Man Disrupts Portland Court by Lighting a Joint
As Thomas Paine, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, once wrote: “The flower of common sense does not grow in every head.” This saying perfectly describes an incident that took place last week in a Portland, Oregon courtroom.
During a hearing on the murder of a 17-year-old boy during an armed robbery, a 30-year-old man suddenly began smoking a marijuana joint, seemingly unfazed by the shock of those around him. When two court marshals intervened, it became clear that the man genuinely believed that the legalization of recreational marijuana in Oregon meant it was legal to use it anywhere.
According to one of the marshals, Chris Payne, he noticed thick clouds of smoke rising from the third row in the crowded courtroom. “Naturally, I approached the smoker and politely asked him to put out the joint and leave the courtroom,” Payne said. The man, clearly confused by the marshal’s displeasure, left the room and asked why he was being kicked out. “Sorry, but smoking marijuana in public places is strictly prohibited,” Payne replied. “No way!” the surprised smoker exclaimed. Payne noted that the man already appeared “extremely intoxicated” as he was escorted out of the courtroom.
Unsurprisingly, this bizarre story quickly spread throughout Oregon’s legal community. Judges, bailiffs, and attorneys across the state soon heard about the unusual incident. The event took place in one of the courtrooms of the Multnomah County Justice Center, which has served Portland and its suburbs for the past 106 years and welcomes up to 1,000 visitors daily.
Although court staff are used to seeing unusual things during hearings, no one could recall anyone ever lighting up a joint in the middle of a session, not even during a protest. Judge Cheryl Albrecht, who witnessed the incident, first noticed the marshals escorting a man out who had tried to smoke something during the hearing. Only a few minutes later did she catch the lingering smell of marijuana in the air. To her credit, Judge Albrecht quickly realized it was not a cigar. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my entire career,” said the judge, who has 16 years of experience. “When I smelled marijuana, I was stunned. I glanced at the detective giving testimony, then turned to the court reporter, and saw on their faces that they were just as surprised as I was.”
The defense attorney, Alicia Hersher, had some harsh words about legalization and marijuana users. “We have witnessed just how much marijuana dulls the minds of those who use it,” she told reporters.
Since the court staff were caught off guard by the man’s unexpected actions, he was let off with just a verbal warning and a reminder about the existing restrictions on legalization. As a result, the name of the misguided “hero” remains unknown.