Motion: attorney sanctions

📄 Motion: attorney sanctions — Wednesday, September 13, 1995

Address:

C:\DEPT103\CRIMINAL\1995\SEP\13\MOTION-ATTORNEY-SANCTIONS.DOC

TRIAL

▲ Day 153 of 167

◀ Witness announcement Witness examination timing ▶

Date: Wednesday, September 13, 1995 • Utterances: 19

A representative from the DA's office, Grant Riggs, appeared to address a previously imposed fine for an attorney's failure to appear at 8:30 AM. Riggs asked the court to reconsider the sanction, arguing Marcia Clark had been forthright and engaged in diligent advocacy. Judge Ito reinstated the original $250 fine without reduction.

# 1 MR. DARDEN:

You want to take up the sanction issue? We have a lawyer here.

# 2 THE COURT:

There's lots of lawyers here, Mr. Darden.

# 3 MR. DARDEN:

I understand that. But I don't know if you wanted to spend the time on the record on the sanction issue while you--

# 4 THE COURT:

Well, we might as well make good use of the time.

# 5 MR. RIGGS:

Your Honor, Grant Riggs from the D.A.'s office.

# 6 THE COURT:

Mr. Riggs, how are you? Good to see you.

# 7 MR. RIGGS:

I wonder if I might impose on the court to perhaps go in chambers with Miss Clark, Mr. Darden for a few moments.

# 8 THE COURT:

Why would that be necessary in chambers?

# 9 MR. RIGGS:

Well, we just think it might be appropriate to have a private conversation if the court wouldn't mind.

# 10 THE COURT:

Well, I don't think that's appropriate.

# 11 MR. RIGGS:

Well, what we're doing I suppose is begging the court's indulgence for our failure to have an attorney here at 8:30 this morning. As the court probably is aware, we have asked the Court of Appeal to stay the fine. But in any event, we would ask the court to reconsider at least--if not the fine altogether, at least the amount. It does appear that Miss Clark, in explaining the reason for the delay this morning, was being forthright with the court, and furthermore, that she was engaging in diligent advocacy when she defended the office against the fine. So we would ask the court to at least reconsider the amount, if not the fine altogether.

# 12 THE COURT:

All right. Original fine will be reinstated. Anything else, Mr. Riggs?

KEY QUOTE

# 13 MR. RIGGS:

No. That's all.

# 14 THE COURT:

All right. Thank you, sir. Good to see you.

# 15 MR. RIGGS:

$250?

# 16 THE COURT:

Yes.

# 17 MR. SHAPIRO:

Could he represent me before Judge Bascue?

KEY QUOTE

# 18 THE COURT:

But see, Mr. Riggs is short, to the point. This is what we want, this is why we want it. Thank you very much. Goodbye. Notice how effective that is, persuasive?

KEY QUOTE

# 19 MR. COCHRAN:

We'll remember that.

KEY QUOTE

Temperature

light

Key Quotes (4)

Lance A. Ito

All right. Original fine will be reinstated. Anything else, Mr. Riggs?

Terse, unambiguous rejection of the DA's plea for leniency — Ito gives nothing and moves on immediately.

Lance A. Ito

But see, Mr. Riggs is short, to the point. This is what we want, this is why we want it. Thank you very much. Goodbye. Notice how effective that is, persuasive?

Ito uses Riggs as a teaching moment for the defense attorneys in the room, implicitly criticizing the verbosity of counsel in this trial.

Robert Shapiro

Could he represent me before Judge Bascue?

Shapiro's dry aside turns a minor administrative moment into courtroom levity.

Johnnie Cochran

We'll remember that.

Cochran's wry closing line — a promise (or a joke) that lands as the final word.

Notable Exchanges (2)

Mr. Riggs•Lance A. Ito

Riggs asked to take the sanction discussion into chambers for a private conversation; Ito flatly declined, keeping everything on the record.

firm

Mr. Riggs•Lance A. Ito

Riggs made a measured plea to reduce or eliminate the fine, citing Clark's forthrightness and diligent advocacy. Ito reinstated the original fine in a single sentence.

procedural

Light Moments (3)

Robert Shapiro

After Ito praised Riggs's brevity and effectiveness, Shapiro quipped asking if Riggs could represent him before another judge.

Lance A. Ito

Ito playfully lectured the assembled defense team on courtroom efficiency using Riggs as a model, ending with 'Notice how effective that is, persuasive?'

Johnnie Cochran

Cochran's closing 'We'll remember that' drew a laugh as the room's response to Ito's impromptu lesson.

Objections

None recorded

Proceeding 7636 • 19 utterances

Criminal Trial

Department 103