Chapter Fifty-Four Judge's Decision

Attorney Andrew is sitting at the plaintiff’s table waiting for them.  When they enter he rises and offers each of them a handshake.

Tyler tells him about the reporter. 

Smiling Andrew replies “Doesn’t surprise me one bit.  The paper will try to get a story any way they can.  You did the right thing.  Judge Thomas instructed both attorneys not to say anything before we left yesterday.”

As they talk attorney Snyder, Virginia and Matt Peters enter the room.  They take their assigned seats.  The tension in the room can be felt by all parties.

Exactly at two o’clock, the bailiff comes into the room and announces the judge’s entry to the court.  Everyone stands for the protocol.

Seated at the table he uses as his bench, Judge Thomas scans the parties sitting before him.  He coughs before he starts to speak.

“In the civil action of Tyler Martin vs. the Peters family and the Circle J ranch: