Okay, okay. I got called up to the bench. He asked what my driving record looked like. I wasn't expecting that question, and I replied "well, pretty good." I admit that wasn't a great answer, but the judge rebutted in a raised voice "Tell me what pretty good means." I said I have only had one other moving violation, and it was about 5 years ago. "How do you plead?" I could see that he was looking at the speeding ticket, and not the expired license that I was hoping to get dismissed. I pleaded guilty to that one. Without hesitation, he sentenced me to the 6 months deferred and pay the going rate for the violation ($150 + court costs), and told me to move down the desk to the clerk for the money. I assumed that following the sentencing for the speeding ticket, we would move to the expired license, so when he sent me away from the bench, I hesitated, and as I opened my mouth to ask him about the second ticket, he cut me off, and with a raised voice, told me to move down again. At that point, I should have spoken up again, but he had already yelled at someone for being timid, and made them go to the back of the line, so I figured (very, very wrongly) that since I had only pleaded and been sentenced for the other ticket, that I could either hang around until the others had gone through and talk to the judge again, or I could go see if the clerk had the ability to dismiss the charge upon presenting the renewed license. Anyway, the judge wasn't interested in allowing me to remain at the bench, as he immediately called the next victim as I tried to speak. So as the other victims were taking their turn, I popped in to the clerk's office to see if she had any ability to drop the expired license ticket. She read the copy of the law that I brought for reference, and she said I should just go back in and talk about it with the judge after everyone has had their turn, since I didn't get asked to enter a plea on that one. I did so. After the last person had been sentenced, I politely asked the judge if I could visit with him about the other ticket. He agreed, but seemed perturbed. I told him that I had pleaded guilty to the speeding ticket, but did not get asked to enter a plea for the other ticket, and would like to see about getting it dismissed per 47-6-303 of the traffic code. He said in an even louder tone than before, "why didn't you show the renewed license when you were up here?" I attempted to explain to him that I was only asked to plead on one charge, and when I stayed at the bench for the other, he wouldn't allow me to speak. I didn't get more than three or four words out, when he cut me off and said "how am I supposed to know you have a renewed license if you don't show it to me," in yet a louder tone. I tried to politely apologize for not taking a stand up there, admitted that I'm not really sure how it was all supposed to work. So he yelled some more stuff that I can't even remember because I was so put off. After he finished, I very, very calmly asked if I could ask one last question. He nodded. I began to ask, if my plea of guilty to the speeding ticket meant that a plea of guilty was entered for the other ticket as well. Before I could finish that question, he was already cutting me off loudly. I continued to attempt to finish the question as he began to shout. I asked him, again very calmly, if I could get the question out and the floor was his. He became louder, as he told me that it's all over, and there is nothing I could do about it at this point. Again I asked if I could finish the question, purely for the sake of clarity, and for my own education. He kept raising his voice and continued to try to cut me off. At this point, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt, that my fate was sealed on the matter, and I told him, in a very loud voice to stop. I said "listen here, buddy, court is over with. You've made it abundantly clear that there's nothing I can do. I simply wanted to ask you a question, man to man, so that I don't make the same mistakes in the future. You told me I could speak with you one the matter, but you won't let me speak. You aren't on the bench anymore, and you don't get to yell at me anymore." He replied, "Yeah, I'm done. I'm not saying another word." After a few moments of silence, we both calmed down a bit. I apologized for raising my voice. He said he's over it. I extended my hand for a shake, and he refused it. I held it out there and gestured that I wanted to shake. He said we don't need to shake on anything. I said okay, and that was the end of it.
So, even though I'm entitled to have the expired license ticked dismissed, and even though I didn't get asked, in court, to enter a plea, a plea of guilty was entered and it cost $240.
I should have manned up, and stayed at the bench to make sure we handled the ticket at that time. I'll admit that I was intimidated by both the arrogant nature of the judge, and by the room full of people, and didn't stand my ground. Again, having not entered an official plea for the ticket in question, I rather wrongly assumed I could still address it later on. That one is on me, but the judge didn't make it easy to speak up.
-Andrew-
