Our Day in Court

 

“Mom, can you send me our insurance; I got pulled over by a police officer.”  Through the cell phone, I could hear the police officer somewhat apologizing saying he normally does not give tickets for just 3 miles over but it was a school zone.

When Slade got home I looked at the ticket and the police officer had written it for 23 over the speed limit not just 3 miles over as I had heard him say. The ticket noted a day to appear in court, so I decided to go with Slade to be a witness to the mistake and to support him. 

When we got to the court house there was a long line of violators lined up the side of the building. When we entered the glass door, we were forced to empty our pockets and be checked by a metal detector wand. As we entered the court room, I felt nervous and scanned the room to get a feel for the environment. There were several rows of stackable type chairs with an aisle running down the center of the room, leading to a podium with a microphone. At the front of the room was an elevated long counter top with the name plate of the residing judge in the center.  There were a series of empty  chairs on either side of the judge. On the left side of the room, on the regular floor level were two court clerks with computers and a shared printer. On the right back positioned behind the judges counter was a room leading to the prosecutor chambers, a man who the judge has given even more influence and power over your case.  

When the proceedings began, the judge read a series of options, along with a few guidelines. Then, one by one he called people up front by name to stand just behind the podium microphone. The judge then read the offenses out loud for all to hear in the courtroom. Then, the lawbreaker would either ask questions, defend or offer to pay the fine or take a course. Some opted for deferred adjudication which is a form of plea deal available in various jurisdictions, where a defendant pleads “guilty” or “no contest” to criminal charges in exchange for meeting certain requirements laid out by the court.

One by one each person was summoned by the judge to the podium. The judge pulled the specific file and began to read out the counts against each violator for all to hear.

” Sir, you were caught speeding 33 miles over the speed limit, and this is your third violation within the last year. “

” Mam, your dog was lose in the community without a rabies tags.”

” Sir,  you have a DWI violation. You failed to show for your last hearing and the records show a recent arrest with a controlled substances.” 

I began to swallow as each person approached the bench, and I felt nervous for each stranger in the room. I was surprised that so many did not dress in a respectful way. Many were dirty, in hoodies and adorned with street wear, one in the crowd even wearing a construction hard hat. Slade and I both dressed in professional clothing to show honor and respect, it seemed that we were the odd balls out.

Some were apprehensive while others were perturbed as they approached the podium mic. A few were apologetic with shaky voices, while others seemed put off by the entire experience, begrudging responding to the counts against them. Others strutted to the front with a criminal demeanor, like this was not there first rodeo, almost desensitized by the entire thing. 

This particular judge that was on duty that day was empathetic, he had words of wisdom and kind warnings for each person. One poor woman was a special needs teacher who was at school during a thunder storm. Her dog got scared, broke through the back fence and was found wondering in the neighborhood.  

I was thinking to myself, if they fine her and show no empathy I am ticked off. Here this poor woman makes nearly nothing at our school district as a special needs assistant, and this unfortunate incident has her wasting time at court. She was being pulled away from serving the most needy of children to defend the actions of a scared dog during a thunder storm. Come on!  As she told her story, I carefully watched the judge’s non-verbal reactions. Soon he called the prosecutor  and whispered. I could tell that he did not want to to hurt this lady who clearly kindly serves our community.

With each name called, I took a deep breath, it wasn’t our turn yet. Some I felt worse for than others, feeling less empathy for repeat offenders or those with non-apologetic demeanors. One thing that bothered me was that the poorest of people were pulled over for not having an updated registration sticker. The poor people were put to even more shame as they explained to the judge and the crowd that they did not have enough money to fix their car so it would pass inspection. I felt so sorry for them.  If I were rich, I would have screamed out, ” If anyone needs to fix their car to get a sticker, come see me. ” My empathy ran deep, especially for those struggling with money issues.

Then the judge called, ” Slade Brewer” 

Slade and I walked together to the front of the room to stand behind the podium as the judge read the counts the court had against my son. Slade and I then with quieted cracked voices began to explain that an error had been made on the paperwork. Surprisingly,  I felt shame and nervousness, even with such a minor offense. Neither of us liked being in trouble. The judge then suggested that we go visit privately in the chambers with the prosecutor. 

We went back to our seats, listened to more counts against people until the prosecutor called us back.  Still feeling the need to take deep breaths, we continued to listen to more cases. The entire incident was a bit unnerving. Soon a prosecutor who looked as if he walked out of an old west movie appeared. He had a overly thick mustache that hung over his lip, a bow tie peeked from on top of a vest covered with a wool houndstooth sports jacket detailed on the shoulders with suede. As he came out to call Slade’s name, you could hear the clunking of his western cowboy boots. Slade and I looked at each other thinking in unison that we had walked backwards into an old west time-space continuum. The only thing missing from the costume of this Texan prosecutor was a low crowned western hat. 

I followed Slade to the prosecutor chambers, who soon told me that Slade was 17 and in the state of Texas he was considered an adult. I could sit there quietly but all offenses and negotiations would be directed solely to Slade. Basically, the prosecutor was was telling me, ” Mom, don’t interfere. ” To make a long story short, the error on the speeding ticket did not matter, the fine was the fine, which was well over $300.00, along with 3 months of probation and defensive driving. 

Slade negotiated for community service where each hour counted as a $20.00 credit against his fine. He needed 16 hours of volunteer work to cover his debt to the courts.

After wrapping up our talk with the prosecutor, we went back into the court room and waited for the clerical women to get caught up. Finally, they called his name. I asked her, ” What defensive driving course is the best and least expensive for Slade to take? ” She said, ” Mam, the prosecutor did not write that defensive driving was necessary. I can’t change the paper that he wrote. ” 

I thought, ” Yippee.. thank you God, at least we saved a little money. ” 

Slade and I soon were out of there. What a crazy day and  what a learning experience for a little traffic violation. 

When I got home, I was sitting in my Tahoe on the driveway, and thoughts flew in about what I had witnessed. It was crazy that we heard all the cases and heard the judges verdicts. I thought about how much shame we felt as we approached the bench for our little violation. I say “our violation” because as his mother, I carry his shame too.

Soon the Holy Spirit began to use the illustrator to teach me. I began to imagine the courts of heaven with God in the Center and Jesus as the Prosecutor. Our relationship with Jesus, will  make a difference on the day of judgement. Will he say get away from me I never knew you, you who practices lawlessness? Or will he say you gave me a drink and food when I was hungry.  Jesus, like the prosecutor has been given  ultimate power by the judge of all, he has the ability to pardon or not.

How will I feel when I have to approach the courts of heaven to review my life? How will I feel when I look in the face of Jesus, who died for my sins or could I look? I can tell you that I will not be able to look, nor stand, considering my response to my son’s sin of 3 miles over the speed limit.  Just knowing that Father and Jesus know all, I can imagine in humility that I will hit the floor and cover my head in shame.

 We all walk through this life with dirty hoodies on, perhaps we too have a strut of desensitization. We definitely don’t live our lives like we are being watched. We act lawlessly as if there are no ramifications ever for our apathetic approach to life with includes things like effortless cursing, name calling, gossip, crude jokes, sexual perversion and over indulgence of things like alcohol. We just don’t live in fear of God.

But one day we will all have to answer. Even if your sins are covered by the Messiah, how will you feel knowing they know?   Repeat offenders  should be aware because there is a divine judge in the Courts of Heaven. If he judges, like the judge in our small town, there is less leniency for repeat offenders.

Even if you subscribe to the belief that once saved always saved ( regardless of your repeat sinful actions), it’s in your best interest to repent and self-correct. Some believe because  they were baptized, they are “safe.”  The bottom line is that Proverbs 15: 3 states, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. “

That means that Abba Daddy sees the good, the bad and the ugly. The scriptures tell us that God is merciful and just like I ached for each offender and the judge showed mercy to some, God too is empathetic to remorseful children. Acts 3: 19 says “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” 

We also know from  Peter that, “ love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8).  So in addition to repentance and correction, we are to feed, cloth and care for others, living a life of servant hood.  Matthew 25: 36-40 reads:

“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…”

 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I am always amazed at how God blesses me with real life illustrators to teach me. I hope that this story of the Judge and Prosecutor inspires you to live like you are being watched,  to repent and serve others in love as if you are serving Jesus himself.

Scriptures:

“I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!…”—2 Timothy 4:1-2

Daniel 7:9-10 says this…

“I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire; a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousands stood before Him. The court was seated and the books were opened.”