Kindness in the courtroom

 

It was night of Memorial Day Monday, just five days before I was to leave for India. I was driving back from San Francisco after taking care of our daughter who had Covid at the time and also having helped her move into a new apartment. It was close to midnight and home was less than 15 miles away when suddenly those ominous blue and red lights started flashing behind me. To make a long story short I got a speeding ticket that night. By the time the actual citation arrived in the mail I was already in Pune. I communicated with the court through email and got an appointment to appear at the court upon my return in October.

So the past Friday (2 days back) I went to the court. About 25-30 defendants were present for various driving related charges. The judge, an African American woman, probably in her forties, was already seated at her desk when we defendants were led inside the courtroom.  I watched in total surprise at her demeanor. From the outset she made it obvious that she was here to help, to show kindness and do everything possible to minimize the damage for every single person in the room. 

When it was my turn I was still nervous. The speed citation was such that she couldn’t reduce the citation. I couldn’t avoid fines or DMV notification which would automatically impact my insurance premiums. I had a choice to plead guilty, or no contest or ask for a jury trial. At the trial the officer who gave me the citation would be required to be present. I asked the judge if there is any possibility that the officer could reduce my citation. She said yes. So I decided to proceed in that direction.

The clerk in the courtroom began to look up dates for my trial. She then turned to talk to the judge. After a minute or so of deliberation between them the judge spoke to me. “The officer in this case no longer works for the sheriff’s department. The case is dismissed, in the name of justice “. I didn’t quite grasp it. What does that mean, I asked her. She smiled and said “The case is dismissed. You are free”.  I was in total disbelief. I thanked her and just before taking leave I told her she was the most benevolent judge I had ever come across! ( It was true. )

As I was walking out a fellow defendant nodded to me to congratulate me. The silent gesture was heartwarming. In my mind I was thinking about the judge.  Wow! What a sterling example of kindness she was ! Every defendant was made to feel comfortable and ironically, no one was “ judged” by her. She looked at each one as a human being and wanted to ease them out of their situation. I have been to courtrooms before during jury duty and other times. Not a single of those judges were anything like this. I must imbibe her qualities I told myself ! 

Jab bhi yeh dil udas hota hain

Jane kaun aas paas hota hain

I got into my car and broke down crying. An unseen hand had showered mercy on me and I could feel it in that present moment. Within fraction of a moment, from being liable to pay $900 in fines, some DMV points on my record, and a steep hike in auto insurance premiums for next several years I had walked out with no charges. I had been carrying it on my head for four months. How and what just happened? The most I had wished was a bit of leniency. This much was just beyond belief. I held my face in both hands and cried for several minutes in gratitude. I vowed to remain more careful behind the wheel hereafter and left the place with an entirely different feeling. Inspired. Humbled. Hugely grateful for the hand of Providence. I could feel it like never before. Wished that everyone could feel it just the same when they needed it. 🙏🏼🙏🏼

Saree a cotton jamdani from West Bengal.