I was in the courtroom this afternoon, Fri. May 20

[Joanner]

Logged on at 12:30 and heard about the lady disrupting the court and I decided I would go over for the afternoon session. I was in a hurry so I didn't bring a notebook to write down impressions. Let me know if you have any questions.

I saw and walked by all the players in the hall before court went into session. No, I didn't talk to any of them. On entering the courtroom, everybody was asked to sit behind the prosecution. The rows in back of the defense table were closed. I sat in the back row.

From the back row, I could see the laptops that were open, though I could not see what was written (too far back). I did notice that the laptop in front of Baez was scrolling like someone might be writing something. It was a consistent scrolling where the top line would disappear and the next one would move up. So I think his complaints about people being able to read it were legitimate, but just use an Ipad.

Casey was already seated when I entered the room. At one time I counted 10 law enforcement officers in the room.

The one juror who delighted everyone was the 25-year-old carpenter guy who lives at home with his parental units.

When they had the hearing for the lady who disrupted the court this morning, Casey was not present.

The defense and the prosecution do mingle when not on deck. Saw LDB and Mason chuckling about something during one of the breaks.

At the end when they were swearing in the jury, they had 12 law enforcement officers all facing the audience ready to jump on any disruption.

On the way out, I was in an elevator with two other ladies and Drew Petrimoulx came in. I knew who he was. The others were discussing the news not in a favorable way and then asked him if he was with the media. He said yes. They asked him if he was with Nancy Grace, and he said "who is she?" He said he was with talk news and we arrived on the ground floor and that was that.

[Cher352]

"The others were discussing the news not in a favorable way"

Please expand if you can.

[Joanner]

They were saying something about "crappy news" in regards to the case. Don't know why.

Oh, there was no dress code for spectators.

[BigFatMommyDog]

Joanner! THANK YOU! What was your impression of the last potential juror - the one who helped at the animal shelter? Some of us were "all for" and some of us got hinkied..

[Joanner]

My honest impression of the last juror was that she wanted to be on the jury. She had a smile on most of the time, just an observation about the smiling.

[Joanner]

Also something notable, there would be people whispering to each other, but when it came time to swear in the jury, there was dead silence in the gallery.

[shelbar53]

Thank you for sharing. One question ... did people seem scared of the Judge? Were they respectful? I find the judge absolutely amazing, best judge I've ever seen.

[Pink Panther]

Joanner, why is it so easy to get in? Isn't there a line up? I would think that the media would be all over getting in! I'm so confused about how few people there are in there! Can anyone just walk in?

[lishac23]

Thanks Joanner!!!

Just a quick question...did they ask you any questions before allowing you to come in the court room? I thought the proceedings were closed due to the pretty empty courtroom the last several days...however I did notice the gallery was packed today. Any insight?

[azwriter]

Thank you Joanner. It's always great to have an eyewitness prospective.

You say Casey wasn't in the courtroom when the hearing was done for the woman who created the outburst. Interesting to note.

Funny though, what I saw on In Session made it appear Casey was present while the woman addressed the judge. Or at least that's what I thought I saw. Thanks again for your input.
jmo

[feddup]

Originally Posted by Pink Panther

Joanner, why is it so easy to get in? Isn't there a line up? I would think that the media would be all over getting in! I'm so confused about how few people there are in there! Can anyone just walk in?

I thought about going over just once, live in area but I didnt know if they allowed just anyone in. I thought maybe just certified news media types. yes, I am surprised the place wasnt packed.

[lowens1975]

Originally Posted by Joanner

They were saying something about "crappy news" in regards to the case. Don't know why.

Oh, there was no dress code for spectators.

Thank you for your impressions. As far as the dress code, we noticed that. Two, um, ladies up front had on short skirts and didn't know how to sit properly in them. I'm so glad the camera guy didn't zoom in just for giggles.

[logicalgirl]

Hi Joanner - thanks for the report. I'm very interested in hearing an extended version of your impressions of ICA - and thanks!

[BigFatMommyDog]

Originally Posted by azwriter

Thank you Joanner. It's always great to have an eyewitness prospective.

You say Casey wasn't in the courtroom when the hearing was done for the woman who created the outburst. Interesting to note.

Funny though, what I saw on In Session made it appear Casey was present while the woman addressed the judge. Or at least that's what I thought I saw. Thanks again for your input.
jmo

az - there were two times she addressed the judge - the first time she was wearing a sundress - that was right after it happened and Casey was in the courtroom The second time she was in jail garb and appeared with her atty - that time they removed ICA from the courtroom for the proceeding.

[Baznme]

Originally Posted by azwriter

Thank you Joanner. It's always great to have an eyewitness prospective.

You say Casey wasn't in the courtroom when the hearing was done for the woman who created the outburst. Interesting to note.

Funny though, what I saw on In Session made it appear Casey was present while the woman addressed the judge. Or at least that's what I thought I saw. Thanks again for your input.
jmo

I think she came back a second time with an attorney if I understood what I read correctly and the judge would not rescind the 2 day sentence.

Was Casey there for the swearing in of the jury?

[Adrienne37]

Originally Posted by azwriter

Thank you Joanner. It's always great to have an eyewitness prospective.

You say Casey wasn't in the courtroom when the hearing was done for the woman who created the outburst. Interesting to note.

Funny though, what I saw on In Session made it appear Casey was present while the woman addressed the judge. Or at least that's what I thought I saw. Thanks again for your input.
jmo

She was in the courtroom the first time when Judge Perry brought the woman in immediately after the outburst but the second time when the woman came in with her public defender, they had taken Casey to the back.

[feddup]

Joanner, isnt it funny how once you get near there are all those signs for Bail bonds, etc? lol Its amazing theyre everywhere and you sure know youre close to the Pinellas County big place!

[Joanner]

The only juror who seemed intimidated by the process was an AA woman. Jeff Ashton I think told her she could smile and something else to try to relax her. I am sure you all got it but I didn't hear it in the back.

I actually went over the courthouse the other day to see how one could get in to watch and if you had to get a pass or something. Nope. When you enter the courthouse, you immediately go through security like in the airport--you put your carry-ins in a plastic tray that goes through a scanner and you walk through a metal detecctor. Then up to the fourth floor. There is a court officer outside the door of the courtroom that goes over a few things like no water, no cells, etc. As long as you get through security, you are good to get in. They don't ask you any questions.

I think it seemed crowded to the TV audience because we all had to sit on that one side.

Casey was present for the swearing in. The defense and the prosecution all moved the chairs around to face the jury and the audience.

They had taken Casey out of the courtroom, then quite a few more officers came in, then the outburst lady with a court appointed lawyer came in.

[Amster]

Originally Posted by Adrienne37

She was in the courtroom the first time when Judge Perry brought the woman in immediately after the outburst but the second time when the woman came in with her public defender, they had taken Casey to the back.

I think they took ICA out so the DT could talk to her about the jury...

[Pink Panther]

Originally Posted by Joanner

The only juror who seemed intimidated by the process was an AA woman. Jeff Ashton I think told her she could smile and something else to try to relax her. I am sure you all got it but I didn't hear it in the back.

I actually went over the courthouse the other day to see how one could get in to watch and if you had to get a pass or something. Nope. When you enter the courthouse, you immediately go through security like in the airport--you put your carry-ins in a plastic tray that goes through a scanner and you walk through a metal detecctor. Then up to the fourth floor. There is a court officer outside the door of the courtroom that goes over a few things like no water, no cells, etc. As long as you get through security, you are good to get in. They don't ask you any questions.

I think it seemed crowded to the TV audience because we all had to see on that one side.

They had taken Casey out of the courtroom, then quite a few more officers came in, then the outburst lady with a court appointed lawyer came in.

Thanks for answering. I guess everyone has been assuming that a special pass is/was required.

[Joanner]

As I think about this afternoon, I'll remember more things.

Four well-dressed young men came and sat two rows in front of me. Two ladies (actually the same ones that were in the elevator with me) were one row in front of me and they asked the guys if they were law students. They said they were lawyers.

During the part where Baez was asking for more peremptory strikes (denied), all four of the guys were nodding their heads yes, like they approved of Baez asking for that.

[ynotdivein]

Originally Posted by lowens1975

Thank you for your impressions. As far as the dress code, we noticed that. Two, um, ladies up front had on short skirts and didn't know how to sit properly in them. I'm so glad the camera guy didn't zoom in just for giggles.

I am RIGHT HERE with my finger poised over the post-zapper button folks.

[azwriter]

Originally Posted by BigFatMommyDog

az - there were two times she addressed the judge - the first time she was wearing a sundress - that was right after it happened and Casey was in the courtroom The second time she was in jail garb and appeared with her atty - that time they removed ICA from the courtroom for the proceeding.

Oh, thanks BigFatMommyDog. Good to know. I only saw the immediate address to the judge when she was brought back into the court room after her outburst.

Living on the west coast, In Session ends its broadcast here at Noon. So I don't always see a full day's coverage.

[lishac23]

Originally Posted by Joanner

As I think about this afternoon, I'll remember more things.

Four well-dressed young men came and sat two rows in front of me. Two ladies (actually the same ones that were in the elevator with me) were one row in front of me and they asked the guys if they were law students. They said they were lawyers.

During the part where Baez was asking for more peremptory strikes (denied), all four of the guys were nodding their heads yes, like they approved of Baez asking for that.

BBM

Anyone know what the rule is regarding this?

[Pink Panther]

Joanner, did you hear or find out anything about the "detective" in black who spoke to the juror while everyone was out due to the commotion?