Naomi bypassed the crowded gallery and walked straight through the wooden swinging doors into the well of the court. She took a seat at the defense table, opened her briefcase, and laid out her legal pads with meticulous precision.
At the prosecution table sat Robert Sterling, an Assistant District Attorney known for his slicked-back hair, his aggressive posturing, and his political ambitions. Sterling looked up from his files, expecting to see a tired, overworked public defender. When his eyes locked onto Naomi Brooks, the color visibly drained from his face. He quickly stood up, buttoning his suit jacket.
"General Brooks," Sterling said, his voice a mix of surprise and forced professional courtesy. He walked over to the defense table. "I didn't realize you were practicing down here in Oakhaven. I thought you were strictly handling federal appellate work."
Naomi didn't look up from her notes. "I go where the work requires me to go, Mr. Sterling. Today, it requires me to be here."
Sterling shifted his weight, looking at the docket sheet in his hand. He found the name Julian Hayes. A muscle feathered in his jaw. He instantly understood the dynamic. He knew the history. He knew exactly why she was sitting there.
"With all due respect, Naomi," Sterling said, dropping the formal title in an attempt to assert dominance on his home turf. "This is a straight-up felony assault on an officer. The kid ran. He fought. Officer Mercer has a broken nose. We are seeking a grand jury indictment by Friday. You might want to sit this one out. It’s a loser, and the optics of you taking it are... complicated."
Naomi finally looked up. Her dark eyes were perfectly flat, giving away absolutely nothing. She held his gaze for five agonizing seconds until Sterling physically had to look away.
"Mr. Sterling," Naomi said, her voice low enough that only he could hear it, but sharp enough to draw blood. "If you ever drop my professional title in a courtroom again, I will embarrass you in front of the judge. Secondly, if you think 'optics' dictate my case load, you have profoundly misunderstood my career. Now, return to your table. We have a hearing."
Sterling’s face flushed dark red. He turned on his heel and marched back to the prosecution table, slamming his files down.
A heavy side door opened, and a bailiff led Julian Hayes into the courtroom.
Naomi’s heart tightened in her chest. The twenty-year-old college student looked absolutely terrified. He was wearing the bright orange jumpsuit, his hands shackled to a waist chain. But it was his face that made Naomi’s breath catch. His left eye was swollen shut, surrounded by a violent, blossoming purple bruise. His lower lip was split and stitched. He moved stiffly, clearly favoring his right ribs.
This was the "aggressive stance." This was the kid who had supposedly assaulted two armed police officers.
The bailiff unhooked Julian from the chain gang and guided him to the seat next to Naomi. Julian sat down slowly, wincing. He looked at Naomi with his one good eye, trembling slightly.
"Mr. Hayes," Naomi said softly, leaning closer to him. "I am Naomi Brooks. I am your attorney. You do not speak today. You do not answer any questions. You let me do all the talking. Do you understand?"
Julian nodded, a single tear escaping his swollen eye and tracking down his bruised cheek. "They beat me," he whispered, his voice cracking. "I just ran because they pulled their guns. I was so scared. I didn't hit anyone. They threw me on the ground and started hitting me."
"I know," Naomi said, placing a steadying hand over his trembling, shackled wrists. "I know, Julian. And we are going to prove it."
The bailiff called the court to order as Judge Harold Franklin took the bench. Franklin was an older judge, a former prosecutor himself, known for setting high bail and moving his docket with ruthless efficiency.
"Call the case of the State versus Julian Hayes," the clerk announced.
"Robert Sterling for the State, Your Honor," Sterling barked, standing up aggressively.
Naomi stood gracefully, smoothing the front of her jacket. "Naomi Brooks, Your Honor. Entering my appearance as lead counsel for the defense."
Judge Franklin peered over his reading glasses. He recognized her immediately. A flicker of surprise crossed his weathered face, quickly replaced by a guarded neutrality. "General Brooks. A surprise to see you in my courtroom. We don't usually get the heavy hitters down here for a preliminary bail hearing."
"The circumstances of my client's detention required immediate attention, Your Honor," Naomi replied smoothly.
"Very well. Mr. Sterling, the State's position on bail?"
Sterling grabbed his notes. "Your Honor, this defendant committed a violent, unprovoked assault on a law enforcement officer. He fled a lawful investigatory stop, leading officers on a foot pursuit. Upon being apprehended, he actively resisted, striking Officer Mercer in the face and causing a facial fracture. The defendant poses a severe flight risk and a clear danger to the community. The State requests bail remain at two hundred and fifty thousand dollars."
Judge Franklin looked toward Naomi. "Ms. Brooks? I assume you object."
"I do, Your Honor. I object to the bail amount, and I object to the State's entire characterization of reality," Naomi said, stepping out from behind the defense table.
She walked toward the center podium. "My client is a twenty-year-old engineering student with a 3.8 GPA. He has no prior criminal history. No juvenile record. He is a lifelong resident of this state. He is not a flight risk; he is a college sophomore who was walking to a tutoring job."