accepted the papers
“What is it you want?” Spassero demanded harshly.
“First you tell me to get a second opinion, and then you create an emergency because I brought in a second doctor What game are you playing?”
“Now, Bill,” Judge Paltz said.
“I asked if you intended to get a second psychiatric evaluation, not if you intended to bring in a hack who seems to think the only good patient is a sleeping patient.”
“Now, Barbara,” Judge Paltz said, only minimally sharper.
“Both of you, quiet.” He began to read through the excerpts, and after a moment he stood up, went to his desk, and picked up his telephone.
“Doris, would you run down Dr. Grayling for me, please?”
While he waited for the call to be put through, he scanned the other excerpts and then picked up the documents Barbara had drawn up for Lucille Reiner.
Spassero and Barbara waited silently.
When the phone rang, a soft melodious three notes, Barbara felt her stomach tighten.
“Dr. Grayling, good of you to let me interrupt your day. I just have a couple of questions to ask you, looking for a little information, you know.” He swiveled his chair around and his voice faded so that his words no longer carried across the room. The conversation seemed to continue a long time before he swiveled back, saying, “I do appreciate all this. Dr. Grayling.
Thank you so much.” After he hung up, he cupped his chin in his hand in thought for what seemed a long time.
Finally he folded his hands before him on the desk and said, “A defendant who is being held in jail awaiting trial becomes of necessity a ward of the court.
But a defendant who has been declared competent to stand trial is deemed competent to make independent decisions concerning certain personal affairs, such as the dispensation of belongings, a will, and non emergency private medical treatment. Once certain treatments are initiated, however, it appears that independent decisions are not
trustworthy, and for that ream son I have asked Dr. Grayling to reassume his position as Mrs. Kennerman’s doctor until Monday, when she will be given the opportunity to choose her own physician if she so desires. Dr. Grayling’s opinion is that it will take until Monday for the medication to be out of her system enough to trust her independence in this matter.”
He regarded Barbara levelly, then turned the same look of measured assessment toward Spassero.
“Be cause her mental functions may be disturbed by the medication she has received, I order both of you not to see her until Dr. Grayling gives his permission, probably on Monday after his examination.”
“Your Honor!” Spassero cried out.
“I object to this entire proceeding. Ms. Holloway created a crisis in an attempt to prejudice the court for some reason which I simply can’t fathom. She has done this in a way that is so prejudicial, my integrity has been impugned. Dr.
Copley’s reputation has been damaged, and for what purpose God alone knows.”
“Well, she says she wants to get a blue sweater back for her client. Isn’t that what Mrs. Reiner retained you to do?”
“Yes, sir,” Barbara said meekly. She could not inter pret the glint in the judge’s eyes.
He stood up and gathered together the papers she had given him.
“As for the rest of it, Bill, leave it alone. No one’s accusing you of anything, far as I can tell. You saw your client animated, according to Dr. Grayling, and that was so unusual you made a mistake. It hap pens. But your doctor probably made a bigger mistake.
And no one outside this room knows what went on in here.” He walked around his desk.
“I think we’re through, aren’t we?” He handed the papers to Barbara.
He ushered them to the door, and said to Barbara
“Sometime, when you have plenty of time, ask your father about that sturgeon we wrestled with over at Snake River. And, Barbara, keep in mind that the court appointed Mr. Spassero to represent Paula Kennennan.
And to my
“What is it you want?” Spassero demanded harshly.
“First you tell me to get a second opinion, and then you create an emergency because I brought in a second doctor What game are you playing?”
“Now, Bill,” Judge Paltz said.
“I asked if you intended to get a second psychiatric evaluation, not if you intended to bring in a hack who seems to think the only good patient is a sleeping patient.”
“Now, Barbara,” Judge Paltz said, only minimally sharper.
“Both of you, quiet.” He began to read through the excerpts, and after a moment he stood up, went to his desk, and picked up his telephone.
“Doris, would you run down Dr. Grayling for me, please?”
While he waited for the call to be put through, he scanned the other excerpts and then picked up the documents Barbara had drawn up for Lucille Reiner.
Spassero and Barbara waited silently.
When the phone rang, a soft melodious three notes, Barbara felt her stomach tighten.
“Dr. Grayling, good of you to let me interrupt your day. I just have a couple of questions to ask you, looking for a little information, you know.” He swiveled his chair around and his voice faded so that his words no longer carried across the room. The conversation seemed to continue a long time before he swiveled back, saying, “I do appreciate all this. Dr. Grayling.
Thank you so much.” After he hung up, he cupped his chin in his hand in thought for what seemed a long time.
Finally he folded his hands before him on the desk and said, “A defendant who is being held in jail awaiting trial becomes of necessity a ward of the court.
But a defendant who has been declared competent to stand trial is deemed competent to make independent decisions concerning certain personal affairs, such as the dispensation of belongings, a will, and non emergency private medical treatment. Once certain treatments are initiated, however, it appears that independent decisions are not
trustworthy, and for that ream son I have asked Dr. Grayling to reassume his position as Mrs. Kennerman’s doctor until Monday, when she will be given the opportunity to choose her own physician if she so desires. Dr. Grayling’s opinion is that it will take until Monday for the medication to be out of her system enough to trust her independence in this matter.”
He regarded Barbara levelly, then turned the same look of measured assessment toward Spassero.
“Be cause her mental functions may be disturbed by the medication she has received, I order both of you not to see her until Dr. Grayling gives his permission, probably on Monday after his examination.”
“Your Honor!” Spassero cried out.
“I object to this entire proceeding. Ms. Holloway created a crisis in an attempt to prejudice the court for some reason which I simply can’t fathom. She has done this in a way that is so prejudicial, my integrity has been impugned. Dr.
Copley’s reputation has been damaged, and for what purpose God alone knows.”
“Well, she says she wants to get a blue sweater back for her client. Isn’t that what Mrs. Reiner retained you to do?”
“Yes, sir,” Barbara said meekly. She could not inter pret the glint in the judge’s eyes.
He stood up and gathered together the papers she had given him.
“As for the rest of it, Bill, leave it alone. No one’s accusing you of anything, far as I can tell. You saw your client animated, according to Dr. Grayling, and that was so unusual you made a mistake. It hap pens. But your doctor probably made a bigger mistake.
And no one outside this room knows what went on in here.” He walked around his desk.
“I think we’re through, aren’t we?” He handed the papers to Barbara.
He ushered them to the door, and said to Barbara
“Sometime, when you have plenty of time, ask your father about that sturgeon we wrestled with over at Snake River. And, Barbara, keep in mind that the court appointed Mr. Spassero to represent Paula Kennennan.
And to my
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