Chapter 10 - The Chief Justice Takes the Stand
My father did not testify about law.
He testified about a phone call.
The courtroom was packed.
David’s attorneys objected repeatedly before he entered.
They argued the Chief Justice’s presence would overwhelm the jury.
The judge instructed jurors to evaluate his testimony exactly as they would any other witness.
My father took the oath.
Rebecca handled the direct examination because the prosecutor wanted to avoid the appearance of spectacle.
“What did you hear on Christmas evening?”
“My daughter said she was on the kitchen floor.”
“She said Sylvia Mercer pushed her.”
“She said her husband broke her phone.”
“Did you threaten David Mercer?”
“No.”
“Did you order police to arrest him?”
“No.”
“I contacted emergency medical services.”
“I later disclosed my relationship and removed myself from all official involvement.”
“Why had you not spoken to your daughter recently?”
My father paused.
“Because I believed messages saying she wanted distance.”
“Who sent those messages?”
“The account belonged to Anna.”
“Forensic examination later showed many originated from David Mercer’s device.”
David’s attorney stood for cross-examination.
“Chief Justice, you are one of the most powerful men in the country.”
“My authority is defined by law.”
“That was not my question.”
“Then define power.”
The attorney frowned.
“Can your name affect careers?”
“Yes.”
“Can your presence frighten an ordinary attorney?”
“Possibly.”
“So when you called my client’s home, you knew your identity would intimidate him.”
“I called because my pregnant daughter requested emergency assistance.”
“Did you dislike David?”
“I barely knew him.”
“Because Anna concealed you.”
“Anna used her mother’s surname long before meeting him.”
“Were you offended?”
“No.”
The attorney smiled.
“Not even slightly?”
My father looked toward me.
“I was saddened.”
“But children are not required to organize their lives around a parent’s pride.”
The answer shifted something in the room.
The attorney tried again.
“You wanted your daughter to marry someone more suitable.”
“I wanted my daughter to marry someone who called an ambulance when she could not stand.”
No further question recovered the ground.
When my father left the witness stand, he did not look at David.
He walked directly toward the exit.
David stared after him.
May you like
The hero he had quoted for years had not destroyed him with influence.
He had told the truth in complete sentences.
