a view from the inside: observations from our own court observers #6

[buckeyefan1]

Sorry if this has come up before. I would like to know who the woman is who is talking to Juror#5 after everyone had left. She is kneeling beside her and they r talking to each other I think while the judge is still there. I saw her (the kneeling woman) come back from the DT's table area, I think. Also, why didn't the judge who was still in the chamber not have the bailiff say "Please clear the courtroom." ?

 

[Kattrca]

Sorry if this has come up before. I would like to know who the woman is who is talking to Juror#5 after everyone had left. She is kneeling beside her and they r talking to each other I think while the judge is still there. I saw her (the kneeling woman) come back from the DT's table area, I think. Also, why didn't the judge who was still in the chamber not have the bailiff say "Please clear the courtroom." ?

Im not sure the actual title, but I believe she is the courtroom assistant, or Judges assistant

 

[polleypockets]

Sorry if this has come up before. I would like to know who the woman is who is talking to Juror#5 after everyone had left. She is kneeling beside her and they r talking to each other I think while the judge is still there. I saw her (the kneeling woman) come back from the DT's table area, I think. Also, why didn't the judge who was still in the chamber not have the bailiff say "Please clear the courtroom." ?

she works for the judge - idk but from what i read, the judge let juror 5 stay to avoid the media and take a private exit door - imo

 

[BeachGirlFromPA]

I didn't know there were producers from Dr Phil's show at the trial. That's interesting, especially if he says his show is not involved with the trial, so to speak.

Sorry if this a repeat, but one of Dr. Phil's producers, who formerly worked for HLN has visited JA three times. It was found on the jail visit logs.

 

[PASA]

Last installment of my notes. Excuse typos etc. Trying to get this done before I have to get busy with real life stuff.

Meanwhile back at the Courthouse.......

ALV is almost up to the day of the murder, late May, early June.

Willie looking down, CEO, Paul Rudd, Nancy, Grandpa, Trump, and Neil watching testimony.
Housewife: taking notes, Church Lady: pen in hand.
Artist: usual posture, Ponytail: manicuring with her teeth, Maureen: taking notes, Headphones: hand over mouth, CPA: watching and swiveling in his chair. Wrestler: hand over mouth, almost a chin grab. Paco: sitting up a little more than before. Barb: I can't see her.

ALV babbling on about ja's journal and how she wrote things she didn't think others would read. I call BS sista. If she didn't think anyone would ever see her journal she would have told the truth, it is full of lies.

I write more about itchy-scratchy man, but enough about him.

ALV goes on to mention working with men. I'm sure they are the abusers. In ALV's world there are no male abuse victims. blah, blah, blah.

KCL said ALV approached Sam. Will get 411 later. Interested to know what happened. She should not have approached Sam. Victim and family of victim off limits!!!

We are told no photos inside courthouse. Ruh roh...A couple months back I did take a couple of the hall and seal, but never inside the courtroom. I won't do it again. I like to document things I do with photos. No harm intended.

More charts on the jumbo-tron and big screens. I am so over this witness. I have no interest in her testimony, she lost me on day 1.

Tricolor watching ALV on the stand, rather than the exhibits on the screen. She's very stoic, hard to read.

On the other side of the gallery I notice the last 3 rows are for media and first 2 rows for family and friends of Travis.

ALV's testimony is so interesting I'm playing with my bracelet to stay awake. Just keepin' it real.

For the first time today I look at ja. Hair on top pulled back in a ponytail thang. Is she mirroring ponytail in the jurybox?
I notice she looks down a lot, either reading or writing something. I see no interest in this trial on her part. Judging by her demeanor she could just as well be at a boring business meeting.

ALV mentions bi-polar. I write "she's been watching the tapes on Dr. Drew". The mother mentions bi-polar. Now all of a sudden it's mentioned during the trial. Interessssting.

Ponytail still chewing her nails, Maureen drinking water.
Please let Juan up to bat, the gallery is falling asleep.

ALV says she sent 4 books and magazines to ja. Samuels sent her one book and got raked over the coals. This nut-job sent her 4. Why are people sending ja books to read? Can they not see her evil? They are supposed to be professionals.

JW says "let's just get this out of the way, do you have a memory problem". OMG! That is low and tacky. Snickers from the gallery at JW not at Juan. IMO the gallery was not impressed with JW's so called joke aka verbal abuse of Juan.

CROSS!!!!! Thank you Jesus!! (that's what I wrote)

ALV much more forceful with her answers. Ol' lovable granny gone by the wayside. Her bunny teeth are going to turn into venom spewing fangs. I expect her to hiss and rise up like a king cobra. But, Juan is a mongoose, and has it covered.

She does not have a PhD. Finally, Juan getting some real answers. ALV not liking being asked about her credentials, she's being snarky and argumentative.

ALV says "are you angry at me"? Gallery bursts out laughing. Judge says no more laughing. We are to refrain from it. I didn't laugh.

I write in my notes that I thought Juan was a little rough with ALf out of the gate. But what I couldn't see was her face. . As soon as I saw her on YTube I knew why Juan was aggressive, go Juan. Or was he on a sugar high from the M&Ms.

I notice Juan's hair, it's darker, but not as dark as it looked on the feed. I like it, looks good on him.

Another sidebar-
Lots of whispering in the gallery since Juan began his cross.
Karma coming back to get ALV for the way she trashed Travis and made ja out to be an abuse victim.

CEO is chewing his gum very fast. I've not seen this from him before. Wish Janine Driver was here to interpret that one for us.
Ponytail still manicuring.

Juan gets to her fee. She snaps back "it's standard fee Mr", then as an afterthought slips in Martinez. She is so disrespectful of the court, I believe we are seeing the real ALV. Bossy ol' broad who thinks she's running the courtroom.

Sam is paying close attention to Juan's cross.

ALV stutters and stammers about what ja said. Can't remember, no notes in front of her.

ja pays no attention to the trial. What ever she is reading must be better than being on trial for her life... She appears oblivious to the trial.

Snow White- BOOM!!!! Now we're cookin' with gas.

Catchy title, nothing to do with Snow White. It's on YouTube (I thought she didn't do internet) if you care to watch it.

We are having afternoon fairytale hour. Snow White as told by Juan Martinez. I love it.
ja's mother wicked step mother, ja poor lil Snow White.
Shack-cute cottage. LOL!!!
Age of dwarfs, doesn't know. laughter is heard in gallery.
Juan says shack again, ALV corrects him and says cottage.

I need milk and cookies to go along with my fairytale.

JW objects... she's messin' with Juan's Story Hour. I'm not liking it. She needs to shut up, sit down and let Juan tell his story.

During story hour I look over at the jury again:

Artist: arms across chest, Ponytail: manicuring, CEO: notes and fast gum chewing, Church Lady: watching Juan, Paul Rudd: leaning forward in his chair, Paco: sitting up, I can see him now, House Wife: hand on her face, Trump hand on his face.

It's 4:30 and Juan's got ALV in knots. He is on fire, getting justice for Travis after having to hear him be trashed for days and days.

ALV is toast.

Recess until Monday

 

[MandyLeigh]

The whole front row looks like one person with different wigs to me.

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[PASA]

Does anyone else think it's odd that Jodi now has two stories of "concerned people" coming into a restaurant that she's working in to tell her that the men she's dating are cheating on her? (Matt and Travis) What are the odds of that happening to anyone, especially someone who has "supposedly" worked at the number of places (some fictional) as she has.

I think she has a bank of stories. Basically changes the name, the story's the same.

The odds are probably a million to one on a good day.

 

[PASA]

Hey Kcl, Pasa, My3Sons, wser's etal :loveyou: Happy Sunday everyone! I have a question for the Observers.
Judge Stephens sometimes appears via TV to be confused about certain objections as well as ruling on them. A bit timid maybe is what I am trying to say. I noticed Thursday she overuled many if not most of JW objections when Jaun was questioning, I have also heard that she sort of yuks it up with JW during sidebars. Could you give us some insight as to her true demeanor in the courtroom, as we don't get to see much of her, usuall split screen of the killer and witness or JW spilt with the killer. Thanks in Advance:doorhide:

I've seen her smile more at Juan and give stern looks to JW. I can't tell what they are saying, but it looked like the judge was getting annoyed with JW.

From what I've heard she is a fair judge. I also think she is giving a lot of leeway because it's a death penalty case. Less grounds for appeals down the road.
I like her fine. I know some don't and think she needs to be more strict.
I say don't mistake her mild demeanor for weakness. When she tells us something she means business.

Others may see it differently, but that is my opinion of her.
HTH

 

[PASA]

Sorry if this has come up before. I would like to know who the woman is who is talking to Juror#5 after everyone had left. She is kneeling beside her and they r talking to each other I think while the judge is still there. I saw her (the kneeling woman) come back from the DT's table area, I think. Also, why didn't the judge who was still in the chamber not have the bailiff say "Please clear the courtroom." ?

The hispanic gal wearing grey with long hair and glasses? That is Valerie and she is Judge Stephen's Bailiff.
She's very nice and I like her.

 

[PASA]

Sorry if this a repeat, but one of Dr. Phil's producers, who formerly worked for HLN has visited JA three times. It was found on the jail visit logs.

Oh, good to know. I don't know how to get a copy of the visitors list. Good sleuthing.

I don't watch his show, haven't in years. He went all "Hollywood" and I lost interest.

 

[Kattrca]

Pasa thx. ;-) when you say manicuring abt Ponytail, is she literally manicuring or are you referring to her manicuring in general, touching hair, wiping lint from shirt, playing with shoes.. just curious?

 

[gauntlet]

I've seen her smile more at Juan and give stern looks to JW. I can't tell what they are saying, but it looked like the judge was getting annoyed with JW.

From what I've heard she is a fair judge. I also think she is giving a lot of leeway because it's a death penalty case. Less grounds for appeals down the road.
I like her fine. I know some don't and think she needs to be more strict.
I say don't mistake her mild demeanor for weakness. When she tells us something she means business.

Others may see it differently, but that is my opinion of her.
HTH

One thing I've noticed about Judge Stephens is the moment JM asks her to intervene with a witness, she's right on the case. I get the impression she doesn't want to necessarily interrupt JM as he's more than capable of handling anyone. And let's face it we may not have got some of the JA's blinding responses if Judge Stephens had interrupted.

ETA - I don't think JA should get away with reading things off her lap though.

 

[BChand]

Oh, good to know. I don't know how to get a copy of the visitors list. Good sleuthing.

I don't watch his show, haven't in years. He went all "Hollywood" and I lost interest.

Don't want to go o/t so this is for clarification about the Dr Phil story.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20688951,00.html

 

[Tesstruhart]

I'm still not sure if that is a clear and truthful statement that they put out. I wonder if they are carefully choosing their words ... still waiting and I am sure the truth will come out about it in the not too distant future

Didn't he deny he was supplying anything for the arias family? However, he didn't deny $ for the photo rights did he? I feel that dr. Phil is just one more person that swoops in for personal gain whenever he can.:twocents:

 

[Kattrca]

One thing I've noticed about Judge Stephens is the moment JM asks her to intervene with a witness, she's right on the case. I get the impression she doesn't want to necessarily interrupt JM as he's more than capable of handling anyhow. And let's face it we may not have got some of the JA's blinding responses if Judge Stephens had interrupted.

ETA - I don't think JA should get away with reading things off her lap though.

No doubt she is quite qualified and attentive. She does seem to nod when Jaun is making a point at sidebar and sort of irritated with JW, but not being in the courtroom it is so hard to truly get a take on any of it. I had just read that JW has the same giggly demeanor at sidebar and sometimes the Judge has a moment with her. Which by the by, aside from her being an irritating troll like person is one of the things that p**** s me off the most about JW like she auditioning for a cheerleader position in HS. " I keep waiting for her to slap her knees and screach " READY OKAY!!!" BLECHHHHHH

 

[Nezumi]

You know even though I didn't ask and didnt hear it, my impression was she said something like that. Like "don't take this personally" and if that's right, she's even more clueless and self absorbed than her testimony in this trial makes her.

But yes I do think it was something of that nature (or maybe you know what was said).

Clueless, self absorbed and staggeringly egotistical.

 

[SunnyinMO]

Don't want to go o/t so this is for clarification about the Dr Phil story.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20688951,00.html

from the article:

While Sandra Arias could not be reached for comment, Bill Arias, Jodi's father, denied that the family has worked out any sort of arrangement with McGraw or taken anything from him.

"He asked and we refused. We do not want to deal with him," Bill tells PEOPLE, explaining that he never actually talked with Dr. Phil. A producer approached the family, gave them a card, and said the show would like to do an interview.
snipped:

:liar::liar::liar: I don't believe a word of this. The Arias family has never appeared to be 'of means'. It HAS to be very expensive for mother and twin to be there day after day. Just look at what financial hardships have been thrown at Travis' family. Dr. Phil lied about first, not doing an interview with the A's, and secondly the 'donation'. He lost his facade of 'the caring doctor' when he did that. So I will not be surprised to see the Arias' on his show as soon as the verdict is rendered. (There might be a slim chance that Mr. Arias doesn't know about Mrs. Arias' deal) JMO

 

[Levi]

I'm really enjoying listening to KatieDDJ on Levi Page's podcast. Thanks Levi & Katie—good show.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/levipage.rss

Thanks Molly!

 

[scorpio24]

Thanks again to KCL and PASA for sharing your observations. I always look forward to reading your reactions as well as those of the jurors.

Question: Have you noticed any difference in the "feel" of the courtroom from the beginning until now? Is it more tense or less tense since, let's say, Juror 5 left or since the family was told they could not wear their ribbons?

I know sometimes it's difficult to gauge those things, but I was just wondering if y'all have noticed anything. Thanks in advance!

 

[galvino]

KCL- Pleas check your PMs!