Real-Life Drama Methodical But Energizing
The seats in federal court are really comfortable.
I’m serious. The ones in the spectators area are way better than what you’ll find in most Spokane movie theaters. They’re padded just right - not too much, not too little. They seemed to be about the perfect height. The backs are set at a good angle. And they’re stylishly covered with a blue cloth that’s serious without being somber.
Sure, you’ve got to pass through two metal detectors to get to the ninth-floor courtroom where the big bank robbery/bombings trial is being held in downtown Spokane. But at least you can sit in comfort upon arrival.
Friday morning a few minutes before 8 o’clock, about a dozen onlookers were scattered throughout the approximately 70 seats in the spectators area. At the opposite end of the courtroom, a door that blended into the wall paneling opened. And the three defendants were escorted in.
Now everybody knows that TV and real life are different. And presumably everybody understands that O.J. Simpson isn’t the focus of every trial. But the extent to which this moment lacked drama was almost stunning.
The three men’s pictures have been on the front page multiple times. The crimes with which they’re accused are extremely serious. But here, in court - without big headlines or an anchorman’s voice - they were just these three casually dressed guys being led to their seats at the defense table. A couple of minutes later, the jury entered and sat down. Then the judge came in, saying “Morning everybody, please be seated.”
Bim. Bam. Boom. Before a few spectators even realized that they had missed the directive “All rise,” the morning session was under way.
One of the prosecutors, a woman in a red suit, resumed her questioning of an FBI agent who reminded me of my eighth-grade algebra teacher.
“With respect to government’s exhibit 327, a flak vest …”
A couple of jurors yawned.
Truth is, it wasn’t boring. Just methodical.
OK, there might have been a moment or two when certain members of the audience felt like standing and saying “Counsel, where are we headed with this?”
And by the time the judge called for the midmorning recess at about 9:30, the break was welcome. But in a way, watching a little bit of the trial was better than any TV drama or movie. Because at various moments, an interesting sensation would sink in: “This is the real thing, and I’m right here taking it in.”
And that felt like a kind of high-octane citizenship.
Plus, as I said, the seats were comfortable.
, DataTimes MEMO: Being There is a weekly feature that looks at gatherings in the Inland Northwest.