"Medium Security" IV - Ch. 34
Justin's hearing.
Chapter 34
Justin stared at himself in the men's room mirror as
he washed his hands. Not in his workshirt with his
prison number printed over his left breast, but in a
blue suit with a white shirt and carefully knotted tie.
He almost didn't recognize himself.
"I wish Brian could see me now," he muttered.
"What did you say?" asked the policeman. The cop was
standing at the door, guarding Justin while he pissed.
Since the only window in the men's room was about a
foot wide and almost at the level of the ceiling, Justin
wasn't certain how they expected him to try to escape,
but that was the rule.
"Nothing, sir," Justin replied. Then he followed the
officer out into the corridor and down the hallway to
the courtroom where Julie was waiting for him.
Julie held Justin's hand as they walked inside. Justin
was surprised at the number of people sitting in the
court, since he had assumed that this was a closed
hearing. He looked at his attorney questioningly.
"Those people over there are reporters from the local
press," Julie whispered. "That's Kevin Broderick from
the 'Pittsburgh Clarion.'"
"Reporters?" Justin frowned. "Why would reporters
be here?"
"You'll see, honey," said Julie, leading Justin to the
front table.
Then Justin saw his mother sitting in the front row.
Next to her sat Ron. Jennifer nodded to her son, but
she didn't speak to him. She was clutching a handful
of kleenex and she looked very nervous. Even Ron
looked anxious. He kept running his fingers through
his curly hair and clearing his throat.
They all rose when the judge entered the courtroom.
Judge Margaret Higgins was a small, stern-looking
black woman with a neat afro. She sat down on the
bench and the hearing officially began.
Justin had already been through one trial and he knew
his case inside and out, but Julie had given the judge
a pile of new information. Justin was surprised. During
his original trial there wasn't all that much evidence
beyond the bags of marijuana and the handful of Quaaludes
that had been found in the car. That and the testimony
of the two cops who arrested him and his blood-alcohol
test. The rest of it had all been rhetoric by his prosecutor,
James Stockwell.
Stockwell had made long, pretentious statements about
drug-ravaged teenagers who hid behind their wealth and
privilege to get away with murder. Then he had pointed
to the defendant, Justin Taylor, as an example of the
arrogance of those spoiled kids who thought they were
above the law. Taking drugs and driving while drinking,
thereby endangering the peace and well-being of
law-abiding Pittsburghers. Law and order had turned
out to be the linchpin of Stockwell's mayoral campaign
and he rehearsed many of his political themes during
Justin's trial.
On the other side, Justin's lawyer, Gordon Maxwell,
had said almost nothing in his client's defense. He had
no real answer to Stockwell's accusations or grandstanding.
And the judge, a tough, old-school ex-cop, bought the
prosecutor's argument all the way, sentencing Justin
to 5 years in prison.
The key to Julie's position was Gordon Maxwell. Craig
Taylor's good friend and golfing buddy. A member of their
country club. Julie went after Gordon Maxwell as if he
were on trial.
Justin began to listen more intently as Julie presented
evidence that Gordon Maxwell had connections to the
Stockwell campaign before Justin's trial and had directly
aided it afterwards. She presented evidence of large
donations from Maxwell and a network of his friends
-- many of them members of the same country club
as the Taylors -- to the Stockwell campaign and also
evidence of an attempt to cover up where those
donations had originated.
Justin glanced back at his mother. She was crying
silently, while Ron held her hand and looked grim.
Could it be true? It looked like Justin's own attorney
had allowed him to be railroaded into prison so that
Jim Stockwell could have a platform for his campaign
to win the Republican nomination for mayor. And it
had almost worked. Almost. But Stockwell's campaign
ended up in a shambles and Stockwell himself was now
under indictment and out on bail. But all of that was
too late for Justin. His life had already been
transformed forever.
"These power-hungry men sacrificed this young
student on the altar of their own ambition," Julie
said in conclusion. "Your Honor, you have seen the
evidence that the Prisoners' Legal Defense has managed
to discover connecting my client's original attorney
with the man prosecuting his case. Both had much to
gain from a victory by Mr. Stockwell. They little cared
for the fate of my young client, who was only 18 years
old at the time of his trial and who had never been in
trouble with the law in his entire life. He was an Honor
student, a talented artist on his way to a prestigious art
institute. But instead of spending his freshman year doing
what he loved, he was sent to prison with adult felons.
There he was assaulted and brutalized physically and
emotionally. He watched his cellmate almost murdered
before his eyes when that man attempted to protect him
from further attack. My young client, Justin Taylor,
has lost his freedom and lost his innocence because James
Stockwell had political ambitions. Yes, Your Honor, Justin
Taylor made a mistake, but the price he has paid is far
beyond his offence -- an offence which would have
ordinarily gotten him probation and community service.
And now his prosecutor is himself facing prison. I imagine
that he will ask for the full mercy of the court -- mercy
that he did not ask for in the case of my young client."
Justin sat with his mouth open. What would the judge
say now? Justin looked over at all the observers in the
courtroom. Reporters, Julie had said. Now he knew why
they were there. They were really covering Stockwell's
trial, not his. But Justin's case had become inextricably
intertwined with that of the disgraced prosecutor.
The judge called a short recess and left the bench.
Julie turned to Ron and grinned at him. "Not bad for a
broad, huh?"
Ron smiled back. He no longer looked nervous. "Perfect,
Julie. Higgins has had your material for a couple of weeks
now and you know that she was only waiting to get a good
look at the kid." Ron looked Justin up and down. "He's
the picture of wronged innocence in that blue suit. He
looks like he stepped off a Christmas card!"
"That's because he IS innocent!" cried Jennifer, still
shredding her kleenex.
"Jen, please keep your voice down," urged Ron. "Those
reporters are going to want a statement afterwards, so
save it for then."
"After what?" asked Justin. He began to feel the panic
again. It was building in his chest and moving up into
his head, where it began to pound between his ears.
Finally, the judge returned. She didn't look at all happy.
She began making a long statement that seemed to be
addressed as much to the reporters in the courtroom as
to Justin and his attorney. Justin found his mind wandering
again. His eyes kept checking the clock. It was getting late.
He'd definitely miss head count and maybe dinner. He
wished that Brian were here with him. Then he wouldn't
feel so jumpy. Brian would know what to say to reassure
him. Justin reached over and touched Julie's hand. She
smiled at Justin and gave his hand a tiny squeeze.
"And because of these abuses of the system by the former
prosecutor and also by the defendant's own attorney --
who is currently under investigation himself," the judge
continued. "I find it impossible to see how Justin Taylor
could have received a fair trial under such circumstances.
The method of his prosecution and the sentence that he
received are a disgrace to our judicial system, and the
indignities that he has suffered in the time he has spent
behind bars are shocking." The judge held up a folder.
"These are statements from the warden of Stanton
Correctional, as well as from the chief physician and
the chaplain, testifying to what this young man endured
there. Keeping all of these facts in mind, I am vacating
his conviction and I hereby order his immediate release
from detention."
Justin couldn't hear anything else because his mother
began to sob and Ron yelled, "Yes!" Julie stood and
thanked the judge. And then....
And then what?
Justin sat in stunned silence. The reporters crowded
around, asking questions and pushing microphones in
his face. Ron and Julie were both making statements,
while his mother kept crying.
"But... but...." stammered Justin. "But... what happens
now?" He turned to his mother. "I'm going to be late for
dinner!"
Jennifer smiled and wiped her eyes. "Honey! You don't
have to worry about that anymore! Didn't you hear the
judge?"
"Don't you understand, son," said Ron, looking triumphant.
"She's vacated your sentence! She's erased it! You have
no conviction and no record! It's better than we could
ever have hoped for!"
"You mean that... that I'm not going back to the Quad?"
said Justin. "At all? Ever?"
"No, sweetheart!" cried Jennifer Taylor. "You're going
home! Home -- where you belong."
But Justin Taylor wasn't smiling. His face froze as he
stared at his mother, then at Ron and Julie. "But what
about Brian?" he breathed. "I have to go back! I have to!"
"Don't be ridiculous, son," said Ron. "We've been working
our asses off to get you out of Stanton. You're certainly
NOT going back!"
"No," said Justin, backing away. But there was no place
to go. No way to get back to the Quad and see Brian. To
talk to Brian one more time.
"It'll be all right, Justin," said Julie, hugging him
tightly. "This is what Brian has been working on for
months! This is exactly what he hoped would happen!
And we couldn't have done it without him."
"Brian," Justin whispered, dropping his head into his
hands. "Brian!"
Chapter 34
Justin stared at himself in the men's room mirror as
he washed his hands. Not in his workshirt with his
prison number printed over his left breast, but in a
blue suit with a white shirt and carefully knotted tie.
He almost didn't recognize himself.
"I wish Brian could see me now," he muttered.
"What did you say?" asked the policeman. The cop was
standing at the door, guarding Justin while he pissed.
Since the only window in the men's room was about a
foot wide and almost at the level of the ceiling, Justin
wasn't certain how they expected him to try to escape,
but that was the rule.
"Nothing, sir," Justin replied. Then he followed the
officer out into the corridor and down the hallway to
the courtroom where Julie was waiting for him.
Julie held Justin's hand as they walked inside. Justin
was surprised at the number of people sitting in the
court, since he had assumed that this was a closed
hearing. He looked at his attorney questioningly.
"Those people over there are reporters from the local
press," Julie whispered. "That's Kevin Broderick from
the 'Pittsburgh Clarion.'"
"Reporters?" Justin frowned. "Why would reporters
be here?"
"You'll see, honey," said Julie, leading Justin to the
front table.
Then Justin saw his mother sitting in the front row.
Next to her sat Ron. Jennifer nodded to her son, but
she didn't speak to him. She was clutching a handful
of kleenex and she looked very nervous. Even Ron
looked anxious. He kept running his fingers through
his curly hair and clearing his throat.
They all rose when the judge entered the courtroom.
Judge Margaret Higgins was a small, stern-looking
black woman with a neat afro. She sat down on the
bench and the hearing officially began.
Justin had already been through one trial and he knew
his case inside and out, but Julie had given the judge
a pile of new information. Justin was surprised. During
his original trial there wasn't all that much evidence
beyond the bags of marijuana and the handful of Quaaludes
that had been found in the car. That and the testimony
of the two cops who arrested him and his blood-alcohol
test. The rest of it had all been rhetoric by his prosecutor,
James Stockwell.
Stockwell had made long, pretentious statements about
drug-ravaged teenagers who hid behind their wealth and
privilege to get away with murder. Then he had pointed
to the defendant, Justin Taylor, as an example of the
arrogance of those spoiled kids who thought they were
above the law. Taking drugs and driving while drinking,
thereby endangering the peace and well-being of
law-abiding Pittsburghers. Law and order had turned
out to be the linchpin of Stockwell's mayoral campaign
and he rehearsed many of his political themes during
Justin's trial.
On the other side, Justin's lawyer, Gordon Maxwell,
had said almost nothing in his client's defense. He had
no real answer to Stockwell's accusations or grandstanding.
And the judge, a tough, old-school ex-cop, bought the
prosecutor's argument all the way, sentencing Justin
to 5 years in prison.
The key to Julie's position was Gordon Maxwell. Craig
Taylor's good friend and golfing buddy. A member of their
country club. Julie went after Gordon Maxwell as if he
were on trial.
Justin began to listen more intently as Julie presented
evidence that Gordon Maxwell had connections to the
Stockwell campaign before Justin's trial and had directly
aided it afterwards. She presented evidence of large
donations from Maxwell and a network of his friends
-- many of them members of the same country club
as the Taylors -- to the Stockwell campaign and also
evidence of an attempt to cover up where those
donations had originated.
Justin glanced back at his mother. She was crying
silently, while Ron held her hand and looked grim.
Could it be true? It looked like Justin's own attorney
had allowed him to be railroaded into prison so that
Jim Stockwell could have a platform for his campaign
to win the Republican nomination for mayor. And it
had almost worked. Almost. But Stockwell's campaign
ended up in a shambles and Stockwell himself was now
under indictment and out on bail. But all of that was
too late for Justin. His life had already been
transformed forever.
"These power-hungry men sacrificed this young
student on the altar of their own ambition," Julie
said in conclusion. "Your Honor, you have seen the
evidence that the Prisoners' Legal Defense has managed
to discover connecting my client's original attorney
with the man prosecuting his case. Both had much to
gain from a victory by Mr. Stockwell. They little cared
for the fate of my young client, who was only 18 years
old at the time of his trial and who had never been in
trouble with the law in his entire life. He was an Honor
student, a talented artist on his way to a prestigious art
institute. But instead of spending his freshman year doing
what he loved, he was sent to prison with adult felons.
There he was assaulted and brutalized physically and
emotionally. He watched his cellmate almost murdered
before his eyes when that man attempted to protect him
from further attack. My young client, Justin Taylor,
has lost his freedom and lost his innocence because James
Stockwell had political ambitions. Yes, Your Honor, Justin
Taylor made a mistake, but the price he has paid is far
beyond his offence -- an offence which would have
ordinarily gotten him probation and community service.
And now his prosecutor is himself facing prison. I imagine
that he will ask for the full mercy of the court -- mercy
that he did not ask for in the case of my young client."
Justin sat with his mouth open. What would the judge
say now? Justin looked over at all the observers in the
courtroom. Reporters, Julie had said. Now he knew why
they were there. They were really covering Stockwell's
trial, not his. But Justin's case had become inextricably
intertwined with that of the disgraced prosecutor.
The judge called a short recess and left the bench.
Julie turned to Ron and grinned at him. "Not bad for a
broad, huh?"
Ron smiled back. He no longer looked nervous. "Perfect,
Julie. Higgins has had your material for a couple of weeks
now and you know that she was only waiting to get a good
look at the kid." Ron looked Justin up and down. "He's
the picture of wronged innocence in that blue suit. He
looks like he stepped off a Christmas card!"
"That's because he IS innocent!" cried Jennifer, still
shredding her kleenex.
"Jen, please keep your voice down," urged Ron. "Those
reporters are going to want a statement afterwards, so
save it for then."
"After what?" asked Justin. He began to feel the panic
again. It was building in his chest and moving up into
his head, where it began to pound between his ears.
Finally, the judge returned. She didn't look at all happy.
She began making a long statement that seemed to be
addressed as much to the reporters in the courtroom as
to Justin and his attorney. Justin found his mind wandering
again. His eyes kept checking the clock. It was getting late.
He'd definitely miss head count and maybe dinner. He
wished that Brian were here with him. Then he wouldn't
feel so jumpy. Brian would know what to say to reassure
him. Justin reached over and touched Julie's hand. She
smiled at Justin and gave his hand a tiny squeeze.
"And because of these abuses of the system by the former
prosecutor and also by the defendant's own attorney --
who is currently under investigation himself," the judge
continued. "I find it impossible to see how Justin Taylor
could have received a fair trial under such circumstances.
The method of his prosecution and the sentence that he
received are a disgrace to our judicial system, and the
indignities that he has suffered in the time he has spent
behind bars are shocking." The judge held up a folder.
"These are statements from the warden of Stanton
Correctional, as well as from the chief physician and
the chaplain, testifying to what this young man endured
there. Keeping all of these facts in mind, I am vacating
his conviction and I hereby order his immediate release
from detention."
Justin couldn't hear anything else because his mother
began to sob and Ron yelled, "Yes!" Julie stood and
thanked the judge. And then....
And then what?
Justin sat in stunned silence. The reporters crowded
around, asking questions and pushing microphones in
his face. Ron and Julie were both making statements,
while his mother kept crying.
"But... but...." stammered Justin. "But... what happens
now?" He turned to his mother. "I'm going to be late for
dinner!"
Jennifer smiled and wiped her eyes. "Honey! You don't
have to worry about that anymore! Didn't you hear the
judge?"
"Don't you understand, son," said Ron, looking triumphant.
"She's vacated your sentence! She's erased it! You have
no conviction and no record! It's better than we could
ever have hoped for!"
"You mean that... that I'm not going back to the Quad?"
said Justin. "At all? Ever?"
"No, sweetheart!" cried Jennifer Taylor. "You're going
home! Home -- where you belong."
But Justin Taylor wasn't smiling. His face froze as he
stared at his mother, then at Ron and Julie. "But what
about Brian?" he breathed. "I have to go back! I have to!"
"Don't be ridiculous, son," said Ron. "We've been working
our asses off to get you out of Stanton. You're certainly
NOT going back!"
"No," said Justin, backing away. But there was no place
to go. No way to get back to the Quad and see Brian. To
talk to Brian one more time.
"It'll be all right, Justin," said Julie, hugging him
tightly. "This is what Brian has been working on for
months! This is exactly what he hoped would happen!
And we couldn't have done it without him."
"Brian," Justin whispered, dropping his head into his
hands. "Brian!"