Ah, yes. I forgot about that. Funny, because at the time I had joked in a post here that I hoped Mr. Ary had saved his drink receipt for trustee Mackoff. Thanks for reminding me.
I still don't know that having someone else read out the defense statement should necessarily be strange. If it is a perfunctory action, Mr. Ary may well have underlings do it so he can prove he's more than a one-man show as well as spend time holding client hands and keeping them satisfied with fancy beverages and generally ensuring that they are happy enough to continue to promise to pay him. He may tell his clients that the junior lawyers are there to read out the impressive legal documents he creates and that when they hire him, they hire a team "experienced in winning."