I can only imagine. In this, you can tell it’s after the hearing, so she didn’t even say anything about recognizing him until the “work” portion was done, but the little she did say I think spoke volumes. Obviously it was very touching to him that she remembered him. Not everyone has has someone that believes they can…

I could see her struggle. I had a somewhat similar situation. I had a client brought in for anger management stemming from child endangerment charges. She looked somewhat familiar and I wondered if she had been in a similar program or worked with another case manager in my office.

It's not like she can step down and hug him, sheesh. I'm sure all the people accusing her of being cold are effusively warm themselves too.

I’d wager it’s probably also relevant that she’s a woman. A male judge might be able to get away with more emotion, but naturally women have to be on guard not to be “too emotional” or its proof that we can't handle the pressure of high-powered roles.

Oh come on. She’s looking at him with so much affection, and the first thing out of her mouth is that he was such a good kid in middle school and they used to play together, and she’d wondered about him. There’s not much more she can say here, but she’s not being sanctimonious - she means it, she remembers him fondly…

Well apparently you need 50+ people to tell you she’s a judge for you to understand how she acted and why.

Courthouses are very surreal places to work. You can pass people having conversations about coffee orders and others learning that they have lost custody of their children or that they are going to jail within 15 seconds in the same hallway. Judges are very used to that and they do have to follow certain judicial…

Judges are supposed to be impartial. That’s a large facet of their job. The fact that she even acknowledges that he was a nice kid in middle school is a lot for a judge to convey. Also a shocking event in a person’s life doesn’t always have to elicit a facial expression similar to this emoticon: (*o*).

Exactly. It’s so rare to see these nice, human moments in court. She maintained her professionalism which is necessary and got a chance to express her feelings. He was so overwhelmed the moment he made the connection and clearly this was an emotional moment for them both. If only more interactions between judges and…

I thought not was sweet too. Especially his reaction—he was clearly overwhelmed. I’m confused by people’s reaction about her being cold. She's a judge for gods sake, she has to maintain a level of professionalism. I liked how she talked about what a nice guy he was (and likely continues to be) and encouraged him for…

Kids play football at recess all the time without there being a team, and girls and boys play together then. That's how it was at my elementary- middle school. We didn't have a school football team until high school.

Well, it unexpectedly rained on my face. They clearly have so much friend love for each other and really meant something to one another. This is as mushy as a judge can get while doing her job and I’m glad she told him that what she remembers most is how nice he is. Seems like it really touched him and could be a…

I agree. She had to remain professional, but she reached that man by reminding him of a history they shared. Had she been cold hearted, the judge simply would have ignored all that, addressed his legal issues, and moved the docket. I found it touching and wish him well.

Also it wasn’t the “shock of her life.” It barely elicited an eyebrow raise.

If I ever find myself in front of a judge, I pray it’s someone like her. This is the kind of compassion a person in power should have and I hope she never becomes cynical.

She’s still on the job

She still has to remain professional in her position, and I think this is amazing and she is still conveying the person she remembers with dignity and hope to him. Makes me have hope for him that he will reflect with her remembering him “back when”, you know?

I mean, they aren’t tucked into a corner booth in a dimly lit diner confiding in each other. She’s at work.

I hope her kindness is a catalyst for him.

Judging you, Amber.