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Judge Stephanie Boyd sets courtroom rules, calls docket ahead of jury closing arguments
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Summary
Judge Stephanie Boyd called names on the docket, reminded attendees that custody defendants will not be brought out during closing arguments, and instructed the public on mask and conduct rules before the trial’s closing statements.
Judge Stephanie Boyd, presiding judge of the 187th District Court, called the roll of detained individuals and set conduct rules for the public before closing arguments in a jury trial. She told attendees that people in custody would not be brought out during closing arguments and that visitors must keep masks covering their noses.
The judge read a list of names of people listed on the docket, including Jacob Kawazawi, Christian Ruiz Garcia and Anthony Marino, and instructed the gallery not to announce or call out for relatives who were listed but remained in custody. "When I call names, it's for people who are on the docket. So, if you're here for a relative, no announcement is needed for you. Okay. Thank you. Alright," Judge Boyd said.
Judge Boyd explained courtroom procedure for the remainder of the morning: individuals in custody would remain secured and not be brought out while closing arguments were heard, and deputies would enforce gallery decorum. "When a deputy taps you on that shoulder, that means that you are to leave the courtroom. You will only be allowed back in this courtroom if you are called as a witness," she said. She also addressed a mask compliance issue, warning an attendee that "that mask doesn't work if your nose isn't covered." The judge assigned Deputy Laura to monitor the courtroom and indicated she would call that deputy when needed.
Court staff and the judge repeatedly emphasized that the roll call she read corresponded to names on the court docket; attendees present for relatives who remained in custody were not to expect those individuals to be brought into the courtroom during the closing-argument portion of the trial. The instructions were delivered immediately before the court proceeded to closing arguments, which the judge said would go first on the day's calendar.
The session’s procedural directions focused on witness and jury-protection protocols and gallery conduct; no formal rulings, motions or sentencing actions were recorded in the reviewed transcript segment.
