I thought about Harold sitting in the back of the courtroom holding his baseball cap wondering if he’d ever get justice.
I thought about his daughter who needed her medication and her father’s presence.
And I thought about every other person who’d been hurt by someone like Vanessa and never got their day in court.
I made a decision right there to call in someone who could make sure this case was handled properly.
I asked my clerk to contact the state attorney general’s office and request that someone come down to my courtroom immediately.
I also asked officer Torres to stay and provide his full report.
Vanessa’s attorney looked panicked.
He said, “Your honor, this is highly unusual for a traffic case.
I looked at him and said, “Counselor, this stopped being a traffic case the moment your client lied under oath and posted evidence of her crime on social media.
” While we waited for the state attorney to arrive, I asked Vanessa if she had anything else to say.
She looked at me with tears starting to form in her eyes, and I could see her whole demeanor had changed.
She said, “Judge, I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to hurt anyone.
I just I panicked.
” I asked her why she panicked and she said, “Because my father would have been furious if I got another ticket.
He already told me if I got one more, he’d take my car away.
” I looked at her and said, “So instead of taking responsibility, you left an elderly veteran on the side of the road and joked about it online.
” She started crying for real now and I saw her hands shaking.
Her attorney tried to comfort her, but she pushed him away.
She said, “I didn’t think it was that bad.
I didn’t think anyone was really hurt.
” I said, “Miss Caldwell, you didn’t think about anyone but yourself.
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