At 10 a.m. we've got a show cause hearing for two top D.C. Department of Corrections officials. Judge Lamberth wants to know why they've seemingly flouted his order. More background on this below. #CapitolRiot @wusa9 @EricFlackTV
https://twitter.com/JordanOnRecord/status/1448036700815597569
Alright this is getting started. We've got lots of D.C. city lawyers and D.C. Department of Corrections officials in court today to explain to Judge Lamberth why they didn't turn over documents he ordered them to re: Christopher Worrell's health situation.
Judge Lamberth is starting off by saying the D.C. DOC has "refused to cooperate" in making rooms available for virtual hearings. Calls that "unbelievably harmful to the court."
Judge Lamberth also says he's tried to compensate for this by having defendants brought to the court, but that a previous hearing had to be canceled once the defendant was in the court because of the "incompetence" of jail officials in not reporting a COVID-19 test.
A lawyer for the city says the D.C. Department of Corrections provided the requested documents to the U.S. Marshals Service yesterday afternoon (after Judge Lamberth threatened them with civil contempt).
Lawyer says the long turnaround time can be explained by the weekend and Columbus Day holiday.
Judge Lamberth says it's not just about these specific records. Says he has been trying to get information about an injury to Christopher Worrell's hand for more than a month and hasn't been able to.
An orthopedic specialist recommended Christopher Worrell have an operation to fix a break in his hand in June. Judge Lamberth says he doesn't understand why that hasn't happened yet. Eventually took action on September 18 by calling U.S. Marshals Service.
"How did these notes magically appear and why did they never get to [the U.S. Marshals]?" Judge Lamberth asks. "Where did they suddenly come from? I set a trial for the D.C. Department of Corrections and the warden and suddenly they appear."
City attorney says these notes will be part of the electronic medical medical going forward and "this will never happen again." Judge Lamberth isn't satisfied. Says the notes only appeared after he set the contempt trial.
City lawyer says D.C. DOC misunderstood or got mixed signals about the urgency of the need for Christopher Worrell to get this surgery. Judge Lamberth says he "really can't accept that explanation."
Christopher Worrell's lawyer, Alex Stavrou, says the wrist injury occurred on May 16. They believe if he had received proper care then, he may not ultimately have needed surgical intervention.
Stavrou also says that Worrell, who has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, has been recommended for chemotherapy and radiation.
"There are grave concerns that if they’re going to treat something more serious in the same manner, this could be cruel and unusual punishment for my client."
"There are grave concerns that if they’re going to treat something more serious in the same manner, this could be cruel and unusual punishment for my client."
WOW. Judge Royce Lamberth holds D.C. Jail Warden Wanda Patten and D.C. DOC Director Quincy Booth in civil contempt of court.
“It’s clear to the court they had given the back of the hand to the court," Lamberth says. #CapitolRiot @wusa9 @EricFlackTV
“It’s clear to the court they had given the back of the hand to the court," Lamberth says. #CapitolRiot @wusa9 @EricFlackTV
Judge Royce Lamberth says he is referring the situation to the U.S. Attorney General's Office for a civil rights investigation.
“It’s clear to me the civil rights of the defendant were violated by the D.C. Department of Corrections," he says. #CapitolRiot @wusa9 @EricFlackTV
“It’s clear to me the civil rights of the defendant were violated by the D.C. Department of Corrections," he says. #CapitolRiot @wusa9 @EricFlackTV
Write-up coming soon.
As promised, my write-up on this morning's hearing before Judge Lamberth: wusa9.com/article/news/n…
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