2×03 “When You Put God on Trial”
Written by: Chris Coleman and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode contains strong language
Sam Cooke- A Change Gonna Come
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEBlaMOmKV4

ATLAS FALLS COURTHOUSE

Walking into this courtroom was almost a blur. After the flashes of camera lights blinding them they made it into the Atlas Falls Courthouse. It was beautiful that today would be the final day he had to defend his legacy against Kendrick. Looking over at Mason and Braden he felt his stomach knot up. Dinah Watkins was Kendrick mother and the way the woman looked at him. The things she said in interviews well let’s just say Dinah better not be caught in a dark alley with is mother or sister. June Harrison could handle herself with a rolling pin she beat off rioters. His mother was a tough lady and he was grateful his family were all here. Hell his brothers in blue were sitting there supporting him. It didn’t matter if they were black or white they were here. That made him feel good because honestly he wasn’t sure if people truly believed how innocent he was. Kendrick didn’t put down his weapon and he did shoot to kill. He had to or else Kendrick wouldn’t have stopped. Some call this suicide by police but he saw it as a coward who couldn’t face all the people he was going to disappoint. If Yasmine honestly told the truth on the stand today then they’d see him for what he was. He knew Dani was going to tell her truth and that’s all he asked for. He asked for them to speak their truth because everyone in the town knew he wasn’t a killer.

Sitting down he didn’t see Elliot Duval the man was a showboat lawyer if ever seen one. He’d gotten two African-American NFL players off with slaps on the wrist for a drunk driving accident. He was a celebrity lawyer until a rapper name Lil Hitta was brutally beaten by the police while nobody knew he was a celebrity. That was when Elliot Duval persecuted and destroyed a entire county in California for there racist behavior. After that Elliot slowly drifted out of the mainstream media minds and started to take on cases that affected African-American culture. He was one of the first attorney’s to sue a police station and win after an unarmed black kid was killed by an officer. This made him known throughout the African-American community and he was becoming something of a new Johnnie Cochran. He also was a flagrant media whore and no matter what he said this was because of the riots. If nobody rioted in this city then Elliot wouldn’t be here.

“I hate to ask this but if they don’t show up and by some stroke of God they’re not here is it over? Does she somehow lose the case. I know I’m a cop but civil suits aren’t my thing you know that. I just want this over and everyone to leave me and Cassie alone. We’ve moved out of my house because they found me Mason. I’m not a bad guy and we both know that. Why is this still happening for something that happened months ago. It’s over he’s been proven at fault and my shot was clean. Isn’t that enough to stop this?”

Mason had made his way inside the courtroom with Jon making sure his response was the same as it always was to the media no comment. Jon had been cleared of any wrong doing in the shooting of Kendrick at both a Federal and State level but that would never stop lawyers like Elliot Duvall in his mind from going after Jon for money for Kendrick’s mother. He supposed that was one of the differences in their take on clients. He always interviewed them making sure he was taking on the clients that he felt needed the most help. Jon’s trial was one of those things he knew of badly it could all be taken out of context and one of the reason he had Braden consult with him on it to prepare just in case it went to a criminal one. He’d never done a criminal trial luckily they had avoided that and a civil trial was what was left. As DA Braden wasn’t allowed to act as Jon’s lawyer and he looked back at him sitting in the row behind them and then around the courtroom Elliot wasn’t here yet.

“Technically if he doesn’t show the judge can dismiss the case. They would then have to refile another motion for another preliminary hearing and we’d continue on. This will be over today Jon I swear it you everyone will publically know what happened that day.” Mason said looking at the bailiff enter with still no sign of Elliot or Dinah he almost bragged a sign of relief only for him to see them enter the courtroom a circus of reporters following them watching them both speaking to the press without a care in the world. He turned to Jon and looked at him. “Remain calm you outburst it looks bad it paints the picture they’ve been wanting. It’s up to the judge if this goes any further today or if she awards them anything.”

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