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 Beware! This story does not concern a five minute spot commercial. But is it new justice system? It is possible? Enjoy a new style of writing detail without detailed description. See if you agree with Mark. Who’s on trial?
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 ...Cast of the Short Story: The Five Minute Spot... 1. Morgan Barton - Lead lawyer
for the prosecution: new law trial.
2. Charlie Banks - Lead lawyer
for the defense: old law trial.
3. Jamie Foreman - Lead Lawyer
for the defense: new law trial.
4. Judge P. T. Farmer - Trial
judge for the new law trial.
5. Corman Belcher - Actor
playing the role of Anthony Langer
in the new law courtroom.
6. Anthony Langer - The
defendant, accused of murder in the old law trial, in the old law courtroom.
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Charlie changed channels, squinted
to see the TV screen better and looked out through his fourteenth floor bay window. It was dark
outside. He closed the blinds, which shut off all city light into his law office, turned up the room
lights and put his feet on his desk. “Where is Morgan? Wish he’d get back here. Got too get to work
on this sweetheart defense.”
Nurturing clever thoughts, he
continued to change channels looking for the election returns. “Even though the client is a murderer,
doesn’t matter. He’s got funds and we can drag it out and out and out and....”
He glanced across his office
through the glass partition as Morgan turned on his office lights and strolled to his desk. He waved.
Charlie nodded. He spoke to him even though Morgan couldn’t hear him. “Hurry up guy. I want to
talk strategy with you.” He hummed and wondered why Morgan seemed to take his time. “He knows
I want to get on with this case, hot and heavy.”
He pushed Morgan’s intercom
switch. “Hey, guy, get your bucket in here, will yuh? Puhleeuz?”
“Sure. Right away,” Morgan said
and walked to the connecting door. He opened his jacket as he approached Charlie’s desk, he sighed
and sat in one of the large lounge chairs. “Charlie, my friend,” he said.
“What?” Charlie said. He tapped
his pen over and over on the desk mat.
“I don’t want to be part of the
defense on this Langer Case.”
“What? Don’t give me that bull.
You’ve got to be. You’re the best ”
“Was the best,” Morgan said.
“Was? Have you resigned from the
profession?” Charlie asked.
Morgan chuckled. “You’re full of
questions, Charlie. No, I haven’t resigned.”
“Tell me, Morgan. Just so I’ll
know what’s up.” He walked around the desk, sat on the front edge and hiked his trousers. “Morgan,
next thing you’re gonna hit me with you’re gonna tell me you voted in favor of Proposition 300.”
He rubbed his forehead to ward off an approaching headache and studied Morgan’s eyes. His eyes
never lie, he thought. He did. He voted for it.
“You’re right, Charlie. We need
the changes ”
“Boy. Talk about loyalty.”
“Charlie, we’re losing the justice
in our system of law. We’ve manipulated the law far, too long. Clever and legal but not really
ethical. Evidence has to be absolute, not easily manipulated: good in one case, bad in another.”
“Yeah, I know. I hear your lecture
every once in a while.” He wet his lips, walked back to his chair and began rocking. “But the
proposition may not pass.”
“It has passed. I heard it on my car
radio.” He chuckled. “You should turn the sound up.”
“Ah there it is now. Yep, Channel
2 with that red check mark in front of Yes. You’re right. My side lost. Well, Morgan, I never paid
much attention to that proposition anyway. But it doesn’t go into affect for ”
“Until after the first test case.”
“Oh yeah. What is the first trial
case?”
“The city is gonna try the same case using the new methodology and the current system, side-by-side.”
“You mean, at the same time?”
“Right. We talked about that.”
“Yeah, I guess we did.”
“What case?”
“They’ll make a selection from a case on this month’s docket.”
“November,” Charlie said under
his breath. “Yeah!”
“Could be the Langer Case.”
“Don’t tell me that. I can retire,
dripping money, after the Langer case is finished: several months from now.” He put his finger to his
lips. He frowned then said: “I’ll have to get someone to replace you.”
Morgan stood and walked behind
the desk, leaned against it and folded his arms. “We’re still friends, right?”
“Of course. There’s always room
for diversion.”
“Diversity, Charlie.”
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