:49her behavior, but that's not the case. He doesn't know. He doesn't know what he said. Ms. Alexa,
00:58:56Ms. Alexa, if you continue to interrupt these proceedings, I am going to hold you in contempt.
00:59:03This is the second time I've had to tell you this, and it's happened many more times in two. Okay?
00:59:11This is the last warning the judge will give, but Alexia doesn't seem to care.
00:59:15What part of Exhibit D3 do you want to see?
00:59:20Mr. Coomer, have you ever been Curtis Meeks' attorney?
00:59:24I have never been Curtis Meeks. All right. I am doing examination right now.
00:59:29Okay. Okay. So that means- Alexia, I'm sorry, but I am holding you in contempt for again
00:59:36interrupting the proceedings, and I've warned you three or four times, I am holding you in contempt.
00:59:42You may proceed, Mr. Coomer. And not five minutes later,
00:59:46after an uncomfortable three seconds of silence, Alexia speaks again.
00:59:54All right. Can we move on, please?
00:59:57Just interrupt, Ms. Alexia. You are not the judge.
01:00:03This time, the judge wants to send a message.
01:00:06So I'm upping your contempt.
01:00:11I'm going to issue a show cause order. You'll have an opportunity to argue why you shouldn't
01:00:16be held in contempt twice so far. Two times.
01:00:21Three minutes later, Alexia has an important announcement.
01:00:24Your Honor, at this point, I am going to have to withdraw on this case.
01:00:32So the case- That's denied.
01:00:33The judge immediately denied her withdrawal. Alexia is shocked.
01:00:39So I must proceed with a withdrawal.
01:00:47I do not feel that the judicial temperament has been fair toward my client.
01:00:56Meanwhile, Curtis seems glad to be rid of his lawyer.
01:01:00Woman, you can ask me some more questions. I'm here to answer them.
01:01:03But Alexia is upset at his supposed betrayal.
01:01:06I have Curtis. I have accurately and fairly represented you.
01:01:18I have invoked you.
01:01:23All right. Okay. I'm cutting you off.
01:01:27Yeah. Mr. Cooper, your next question, please.
01:01:32I am your honor. What I demonstrate or consider with your behavior is inappropriate.
01:01:43Okay. Well, you can file something with judicial conduct or.
01:01:47I know. Whatever.
01:01:49And you are now being held in contempt for interrupting again for the third time.
01:01:55What the judge says next is pure savage.
01:01:58I think you would be better off without you, frankly. So, um, but I am not excusing you. So don't
01:02:06-
01:02:06I never made an appearance. Okay.
01:02:09She just told the court the legal jargon equivalent of, I was never here.
01:02:12You did make an appearance. Okay. This is like, okay, Mr. Comer, you may proceed.
01:02:21Just like that, the judge completely ignored Alexia's desire to withdraw. But Alexia had to get her revenge.
01:02:29Okay. Were you personally served with the temporary restraining order on January 3rd, 2023?
01:02:37Unbelievable. That was the last straw.
01:02:40That will be a fourth interrupt, a fourth contempt for another interruption.
01:02:45Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Your Honor. I thought that it was muted.
01:02:51Okay. I'll take that one off then.
01:02:53At this point, the judge's main goal is to get through the hearing. And if that means absolving
01:02:58one of Alexia's contempt charges, she's willing to do whatever it takes. Unfortunately for the judge,
01:03:03that goal will never be reached.
01:03:06We can let the record reflect that, um, Ms. Alexis has dropped off.
01:03:12That's right. Alexia simply left the call.
01:03:15It's confusing, but I just want to get through and do what we need to do.
01:03:20You can't get through. I don't want to do it because you do it so much.
01:03:23But Mr. Meeks had a lawyer, although she, in my opinion, uh, was not doing great.
01:03:34No, she wasn't.
01:03:35Still, he's entitled to a lawyer.
01:03:37The judge has a choice to make. Get through the meeting or respect Meeks' right to an attorney.
01:03:42The choice is obvious.
01:03:44We are, um, going to be in recess. That is the order of the court for now.
01:03:54Alexia's client is probably better off without her.
01:03:56What happens when the judge threatens to rip up a plea deal?
01:04:00If you're convicted of felony murder, you'll go to prison for the rest of your life.
01:04:04That means you'll die there. That's what I'm tempted to do.
01:04:07Like in the case of Donta Wright, who's facing murder and robbery charges in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
01:04:12Wright was 17 when he shot and killed 18-year-old high school football athlete Jordan Klee during
01:04:19an attempted robbery. Two other teenagers were involved in the murder. 19-year-old
01:04:23Germarius Ellison and 18-year-old Delrano Gracie both received 15 to 40 years in prison.
01:04:30As for Wright, he pleaded guilty to armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery,
01:04:35felony firearm, and second-degree murder.
01:04:37How do you want to plead to counts two, three, six, and seven?
01:04:42I'm pleading guilty.
01:04:44Wright then went on to casually describe the chilling details of the murder.
01:04:48Did you agree and conspire with two other individuals, Delrano Gracie and
01:04:52Marius Ellison, to commit an armed robbery?
01:04:54Yeah.
01:04:55And who are you going to rob?
01:04:57Jordan Klee.
01:04:58Jordan Klee.
01:04:59And as a result of that armed robbery, what did you do with that gun and Mr. Jordan Klee?
01:05:04I shot him.
01:05:05And where did you shoot him?
01:05:08On the top, by his head.
01:05:10And did you kill him with that shot?
01:05:12Yes.
01:05:13During sentencing, a family member spoke on behalf of the victim's mother,
01:05:17who was too overcome with emotion.
01:05:19I've lost laughter and love.
01:05:21I no longer have the hope of having grandchildren.
01:05:24I've lost the enjoyment of holidays and birthdays and of everyday life.
01:05:28This year was supposed to be a year of celebration,
01:05:31of senior pictures with prom and graduation and parties.
01:05:35Instead, it was a nightmare, a nightmare that no parent should ever endure.
01:05:38However, the defendant showed no remorse and smiled throughout the statement.
01:05:43Wright then addressed the court, where he continued with his indifferent demeanor.
01:05:47I'll be Homestone. I'll be keen. I love my family.
01:05:50That's all you got to say.
01:05:53But Judge David Swartz was having none of it,
01:05:56and threatened to reject the defendant's plea deal.
01:05:58You know, I have never in 23 years, approximately, ever not accepted a sentence
01:06:05agreement between the parties because it's a bargain for sentence by the parties. But watching
01:06:10you sit there, smile and laugh and shake your head like this was no big deal. I'm very tempted
01:06:17to just say, I'm not going to accept this sentence agreement. We'll go to trial. And if you're
01:06:22convicted of felony murder, you'll go to prison for the rest of your life. That means you'll die there.
01:06:27Mr. Veller, do you want me to accept this sentence agreement?
01:06:29Now it was up to the prosecution to decide whether to dismiss the agreement
01:06:33or to pursue a trial. With the victim's mother, as well as his grandparents and some family members,
01:06:39they understand that obviously this is the defendant who brutally murdered their son by
01:06:45shooting him in the back of the head. He's shown absolutely no remorse. And throughout the victim
01:06:50impact statements today, he smiled and laughed throughout the entire proceeding. However, the
01:06:57plea family does want to move on with this. They want to get some closure from this case.
01:07:03And they want to try and forgive this defendant and all of his actions for what you did. And they
01:07:08are asking, as well as the people, did you proceed with the sentence agreement?
01:07:11Wright had another opportunity to speak. This time, he addressed the court through his attorney.
01:07:17Your Honor, my client asked me to apologize to the court. His smiling was in no way
01:07:22meant as disrespectful either to the family, to the victim or to this court. My client is 17 years old.
01:07:29He has some emotional problems. And Franklin was scared. And some people display fear by smiling.
01:07:38He really meant no disrespect. He does take this very seriously.
01:07:42Ultimately, Judge Swartz accepted Wright's plea and sentenced him to 25 to 52 years in prison
01:07:49for the murder of Jordan Klee. While Donta Wright's disrespectful behavior almost sent him to prison for
01:07:55life, what happens when a defendant drops multiple F-bombs in front of the judge?
01:08:00Like in the case of Milton Watts, who threw a tantrum in Judge Green's court,
01:08:08things were off to a rough start when Judge Chris Green asked Milton about his failure to appear in court.
01:08:15You were supposed to be here last month. You did not appear. Why weren't you here?
01:08:21No. I had work. My mom didn't show up. Somebody died in the family. There was no reason for me
01:08:28to be here.
01:08:32Well, it's not an engraved invitation, son. It's a court order.
01:08:36Judge Green initially showed some leniency. He asked Milton to hire a new lawyer,
01:08:40since the previous one had withdrawn from the case. But the 21-year-old continued with his smug attitude.
01:08:47Your attorney withdrew, so you'll have to hire an attorney?
01:08:52I don't need an attorney.
01:08:54You're a lawyer?
01:08:56Nope.
01:08:57Do you want to talk about a bond with me? What do you want to tell me?
01:09:02About what?
01:09:03A bond.
01:09:06I don't know. I don't really give a **** to be honest with you.
01:09:13Finally, Judge Green had enough. He charged Milton for showing contempt in the courtroom.
01:09:19That's going to cost you 30 days in the county jail for contempt.
01:09:24Cuff him, if you've got the cuffs. Hold on. It's a $5,000 cash surety bond,
01:09:31subject to the temporary protection order.
01:09:33As the judge read out the charges, Milton started throwing a tantrum.
01:09:40He just swore at the judge.
01:09:42Judge Green tried to give him some counsel.
01:09:45Can I give you a piece of advice?
01:09:46What?
01:09:47You can either make life easy or you can make life hard.
01:09:50But Milton had other ideas. He continued his rant as Judge Green kept on adding to the charges.
01:09:56I already ruined my life.
01:09:58That's 60. You want to go for 90?
01:10:03That's 94.
01:10:06That's 180.
01:10:09That's 306.
01:10:10I'm working at McDonald's. Now I got to come here and **** my life up.
01:10:15**** you.
01:10:16Milton's family members tried to intervene, but there was no stopping him.
01:10:20Go and stop.
01:10:23How many days you want to get me now?
01:10:24Are you still counting ****?
01:10:26Yeah, I'm at about a year right now in contempt, so.
01:10:29He's got mental problems. He's not on medication.
01:10:31I don't care.
01:10:32I don't care.
01:10:32**** you.
01:10:33Go and stop.
01:10:34**** everybody.
01:10:35**** you.
01:10:36Go and **** the power.
01:10:38**** the power.
01:10:39Go and stop.
01:10:39Finally, backup arrived.
01:10:42Court deputies took Milton away as his family looked on with disappointment.
01:10:46While Judge Greene initially went up to 365 days in the heat of the moment,
01:10:51once everything calmed down, Milton was sentenced to 90 days in prison.
01:10:56While Milton Watts will be spending less time in prison than he bargained for,
01:11:00what happens when an attorney's faux pas could cost his client their freedom?
01:11:04Judge, I can't ask a witness.
01:11:06No, you can't. No, you can't. Not without a factual basis.
01:11:09In the case of Edward Belinkus, who's defending Michael Barrison against two
01:11:13attempted murder charges in Long Valley, New Jersey.
01:11:16Michael Barrison was an Olympic horse trainer.
01:11:19And his would-be victim, Lauren Canarek, was his student.
01:11:23But their relationship quickly went south.
01:11:26Canarek posted Facebook posts calling Barrison a racist and an anti-Semite,
01:11:31among other things.
01:11:32Barrison denied the allegations, but Canarek kept posting.
01:11:36Soon enough, both Barrison and Canarek made police calls claiming they feared for their lives.
01:11:42Tensions came to a head when Barrison took a pistol and paid Canarek an unexpected visit.
01:11:55In the 911 call, you can hear Canarek's fiancée struggling to subdue the shooter.
01:12:07Barrison shot Canarek in the chest twice and also shot at her fiancée.
01:12:12Luckily, they both survived. But as for Barrison, he was sent behind bars to await trial for attempted murder.
01:12:19In court, Barrison's lawyer was convinced of his innocence.
01:12:23I am the only thing standing between this man and a wrongful conviction.
01:12:32But there was another person wholly convinced of his guilt, Lauren Canarek.
01:12:37Yeah, within the minute I started talking, he pulled out a gun and shot me once, twice, directly in the
01:12:46chest.
01:12:47Soon, it was time for Belinkus to cross-examine Canarek. But he made a mistake.
01:12:53I don't even know what the factual basis is for that.
01:12:57Judge, I can ask a witness.
01:12:59No, you can't. No, you can't. Not without a factual basis.
01:13:03You just can't ask for speculation. That's what you're asking for.
01:13:07I'm asking her a question whether or not...
01:13:09There's no evidence that it happened before.
01:13:11He tried to insinuate that Canarek couldn't be sure of when the shooting took place, but the judge didn't appreciate
01:13:17the move.
01:13:19Immediately after the shooting, and I believe I can question the timing of the shooting based on their inconsistent statement,
01:13:26their motivation to lie.
01:13:27No, you're not going to... Not to create some alternate universe scenario without something in the record.
01:13:34You need a factual basis. That is black letter law, 101.
01:13:39Still, Belinkus pushed, saying her testimony was too unstable to trust.
01:13:45You've asked them 500 questions about what happened, about her recollection of it, which is fine.
01:13:52Now you're asking, well, are you sure it didn't happen before? You have no basis to ask that.
01:13:58Her recollection is horrible.
01:14:00No, it's not.
01:14:01She's changed her story over and over.
01:14:03It doesn't matter. It doesn't...
01:14:04Mr. Belinkus, it does not allow you to suggest to this jury to engage in speculation, which is what you're
01:14:12doing.
01:14:12The judge was done with Belinkus.
01:14:16That's my ruling. End of it.
01:14:21After that, Belinkus switched his strategy to a not guilty plea by reason of insanity,
01:14:27claiming that Canerac's constant harassment drove his client to the edge.
01:14:31This was the moment Barrison learned his fate.
01:14:34With regard to count one, attempted murder of Lauren Canerac, what is your verdict?
01:14:39Not guilty by reason of insanity.
01:14:46There is someone almost fell to his knees in relief.
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