Chapter Three — All Rise
Courtroom 4B was full.
That happened quickly when people sensed drama.
Clara sat at the petitioner’s table beside David.
Their attorney, Martin Blake, sat on Clara’s other side.
I knew Martin.
Competent.
Expensive.
Discreet.
He had no idea what he had walked into.
The side door opened.
The bailiff’s voice filled the room.
“All rise.”
Chairs scraped backward.
Everyone stood.
Clara rose lazily.
Confidently.
Then she looked toward the bench.
I saw the exact moment recognition reached her face.
Her lips parted.
The color drained from her cheeks.
David closed his eyes.
Just once.
As if he had been expecting disaster and had finally heard the first crack of thunder.
I walked to the bench.
The entire courtroom was silent.
I did not look at Clara.
I did not look at David.
I sat down.
“Please be seated.”
Everyone obeyed.
Except Clara.
She remained standing.
Her hand gripped the table.
“David,” she whispered.
He touched her elbow.
“Sit down.”
She did.
I opened the file.
“For the record, this matter was transferred to this department less than one hour ago due to Judge Landry’s medical absence. I have reviewed the caption and immediately discovered a mandatory conflict.”
Martin Blake stood.
“Your Honor—”
I raised a hand.
“I’m not finished, Mr. Blake.”
He sat down.
“I am the respondent named in this petition. One petitioner is my son. The other is my daughter-in-law.”
Whispers moved through the gallery.
I continued.
“I will take no substantive action in this case.”
Clara’s shoulders loosened slightly.
She thought recusal meant escape.
I had watched that mistake before.
“However,” I continued, “because the matter contains a request for emergency relief and because the petition was transferred without prior conflict review, I have contacted Chief Judge Samuel Moreno, who will assume the matter immediately.”
The rear door opened.
Chief Judge Moreno entered.
He was sixty-five, broad-shouldered, patient, and famous for detecting nonsense before a lawyer finished the first sentence.
I stood.
Everyone else rose again.
Moreno took the bench beside me long enough for the formal transfer.
Then I stepped down.
That was when Clara finally found her voice.
“Helen.”
Every head turned.
I stopped.
Judge Moreno looked at her.
“Mrs. Warren, you will address the court through counsel.”
Clara flushed.
I turned toward the gallery.
She stared at me as if seeing a stranger.
“You’re a judge?”
David whispered, “Clara, stop.”
She looked at him.
“You knew?”
He said nothing.
“You knew?”
Judge Moreno’s gavel struck once.
“Mrs. Warren.”
She sat.
I walked toward counsel table reserved for the respondent.
Melissa placed my folder there.
Judge Moreno studied the petition.
“Judge Warren, do you intend to represent yourself?”
“No, Your Honor.”
“Counsel?”
The courtroom door opened.
A woman in a cream suit walked in carrying a leather briefcase.
Rebecca Shaw.
One of the best probate litigators in the state.
Also one of my closest friends for thirty years.
She had received my call at 6:15 that morning.
Rebecca sat beside me.
“For the respondent, Your Honor.”
David looked physically ill.
He knew Rebecca’s reputation.
Clara did not.
Judge Moreno read silently for nearly a minute.
Then he looked at Martin Blake.
“Counsel, you are asking this court to grant your clients temporary control over Judge Warren’s financial affairs on an emergency basis.”
“Yes, Your Honor.”
“Based on alleged cognitive decline.”
“Yes.”
“And your clients have represented that she is currently incapable of managing complex financial decisions.”
“That is their concern.”
Judge Moreno looked toward me.
Then back to Martin.
“Mr. Blake, she was scheduled to hear twelve civil motions this morning.”
A few people laughed before quickly stopping.
Martin’s expression tightened.
“Your Honor, professional competence can sometimes coexist with private impairment.”
“That is true.”
Clara visibly relaxed.
Then Judge Moreno continued.
“Which is why evidence matters.”
Rebecca stood.
“We have some.”
Her voice was calm.
Almost pleasant.
That was when David finally looked at me.
And for the first time that morning, I saw fear.
