By Nora Dahl
STANISLAUS COUNTY, CA – This week, here in Stanislaus County Superior Court, there was a probation violation hearing scheduled before Judge Shawn Bessey in Dept. 2.
But it was soon overshadowed by a dust off between the judge and a defense attorney.
As Judge Bessey began outlining the terms of the violated probation to the court, at mid-sentence he found himself interrupted.
A defense attorney had cut off the judge’s monologue to ask one question: “I was wondering if we can set prelim and come back in a couple of weeks.”
The judge was stunned. Taken aback for a moment, it took Bessey a minute to compose himself.
Coldly, Bessey finally stated, “On the record, you don’t just interrupt.”
The attorney lowered her head for a moment, muttering, “My apologies.”
The tense courtroom awkwardly was quiet for a few more moments.
After the brief pause. Bessey continued his prior monologue, and the matter was eventually set for a later preliminary hearing on June 25.
The five-minute discussion of the man’s case was temporarily concluded….and the defense attorney quietly left the courtroom.
