AM Hucks: Judge Orders Humor in the Court

Earlier this week, Magistrate Gene Marano was stringing together one-liners better than Jay Leno does during his opening “Tonight Show” monologue. The 1st District Court judge was ready when a defendant offered an excuse for failing to show up for Sheriff Rocky Watson¡¦s work detail. During first appearances Tuesday, the county jailbird said he’d sent a letter to Judge John Luster explaining his situation. Replied Marano: “Judge Luster is off in South Africa someplace chasing lions. I don’t know. Or maybe being chased by lions.¨ (Rimshot.) When the inmate mentioned that his probation officer was Mary Marano, the judge looked to his clerk and said with a shudder: “How would you like to have her for a probation officer?” For those keeping score at home, Mary Marano is the wife of sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger and daughter of the aforementioned judge. (Insert another rimshot here and mark your calendar for the next Marano family get-together. After all, Capt. Ben reads Huckleberries.) Finally, a prisoner who¡¦d been busted for allegedly driving drunk got his turn in Judge Marano’s dock. Marano read aloud the address where the sot had been apprehended right in front of the office of Sheriff Rocky and Capt. Ben on Gummint Way. (At least, he didn’t have to go far to be booked into jail.) Continuing, Marano asked the guy if he was single. “Yes,” the defendant replied. Then, he clarified himself: “Divorced.” Said Marano, without missing a beat: “That’s still single.” Badabump.