{"id":1323,"date":"2019-10-25T21:25:19","date_gmt":"2019-10-25T21:25:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/?p=1323"},"modified":"2023-03-27T15:52:09","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T15:52:09","slug":"a-courthouse-moment-tuck-the-sweatshirt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/9thstreetjournal.org\/2019\/10\/25\/a-courthouse-moment-tuck-the-sweatshirt\/","title":{"rendered":"A courthouse moment: ‘Tuck the sweatshirt!’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phillip Williams might have seen the sign.<\/span><\/p>\n

It was hanging off the door Williams used to enter Courtroom 4D. \u201cPull your pants up and tuck in your shirts,\u201d it said in Comic Sans. \u201cIf you are not dressed appropriately your case WILL NOT BE HEARD…\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
The sign outside Courtroom 4D.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If he saw the sign, he didn\u2019t follow its rules. When his turn came to face District Court Judge Brian Wilks, Williams ambled to the center of the room, a pink sweatshirt hanging untucked on his lanky frame, boxers peeking over his jeans.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bailiff took one look at Williams and heaved a long, loud sigh.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOut,\u201d he grumbled, gesturing for Williams to leave the courtroom, fix his appearance, and then return. Williams gave a half shrug, grabbing distractedly at his unfastened red belt and walking back into the hallway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When Williams strolled back in, he\u2019d fulfilled half the requirements on the sign: the red belt was tighter around his waist, the boxers now safely tucked beneath jeans. \u201cStraight?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

The bailiff wasn\u2019t satisfied.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOUT!\u201d he shouted at Williams, directing him back into the hallway, eyes wide in disbelief. \u201cTuck the sweatshirt!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The courtroom erupted in giggles. Judge Wilks rested his head on his knuckles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAhh,\u201d Williams turned around for his second try, stumbling to the door of the courtroom as he shoved his pink sweatshirt into his jeans. He returned to the dias looking uncomfortable, a stray rumple of sweatshirt spilling over his belt.<\/span><\/p>\n

The courtroom chuckles subsided as Judge Wilks leveled his gaze at Williams, who rocked from foot to foot, waiting for his scolding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMan!\u201d the judge suddenly exclaimed. \u201cThis is no fashion statement!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Williams stopped rocking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI guarantee you, if you see me not in this robe, off this bench, I won\u2019t have my shirt tucked in!\u201d the Judge joked. \u201cGuarantee! \u2018Cause it\u2019s not cool!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There came the wave of giggles again \u2013 muffled laughs into shirt collars, hearty guffaws from the back, and even a snort from Williams\u2019 attorney.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But the judge said there was a good reason for the rule on courtroom attire.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe climate we live in these days\u2026 you never can tell what people got,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ve watched the safety video, and no lie \u2013 a gentleman as slim as you are, right? He had on a sweatshirt, and he pulled out about 19 guns and knives from around his waist. He even had a shotgun down his pants!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At that image, two ladies in the front bursted into laughter, shoulder-to-shoulder in chuckles.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSee, if something pops off in this courtroom, I can dive behind my desk,\u201d the Judge mimed bending over. \u201cBut that\u2019s not gonna protect you all<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMy job, and the deputies\u2019 job, is to protect you. And to protect everybody that, unfortunately, has to come into this courtroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Back to business. \u201cSo,\u201d he turned to look at Williams, \u201cThis is a motion to continue?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the courtroom, several other defendants waiting their turn before the judge quickly but quietly tucked in their shirts, sweatshirts and jackets.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Phillip Williams might have seen the sign. 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