At 9.04am in Dept.14 on the 9th Floor of the Criminal Courts Building, Downtown LA, Lonnie David Franklin Jr. was walked in by the bailiff. As usual he shuffled in wearing shackles and handcuffs and the same orange jumpsuit as always, looking downward.
Nothing was any different today from the routine that has always taken place in Dept. 14 every 2 - 3 weeks with all of these Pre, Pre, Pre Trial Arraignments, since July 2010.
Each and every Court appearance, one of the Attorney's (or should I clarify, the public defender's) for Lonnie Franklin becomes more and more ballsy, combative and argumentative. However today he went overboard and it was grounds for him being held in Contempt of Court. I am surprised that he wasn't arrested with his threats, outbursts and attacks directed to the Judge and the DA.
After 4 years and 3 months of Counsel's bumbling and rambling responses to the Judge's questions.... and with him continually making excuses for having, yet again, made no progress whatsoever to expedite this case going to Trial..... and with his unlimited attacks on the DA and her (justified) attacks on him.... etc.. Judge Kathleen Kennedy finally had enough!
Her face became red quite a few times and then she suddenly raised up in her chair, leaning over her desk and pointing down to this little man, Franklin's Counsel, and yelled "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" She yelled these words well over those three times. Then she turned to the DA, as soon as she responded with an attack back and again yelled "Stop it the both of you!"
In a nutshell the Defense was saying that they need a few more years to get everything together for this case to go to Trial! They make the excuse that due to the fact that there are 10 murders (and counting) linked to their client, that this is the reason for all the unending delays.
However today we were supposed to receive a 'Trial date'? "So what was this bumbling fool playing at now?" (Speaking the thoughts of the rest of the Courtroom including myself).
The family members who I always sit next to, just gasped in absolute horror when this was said.
Counsel went on to splutter out: "My experts have told me they need a couple more years at least, especially as we have to go through hours and hours of video tapes."
The Judge responded with: "Two more years is ridiculous! I want to know now what date we are going to set for Trial... today?"
Counsel retorted with his angry attitude, leaning in to the desk, banging the table aggressively: "I'm sorry but I won't give you a 'Trial date'! I refuse! I want to get the case to Trial as soon as I can but if I can't do it competently then I won't do it until I'm ready.. not you!"
It went back and fourth between the Judge, the DA and Defense Counsel and the yelling got louder and louder from the Defense's side. He even said that if they set a date today, he will immediately 'make motions to delay it time and time again'. Judge Kennedy said that he was 'Threatening the Court and also that his 'level of voice will not be tolerated' in her Courtroom. She told him that he was 'Out of line!'.. on a number of occasions. This statement was long overdue.
"Ok, the Trial date will be January 14th 2015" Judge Kennedy stated. This date was agreed upon by both the Judge and the DA, however naturally the Defense Counsel 'lost the plot' all over again. He was rolling around in his chair like a rabid dog with spit coming out of his mouth when he shouted. No one seemed to have any control over him, although today, the Judge tried her best. Even the homicide detective told me afterwards that he'd 'never seen anything like this in his lifetime'. He told me other things about the case too, but that was off the record and will remain that way.
It was beyond uncomfortable for everyone in the Courtroom today. The Defense knows he has everyone by the 'short and curlies' (aka b**s).
Meaning that, at this late stage of the game, if the Judge was to replace him with a competent lawyer, the new Counsel would have to start from the beginning again which would take many more years. So Franklin's Defense seems to continually get away with being abusive and venomous every time Court is in session, yet no one can do anything about it. Each time he gets worse.
To add to this mess, we the tax payers are still paying him his hourly wage. You can be sure that he is billing/invoicing for himself numerous hours even when he's asleep.
The families of the victims just sat there, some with their heads in their hands, some on the verge of tears and some just so worn down with this horrible process that they just hung their heads in utter disbelief.
This is yet another terrible miscarriage of Justice and everyone is suffering, in one way or another, due to the actions (or lack of actions) from this incompetent Defense!
To be continued.......
This was a very interesting and very well written summary of the day's court proceedings. The Public Defender is clearly demented and in addition to hurting his client's case, he is hurting his own career, as the judge will remember his actions and probably discuss them with her judicial peer group, as will the Prosecutor, with the result that judges and D.A's will take him for an idiot in the future. The incident realy "came to life" thanks to Victoria's reporting.
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