Courtroom Chemistry

"The Martha" was sick yesterday.  "The Martha" is what I call our courtroom clerk.  She, Judge Jack and I spend a lot of time together.  Our court security officer changes each week, but the three of us are in the courtroom together, day in, day out, getting it done.  Except yesterday, when "The Martha" was sick.

I call her "The Martha" because she is so good and competent at her job that her name actually defines her job.  She owns it.  I picked this up from an English knight by the name of  Sir William Marshal, who so loyally counselled four kings of England in the 12th century that his successors after his death were simply called "The Marshal".  For his service he was made Earl of Pembroke.  I hope "The Martha" can get a new chair or something as a reward for her service.

When "The Martha" wasn't at work yesterday the chemistry in the courtroom wasn't there.  The person who fills in for her is great, but it isn't the same.  We can't laugh at our little inside jokes. There's not as much energy or fun in the room.  If Judge Jack isn't around we obviously don't have court so I don't know how it would feel without him.  And if I'm not there I don't know if it feels any different for the two of them; they won't tell me.  (They probably don't miss me at all!)

The three of us have different backgrounds.  One is a Republican, one a Democrat, and one a nothing.We have different domestic situations, live in different communities, went to different schools.  But for all of the anecdotal differences in our lives, we share some common ground, and it's that common ground that helps us work so well together.  All three of us like to laugh and are genuinely cheerful people; none of us are Debbie Downers. There is a court officer that rotates through our courtroom that we call "Deputy Downer", and on the weeks he's assigned to us we don't have much fun.  He kind of brings us down.

Another thing the three of us have in common is empathy.  We know we're far from perfect and have gone through some tough times in our own lives.  None of us is quick to judge the people that appear in our courtroom.  We may eventually get around to judging them, especially Judge Jack, but we give them some slack at first.

The three of us also approach the court calendar with the same attitude.  If we have a long calendar, we don't freak out.  Judge Jack sets the tone by saying whatever happens, we'll be done by four thirty.  And The Martha does such a great job of scheduling that we rarely seem to have a crazy day.  In the fourteen months I've been here we only twice stayed on the record past four thirty, and never stayed beyond five.  I filled in one day (just one day!) for another judge and we went to five fifteen, and I'm told that judge does that all the time.  In our courtroom, we take the schedule as it comes, do what we can, and the rest works itself out.

Lack of micro managing is another similarity.  All three of us trust the other two to do their job, and none of us try to manage what the others do.  Of course, The Martha and I would never tell Judge Jack what to do anyway; that's his secretary's job.  But you know what?  Sometimes the judge asks our opinion and really seems to think our opinion is valuable.

Having good chemistry with the people you work with is so important, especially when you spend so much time with them.  If you can laugh with, confide in and commiserate with them, the day flies along .  When I've filled in at other courtrooms the day seemed so much longer.

I guess it boils down to respect.  I would find it impossible to work with or for people I didn't respect.  The voices inside my head would constantly be saying things like "What a jerk." or "Why did they do that?".  I respect and admire The Martha and Judge Jack and it's a pleasure to work with them.

Speaking of The Martha and Judge Jack, I was just told that we're ready to begin for the day, and I wouldn't want to delay getting started on another fun day together.