Court admonition

📄 Court admonition — Wednesday, May 31, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\MAY\31\COURT-ADMONITION.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 85 of 167

◀ Recess Recross-examination of Collin Yamauchi (afternoon) ▶

Date: Wednesday, May 31, 1995 • Utterances: 3

Judge Ito admonished counsel out of the jury's presence for making speaking objections and personal comments about opposing counsel's intelligence. He warned that future violations would result in fines and sanctions imposed in front of the jury. The proceeding ended with a call to bring in the jury and Yamauchi returning to the stand.

# 1 (The following proceedings were held in open court, out of the presence of the jury:)

# 2 THE COURT:

All right. Back on the record in the Simpson matter. All parties are again present. What happened to Mr. Cochran? Counsel, I sense that we are sliding here. I'm hearing speaking objections, I'm hearing personal comments about people's intelligence or the size of their brains, which I find childish and unprofessional. And as you know, I'm not wild about chastising lawyers in front of the jurors, but the next time I have to do that, I'm going to fine and sanction people in front of the jurors. So let's not let it happen again. All right. Let's have the jury, please. And Mr. Yamauchi, why don't you come on up and save us a few minutes.

# 3 (Brief pause.)

Temperature

tense

Key Quotes (2)

Lance A. Ito

I'm hearing personal comments about people's intelligence or the size of their brains, which I find childish and unprofessional.

Reveals the level of courtroom hostility that had developed; Ito's blunt phrasing underscores his no-nonsense style compared to Ito.

Lance A. Ito

the next time I have to do that, I'm going to fine and sanction people in front of the jurors.

A direct escalation threat — Ito signals he will use public embarrassment and financial penalties to enforce decorum.

Notable Exchanges (1)

Lance A. Ito•Counsel

Ito noted Cochran's absence and rebuked unnamed counsel for speaking objections and personal insults, threatening sanctions if behavior continued.

authoritative

Witness Demeanor

(Brief pause.)

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 6231 • 3 utterances

Criminal Trial

Department 103