Clearing My Name.

Wednesday afternoon found me at our county courthouse waiting (anxiously) for my case to be called.

State of Minnesota vs. Sam-are-a Lewis Past-oom-a. The judges voice boomed as I walked towards the podium.

I corrected him and got quite the stare from the court clerk, but how can I swear in to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth if I don't even tell them my correct name?

In the case you missed it via facebook or twitter late Wednesday afternoon, my stubbornness paid off (this time) and I walked away with no fine and no record from my late November infraction. (You can read my previous post on my first court experience and what I was doing there in the first place, here.)

Partly due to a technicallity (if you call having the officer walk into court while my case is simultaneously called and then asking for a recess or continuance, a technicality, ahem) and partly because since I'd had over an hour to hear other cases and attorneys go over miscellaneous cases before the judge so I learned the proper verbiage and terms to use when it came to be my turn.

But the best part of my court experience was hearing the judge say; "Well said, Ms. Postuma. The prosecution's request for a recess or continuance has been denied and this case has been dismissed. Have a great afternoon."

And I looked over and gave my new friend, the prosecutor and his officer a big, giant smile as I walked out of court.

Because I've never seen my name in lights on the court docket before and have no future plans to I just had to snap a quick cell phone picture. To protect the others that were there with me that day I've xx'ed out their names. Click to enlarge.