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Explosive Fireworks at Ahmaud Arbery Trial
Judge Admonishes Lawyer Sheffield for Dissing Court Rulings
In day three of testimony, fireworks was the order of the day during the McMichaels and Bryan trial in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Special Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski started the day with a strong presentation of evidence. She blew a shotgun-sized hole in the defendants’ claim of self-defense.
Lawyers frequently objected to questions, and the jury spent a good portion of the day in the jury room. At the same time, Judge Timothy Walmsley settled one dispute after another between the lawyers. At one point, Attorney Jason Sheffield made a disrespectful facial expression and a hand jester towards Judge Walmsley, following a ruling that went against him. The jury could clearly see Sheffield’s denigration of Judge Walmsley.
Walmsley immediately sent the jury back to the jury room and lit into Sheffield, telling him he did not care if Sheffield liked him or his rulings, but he was not going to tolerate that type of disrespect before the jury. Walmsley said he would step away from the bench, indicating that if he remained on the bench, he would severely sanction Sheffield. Walmsley walked back to his chamber.
Sheffield seemed shaken when the jury returned to the courtroom, but that did not chill his advocacy of Travis McMichael.
