A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,213
lawyers milled about and gossiped and told stale jokes. Families of freshly indicted young men watched from the pews and worried. Clerks scurried about with paperwork and flirted with the lawyers. Jake was the man of the hour and several of his rivals were forced to offer congratulations on the win over in Chester. This stopped, however, when Lowell Dyer arrived on behalf of the State.
A bailiff fetched Jake and Todd Tannehill and said His Honor wanted them in chambers. Noose was waiting, standing and stretching and in obvious discomfort, when they walked in. He greeted them warmly with handshakes all around and pointed to the chairs at the table. When seated, he said, “We have a busy docket this morning, gentlemen, so let’s get right to the point. Jake, you’ve filed your lawsuit for your fees. Todd, how soon can you file your answer?”
“Real soon, Judge.”
“I’m afraid that’s not good enough. The complaint is a simple one-pager, a real rarity in this business, with Jake’s bill attached. I’m sure your answer will be even briefer. Denials all around. Right?”
“Afraid so, Judge.”
“You’ve consulted with your clients and I assume all five supervisors are in agreement.”
“Yes sir.”
“Good. I want you to hustle back to your office, prepare a one-page answer, bring it back over here, and file it while I work through my docket.”
“File it today?”
“No sir. File it before lunch. The trial will be set for next Thursday in this courtroom, a bench trial with me presiding. Jake, do you anticipate calling any witnesses?”
“No sir. I really don’t need any.”
“Nor do you, Todd. It will be a very short trial. I want all five of the supervisors in the courtroom. Jake, subpoena them if you have to.”
“That won’t be necessary, Your Honor,” Todd said. “I’ll get ’em here.”
“Okay, but if one fails to show, then I’ll issue a warrant.”
Todd was taken aback, as was Jake. The idea of arresting an elected county supervisor and hauling him into the courtroom was startling.
Noose wasn’t finished. “And, Todd, I suggest that you quietly remind the five that there are two lawsuits pending in this court in which Ford County is the primary defendant. One involves a contaminated landfill owned by the county and alleged to have polluted some drinking water. The plaintiffs are asking for a lot of money. The second concerns an accident involving a county dump truck. Both claims appear to have merit. I want Jake to get paid. The county has the money because I’ve seen the books. They are, as you know, public record.”
Even more startling was the less than subtle threat by a presiding judge to show favor in unrelated cases. Tannehill was stunned and said, “Judge, pardon me, but that sounds like a threat.”
“It’s not a threat. It’s a promise. I dragged Jake into the Gamble case with the assurance that he would get paid. His fees are reasonable, don’t you agree?”
“I have no problem with his fees. It’s just that—”
“I know, I know. But county supervisors have wide latitude in budgetary matters and they can pay this money out of unrestricted funds. Let’s get it done.”
“Okay, okay.”
“You’re dismissed, Todd. Please file your answer before noon.”
Tannehill shot Jake a bewildered look, then scurried out of the room. When he was gone, Noose stood and stretched again. “How many cases do you have this morning?”
“Two first appearances, plus Gamble. I don’t suppose you want him in court today.”
“No. We’ll do it later. Let’s get through the morning’s business and meet back here for lunch, with Lowell.”
“Sure, Judge.”
“And Jake, order us some catfish po’boys from Claude’s, okay?”
“You got it, Judge.”
* * *
—
THE LAWYERS TOOK off their jackets and loosened their ties, at His Honor’s suggestion. His robe hung by the door. The po’boys were still warm, and delicious. After a few bites and a round of small talk, Noose asked, “Do you have your calendars?”
Both nodded and reached into their briefcases.
Noose looked at some notes and asked, “How does December the tenth sound for the retrial?”
Jake had nothing scheduled past October. Dyer’s trial calendar revolved around Noose’s. Both said they were clear for December 10.
“Any idea where it might be?” Jake asked, hoping fervently that it would not happen again in Van Buren County.
“Well, I’ve been thinking about that,” Noose said as he took a bite and wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. “We should keep this show on the road. Things didn’t work out too well in Chester. We’re not doing it here. Tyler County