a bearing on the case of Paula Kennerman?” It was not really a question. Barbara nodded.
“Yes, sir,” Spassero said.
“Your Honor, may I present my understanding of this matter before Ms. Holloway goes into whatever her emergency is?” When the judge nodded, he went on, very smoothly, showing no animosity or resentment, only puzzlement.
“Sir, I was in court on Wednesday when Ms. Holloway chose to sit in and observe me. I didn’t know if I should be flattered or intimidated,” he said with his boyish grin.
“But later, when I spoke to her, it became clear that she was antagonistic.
She questioned the way I was handling Paula Kennerman’s case, criticized me, even offered gratuitous advice.” He spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
“I was baffled, sir. I know I don’t have a lot of experience as a trial attorney, but this struck me as so unusual that I mentioned it to one of the more experienced attorneys, and he said with some emphasis that her behavior had been unprofessional, possibly even unethical.”
Barbara watched him with great interest; his hurt-little-boy act was very convincing.
Judge Paltz shifted his position, crossed his arms over his chest.
“I see. You wish to lodge a formal complaint?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“I take it we haven’t got to the emergency yet,” Judge Paltz said agreeably.
“Any time now. Are you through. Bill?”
“Not quite, sir. You know that Paula Kennerman has received many threats, and that the district attorney and I mutually agreed that her visitors should be screened.
For her own safety. Yesterday Ms. Holloway got through the screening to see the defendant and left her in a highly agitated state. She was so excitable that I felt obligated to bring in a second doctor to evaluate her condition. It was his opinion that Mrs. Kennerman should be sedated and kept in seclusion for the next several days under his observation and care.” He drew in a breath and said slowly, “Today Ms. Holloway was denied permission to see the defendant, who was sleeping And that, I’m afraid, is the emergency.”
“I see.” The expression on Judge Paltz’s face remained interested and neutral.
“Barbara? First, are you representing a client in this matter?”
“Yes, sir. Mrs. Reiner, Paula Kennerman’s sister.”
She withdrew the various papers she had collected, each set paper-clipped together.
“This is my agreement with Mrs. Reiner,” she said, handing him the documents.
“I
went to see Mrs. Kennerman in order to get her signature The papers were ruined, and when I tried to get back this morning I was turned away.”
“The emergency, Barbara,” Judge Paltz said with a touch of irritation.
“Mrs. Reiner talked to Dr. Copley, who is now treating her sister, and she is very upset by the choice of doctors and his treatment. Paula Kennennan is not in competent; she can choose her own doctor and should not be forced to submit to one who is not under contract with the state.”
“Is she being forced to submit to medical treatment?”
the judge asked Spassero.
“No, sir. As I said, she was very excitable, and it was the doctor’s decision ” “She was restrained and forced to take a massive dose of Halcion,” Barbara said sharply.
“And once a patient has been tranquilized to the extent that dosage would induce, no further force is required.”
“You questioned my competence, and now you’re questioning the competence of a distinguished doctor,” Spassero snapped.
“Yes, I am. Your Honor, I have gathered information from a number of sources concerning the use of Halcion, especially the contra indications for a person in the physical condition Paula Kennennan suffers at this time anemic, under great stress, anxious, depressed.”
She held out the sheaf of papers she had clipped together
“These are photocopies of the original articles, and stapled to each one is an excerpt of the pertinent data.”
With some reluctance Judge Paltz
“Yes, sir,” Spassero said.
“Your Honor, may I present my understanding of this matter before Ms. Holloway goes into whatever her emergency is?” When the judge nodded, he went on, very smoothly, showing no animosity or resentment, only puzzlement.
“Sir, I was in court on Wednesday when Ms. Holloway chose to sit in and observe me. I didn’t know if I should be flattered or intimidated,” he said with his boyish grin.
“But later, when I spoke to her, it became clear that she was antagonistic.
She questioned the way I was handling Paula Kennerman’s case, criticized me, even offered gratuitous advice.” He spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
“I was baffled, sir. I know I don’t have a lot of experience as a trial attorney, but this struck me as so unusual that I mentioned it to one of the more experienced attorneys, and he said with some emphasis that her behavior had been unprofessional, possibly even unethical.”
Barbara watched him with great interest; his hurt-little-boy act was very convincing.
Judge Paltz shifted his position, crossed his arms over his chest.
“I see. You wish to lodge a formal complaint?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“I take it we haven’t got to the emergency yet,” Judge Paltz said agreeably.
“Any time now. Are you through. Bill?”
“Not quite, sir. You know that Paula Kennerman has received many threats, and that the district attorney and I mutually agreed that her visitors should be screened.
For her own safety. Yesterday Ms. Holloway got through the screening to see the defendant and left her in a highly agitated state. She was so excitable that I felt obligated to bring in a second doctor to evaluate her condition. It was his opinion that Mrs. Kennerman should be sedated and kept in seclusion for the next several days under his observation and care.” He drew in a breath and said slowly, “Today Ms. Holloway was denied permission to see the defendant, who was sleeping And that, I’m afraid, is the emergency.”
“I see.” The expression on Judge Paltz’s face remained interested and neutral.
“Barbara? First, are you representing a client in this matter?”
“Yes, sir. Mrs. Reiner, Paula Kennerman’s sister.”
She withdrew the various papers she had collected, each set paper-clipped together.
“This is my agreement with Mrs. Reiner,” she said, handing him the documents.
“I
went to see Mrs. Kennerman in order to get her signature The papers were ruined, and when I tried to get back this morning I was turned away.”
“The emergency, Barbara,” Judge Paltz said with a touch of irritation.
“Mrs. Reiner talked to Dr. Copley, who is now treating her sister, and she is very upset by the choice of doctors and his treatment. Paula Kennennan is not in competent; she can choose her own doctor and should not be forced to submit to one who is not under contract with the state.”
“Is she being forced to submit to medical treatment?”
the judge asked Spassero.
“No, sir. As I said, she was very excitable, and it was the doctor’s decision ” “She was restrained and forced to take a massive dose of Halcion,” Barbara said sharply.
“And once a patient has been tranquilized to the extent that dosage would induce, no further force is required.”
“You questioned my competence, and now you’re questioning the competence of a distinguished doctor,” Spassero snapped.
“Yes, I am. Your Honor, I have gathered information from a number of sources concerning the use of Halcion, especially the contra indications for a person in the physical condition Paula Kennennan suffers at this time anemic, under great stress, anxious, depressed.”
She held out the sheaf of papers she had clipped together
“These are photocopies of the original articles, and stapled to each one is an excerpt of the pertinent data.”
With some reluctance Judge Paltz