Phony Tough Guy Meets Real Thing
In fact, Jay Grodner, Chicago divorce lawyer and legend in his own mind, met a whole room full of the real things. Grodner vandalized a Marine's personal car, simply because the car had a marine insignia. When he went to court to plea in the case, the Marine who's car was vandalized, Sgt. Michael McNulty, could not be there since he is preparing for a deployment to Iraq. So some other people showed up instead. The courtroom was packed with Marines. The judge in the case served in the Marines. The prosecutor in the case served in the Marines.
Jay Grodner, the Chicago lawyer who keyed a Marine's car in anger because the car had military plates and a Marine insignia, finally got his day in court last week.
Grodner pleaded guilty in a Chicago courtroom packed with former Marines. Some had Marine pins on their coats, or baseball jackets with the Marine insignia. They didn't yell or call him names. They came to support Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty, whose car Grodner defaced in December, but who couldn't attend because he's preparing for his second tour in Iraq.
Grodner was late to court for the second time in the case. Grodner called Assistant State's Attorney Patrick Kelly, (Marine Corps/Vietnam 1969-1972), informing Kelly that he would be late to court.
"He wanted to avoid the media," Kelly said Friday. "So he's coming a half hour late."
"I don't run my courtroom that way!" responded Judge William O'Malley, ordering Grodner be arrested and held on $20,000 bail when he arrived. Finally, Grodner strolled in. A short man, wide, wearing a black fedora, dark glasses, a divorce lawyer dressed like some tough guy in the movies.
Grodner told me he'd describe himself as a "radical liberal" who's ready to leave Chicago now with all this negative publicity and move to the south of France and do some traveling.
Judge O'Malley has also traveled, but in his youth. He was a police officer on the West Side during the riots before law school. And before that, he performed another public service. Judge O'Malley served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1961-1964.
During the proceedings, the judge described the offense as anger rose in his voice, especially as Grodner started balking on a plea arrangement he'd made with prosecutors.
"Is this what you did? Yes or no," Judge O'Malley asked Grodner.
"Without knowing, yes," Grodner said, sticking to his I-might-have-done-it-but-didn't-really-mean-it defense.
O'Malley asked again, in a stronger voice, not that of a judge but of a cop on the street or a Marine who meant business.
"DID YOU KNOWINGLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THIS CAR?" O'Malley asked.
Grodner bowed his head, meekly, and responded in an equally meek voice:
"Yes," he said.
The judge promised Grodner a year in jail if he fails to meet all of the conditions of the plea agreement. I have no doubt whatsoever that Judge O'Malley will carry through with that promise exactly. Grodner should also be aware that real tough guys do not threaten.
They state fact.
More from Robbie at Urban Grounds, Blackfive and Wizbang.
Criminal Masterminds | Gaius January 20, 2008
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Blue Crab Boulevard » America’s Marines — January 20, 2008 @ 10:03 pm
By NortonPete, January 20, 2008 @ 6:41 pm
I followed this on Blackfive. Justice has been served, although in a mild way. Imagine the courage and restraint of the Marine, Sgt. Michael McNulty, when he observed the man keying his car. He correctly called the police. I would have beat the guy senseless, but then again I’m not Marine material I guess.
The Few, the Proud, the Marines.
Thanks for your service.
By feeblemind, January 20, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
I am with you NortonPete. Plus they should have thrown the book at him and made an example out of him. BTW, does Lawyer Scumbag have to pay restitution? All I saw was a dinky little fine and probation.
By Maggie, January 20, 2008 @ 7:48 pm
Sgt. Michael McNulty, could not be there since he is preparing for a deployment to Iraq. So some other people showed up instead. The courtroom was packed with Marines. The judge in the case served in the Marines. The prosecutor in the case served in the Marines.
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Talk about opening a can-o-whoop-ass! Recall that song from a few years back “What if G-d was one of us … ”
You just never know WHO you’ll have to deal with in life … So, HEH!
And from what I’ve heard there were various civil servents and civilians jammed in the mix.
Also, I know a half dozen Marine Sgts. And they are roughly in their mid-20s … And built like Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty … 5 foot (over) nuttin’ and around 6 foot … in need of several steaks and baked potatoes … and wiry as all hell!
Semper Fi!
By martian, January 21, 2008 @ 10:35 am
Semper Fidelis, Judge O’Malley!