Chapter 39
Sharla
It was almost three o’clock and Sharla was pacing back and forth in her office. Her meeting with Presiding Judge Leonard White was just down the hall. Normally, her supervising judge would’ve also attended the disciplinary meeting. But Checkoff was speaking at a judicial conference in Vegas. Judge White was using his office for the meeting.
Sharla glanced at her face in the mirror behind her door.
This is it girl.
She opened the door and started to walk out but dashed back over to her desk for her purse and cell phone. If this didn’t go well, she planned to go straight to her car.
Sharla walked confidently down the hallway, her head held high.
She knocked on the door and heard a gruff voice instruct her to come in.
“Good afternoon,” she said, taking a seat.
“Afternoon.” Judge White did not look up. He was combing through what she assumed was the case file that Judge Checkoff had prepared regarding her conduct.
Several long minutes passed before Judge White acknowledged her presence again.
“This is certainly quite troubling.” He frowned at her over his bifocals.
Judge White was the quintessential image of a 1950’s judge. Snow white hair, thick, ruddy cheeks and fifty pounds overweight.
“You came to this court with some very high recommendations. I’m stunned at your behavior, young lady.”
Out of everything he had just said, his addressing her as young lady was what bothered her most. She wasn’t a child. She was a Los Angeles Superior Court judge with credentials far superior to Judge White’s. She researched him online and learned that he graduated from some no name law school in the Midwest.
“So what do you have to say for yourself?”
“As I told Judge Checkoff, hearing the Kress Pharmaceuticals case was an incredible oversight on my part. At the time Sherman & Finnegan joined the case, I wasn’t involved with Mr. Dennard. With so many law firms involved, I somehow overlooked their name on the motion. Another law firm actually argued the motion. The Sherman & Finnegan partner didn’t make an appearance at the hearing.”
“And what did your boyfriend have to say for himself? He certainly had to know his law firm was appearing before you.”
I don’t have a boyfriend.
“He didn’t know that a partner at his firm had a case before me.”
“If I was a law firm partner screwing a judge, that would be the first thing I would’ve checked.”
Anger crept up her neck. You asshole.
“So was it worth it?” the judge’s pearly veneers gleamed across the desk at her.
Sharla inhaled.
“I asked you a question, young lady,” he said sharply.
She remembered Reese’s admonition. Just remember to be respectful. If you gotta eat crow, swallow it with a smile.
Just then, her cell phone buzzed. It was on vibrate, but the buzzing was as loud as the ringing. She ignored it.
“Well?” the judge demanded.
“No, it wasn’t worth it. My career is very important to me.”
He snorted. “Sounds like giving up a little tail was a lot more important than your career. Were you already screwing this guy when he appeared before you in the Ivers case?”
He was actually getting off on berating her. “No.”
“I bet you two had sex in your chambers, didn’t you?”
As a matter of fact, we did. You pervert.
“No. Of course not.”
Judge White rocked back in his chair. “As you know, I have a lot of discretion as to how this matter should be handled. I could issue a verbal reprimand. I could make it more formal and put it in writing so it remains in your personnel file. Or I could refer the case to the CJP for a full investigation.”
Sharla met his gaze with a scowl so cold a chill swept through the room.
“So how do you think I should handle this?”
“I regret what happened. A verbal reprimand is more than sufficient. Nothing like this will ever happen again.”
“That’s exactly what I thought you’d say. To be honest, young lady, I’m actually contemplating referring you to the CJP. You’re far too young to be on the bench. You barely practiced six years before your appointment. I think your lack of maturity is part of the problem here.”
Sharla had not expected to be belittled like this. Her record on the bench was spotless. This was total bullshit.
Her phone buzzed again. “I have my phone on vibrate,” she apologized. “I guess I need to turn it off.”
With trembling fingers, she removed it from her purse. The screen showed two missed phone calls and a text, all from Reese. She suddenly remembered Reese telling her not to leave the meeting until she heard from her. She began reading the lengthy text.
Sharla glanced up at the judge. “Excuse me for just a minute. This is important.”
“More important than your fucking career?”
She ignored his question and continued reading. As she did, a menacing smile spread across her lips.
“Good news?” Judge White asked sarcastically.
“Actually, it’s some extremely good news.” Sharla crossed her long legs and propped up her elbow on the back of the chair. “I’d like to change my response to your question about what disciplinary action you should give me. I’m not going to tell you what I think you should do, I’m going to tell you what you’re going to do.”
The judge leaned forward, his eyes wide with surprise. “Who in the hell do you think you are talking to me like that, young lady.”
“First, don’t call me young lady again. Ever. You address me as Judge Ratliff or don’t address me at all.”
The man’s cheeks were so red it looked as if someone had slathered them with strawberry jelly. “You little—”
“And second, there isn’t going to be any disciplinary action—verbal, written or otherwise. In fact, you’re going to forget that Checkoff even brought this matter to your attention.”