Smiling, she went to the tiny platform before the magistrate’s chair. With a startled expression, Judge Callisto reclined in his chair and observed her approach. Things in his courtroom did not typically proceed like way.
Everyone in the courtroom appeared to be holding their breath, anticipating Judge Callisto’s next move. Was he still upset over being cut off? Would he punish Maya for disobeying the judge? Nobody, not even Nia, could have anticipated the judge’s unexpected response. Nia’s life was a never-ending battle between employment, childcare, and making ends meet as a single mother of her energetic six-year-old daughter, Maya.
With the exception of Maya waking up sniffling and coughing, which is a major warning that a cold is approaching, every morning was an experiment in balancing these demands. Nia had to retrieve Maya’s medication before work, but she also had to get to her bakery shift on time. Nia started getting ready as soon as she could.
She packed a tiny bag with tissues and mints, wrapped Maya in warm clothes, and made sure she had her favorite stuffed animal for comfort. Sadly, her wishes went unmet as she hurried Maya out the door, praying that traffic wouldn’t be too bad. All of the traffic lights appeared to be red, making the typically short drive to the drugstore feel incredibly difficult.
Nia was already running late when she made it to the store. Worry was in the air as soon as Nia’s car got into the pharmacy parking lot. Regretfully, every parking space was reserved.
She noticed a vacant place next to the door, but it was reserved for wheelchairs. Though Nia knew better than to park there, time was of the essence. She glanced at the empty store and quickly did some math.
Nia made a poor choice as Maya was coughing in the back seat. It will only take a few minutes, she told herself. She parked in the wheelchair space, figuring there wouldn’t be any cars waiting for her and that she would be in and out quickly.
But for single mothers, things never turn out well. The few minutes stretched to 10, then 15, and yet the drugstore line moved slowly, taking an age to sort out each person’s prescription before Nia. After obtaining the medication, Nia virtually ran back to the car.
As she approached her car, she started to worry since she felt a little bad for taking a chance with the parking space. Had her absence been excessive? When she noticed the vivid orange envelope nestled beneath her windshield wiper, her concerns were confirmed. For parking illegally, there was a $200 parking charge.
Nia felt the number like a gut punch. For Nia, whose budget was already limited, $200 was a significant blow. That accounted for over half of her weekly grocery spending.
How was she going to pay for this? Over the next few days, Nia calculated and rationed. She accounted for lost time on everything, including gas for the car and her daily coffee. Finally though, the $200 restriction on her budget was still a lot.
Nia had to acknowledge the truth of the circumstance. She could not possibly afford such a charge. She was faced with a difficult choice.
Either she would pay the fine and miss rent payments each month, or she would appear in court and make her case. She wanted to back out at just the thought of traveling to Courtfield Nia because of the intimidating judges and intricate processes. However, the $200 fine was just too much to bear.
Nia chose to take her chances in court as a result. If she gave the judge all the details, maybe, just maybe, the judge would be understanding and grant her some mercy. Before the court date, Nia studied parking laws and practiced her justification for several days.
She was nervous as the day drew near. Would the magistrate even give her reasoning a chance? Could she persuade him to overlook the ticket? Her confidence nearly evaporated as she walked into the towering courthouse with its high ceilings and grim-faced security officers. Nia’s nervousness was heightened by the stories she had heard about the presiding judge’s strictness, and the atmosphere in the courtroom seemed dark and serious.
When she finally stood in front of Judge Callisto, she was trembling uncontrollably. It was a lot of what Nia had to say. She described the event, her voice wavering a little.
She talked about how busy she was as a single mother, how she had to run to obtain Maya’s medication before work, and how the awful parking scenario resulted in the ticket. Nia was practicing her justification in advance in an attempt to demonstrate to the judge the dire circumstances that led to her error. She was polite and articulate in her speech, trying to convince the court of our genuineness.
Judge Callisto seems unfaced though. He had a severe expression and was a man of few words. With a distant expression, he listened to Nia’s explanation, but it was difficult to read his thoughts.
Nia was irritated not only by Judge Callisto’s rigidity, but also by his reputation as a by-the-book judge. He followed the rule to the letter, not giving any thought to circumstances or cause. As long as he was certain that the crime or infraction in question had been committed, he consistently handed down the highest fines and jail time.