"Just send him to prison," Mr. Jefferson said. "It's that easy. Put him in a cell and he'll be out of everyone's hair." Several members of the jury made a sound of agreement with the old dog, but others stay quiet. Including the judge.
Jones Jughead, an anger management counselor, raises his hand, "May I offer a different option?" The jury members and the judge turn to him. Jones puts his hand down, "how about we send him to the Duckburg's Mental Hospital."
"The mental hospital? Why do you think we should send him there?" Miss Walker, a history professor, asked.
"The hospital helps those who are mentally ill," Jones explained. "And judging by Mr. Buzzard's speech and behavior, he may be inhabiting some form of mental illness."
"Duckburg's Mental Hospital? The hospital that coddles lazy people?" Mr. Jefferson raised an eyebrow at Jones, "That vulture is more than lazy, Mr. Jughead. He is a danger to society and should be locked up forever."
"Mr. Buzzard did sound scary when he made his speech about why he did what he did." Miss Cameron, a college graduate, timidly said as she nervously looks around the room.
"Oh please, Duckburg faced worse," A Miss Mutt said towards the duck woman. Unlike Miss Cameron, she was more vocal (more so than Mr. Jefferson) and was still a college student. "Look at Scrooge McDuck's enemies. They're scarier than vulture guy."
"Especially that Magica lady," Mr. Hound agrees with Miss Mutt. He works at a fast-food restaurant near a filming studio. "Like she's done a lot of bad things from what I heard?"
"What do you mean?" Miss Cameron asked the older dog.
"Apparently, before coming to Duckburg, she would enslave villages and small towns," Mr. Hound said. His voice starts to go creepy as he continues. "And when she gets bored, she'd just destroys the villages and towns. Killing almost everyone in them." He gets closer to uncomfortable Miss Cameron. "Only few survive."
"Mr. Hound please do not make this into a scary story," Mrs. Roost spoke up. She and her husband own a flower shop near the Duckburg Park. "My mother's family were victims of Magica. She treated them and others so poorly. They lost their homes because of her." The hen woman put a hand close to her chest and looks down in sorrow, "only a few of them managed to survived."
"Oh, sorry about that," Mr. Hound said as look down in remorse.
"Well, guess it's bad news for your family then. That lady got her magic back," Miss Mutt said. She crosses her arms and looks at the judge, "why is Magica still around?"
"The only crime that Miss Spell committed - within Duckburg - was attacking Scrooge and his family." Judge Jude answered. The old eagle fixes his glasses before continuing, "Scrooge decided not to press charges against her. 'Too much paperwork' he said."
"You think Magica is bad? What about Glomgold?" Mrs. Jenkins glares at Miss Mutt. The pig woman puts a hand on her heart, "my poor Timmy was almost hurt by his canon-ferris-wheel thing!"
"I'm pretty sure there were other kids that was on the ferris wheel?" Mr. Feathertails, a fisherman duck, said. "'Sides, didn't that moon lady save the day or something?"
"The day wouldn't need to be saved if that Glom-terrorist hadn't tried another one of his schemes!" Mrs. Jenkins shouted. The pig mother turns to the judge, "Why is he still around?"
"He's rich," Judge Jude answered plainly.
"And what about the Beagle Boys?" Mr. Pork, a landlord, asked. "Me and my wife were victims of their bank heists. We nearly lost our business because of them."
"To think those guys used to own the deed to Duckburg, hah!" Mr. Lopez, a bellhop seagull, joked. "How did they get that the deed again?"
"They stole the deed before Scrooge came along," Miss Walker answered.
Miss Mutt looks at the old dog woman with confusion. "Wait if that's the case, then how come they hadn't been kicked out of Duckburg yet?" She asked.
"Oh, we've tried," Miss Walker said. "But their hatred for Scrooge was so strong, we just gave up."
"The police had arrested every single member of the Beagle Family in the past. Including Ma Beagle," Mr. Jefferson said in irritation. "Yet, that family are still causing trouble for everyone." The former policemen rub his forehead as he continues talking, "the police force have gotten sick and tired of dealing with them. I retired because of them."
"Wow, and those guys sure have guts to come here wanting that vulture guy lock up," Miss Mutt said with a mocking tone in her voice.
"And what about Scrooge McDuck?" Miss Seamew asked. Everyone in the room looked at the seagull woman in surprise. Out of all the jury members, she was the quietest. "He causes a lot of damage in the city."
"But he pays back for it," Mr. Feathertails said.
"And he's cheap about it," Miss Seamew said as she narrows her eyes at the fisherman. "My family's bakery isn't as good as it used to be. The walls are too thin, the floors are cracked, and my family can no longer afford a new furnace."
"My customers stopped coming to the flower shop," Mrs. Roost added. "They're too afraid to get caught in one of McDuck's adventures." The hen woman looks down at the table somberly. "There's less kids in the park nowadays too."
"Yeah," Mr. Hound butted in. "Mr. Mcduck shut down the Darkwing Duck film I worked on, and it was almost done too." Clenching his fists in rage, he continues. "But then one of his stupid kids made it all about himself and ruined everything!"
"When that vine incident happened, some of my coworkers decided to quit. Saying they couldn't handle the chaos anymore," Mr. Lopez said with a frown. "For several months, I had to work double shift and the hotel is still a wreck."
"Some of my friends had to move away because of his family's adventures," Miss Mutt said. The young dog woman looks at Judge Jude with a glare. "Why hasn't he and his family – no wait. Don't tell me." The college student quickly held up her hands. Leaning back in her seat with arms crossed, Miss Mutt answered for the judge. "Because he's Scrooge McDuck and he's rich."
As the jury continues their conversation, Jones decided to interject. "We're getting off topic. As much as I am mad at Scrooge and his nephew for not paying for therapy session, we still need to talk about what to do with Mr. Buzzard." The jury went quiet and listened to Jones. "I still suggest we send Mr. Buzzard to the Duckburg Mental Hospital.
"And I still say that hospital is a joke." Mr. Jefferson said before being silenced when Judge Jude raised his hand.
Judge Jude looks at Jones with a questionable look. "Mr. Jughead, exactly how would this benefit our society?"
"Mr. Buzzard can be an inspiration to those with mental illness. To encourage those in need of mental help to seek professional help," Jones explained. "Because as of right now, society do not fully understand mental illness and treats it as a joke or nonexistent."
"Because it is a joke."
"Mr. Jefferson please," Judge Jones silenced Mr. Jefferson again before turning back towards Jones. "And exactly how long would this take?"
"Well sir, it would be disingenuous to put a time limit on." Jones continues his explanation without missing a beat. "The thing about mental illness is that it varies between person to person. For Mr. Buzzard might take a while for him to fully understand what is wrong with him. And longer for him to deal with it."
Jones look at rest of the jury, "the mental hospital is isolated for the sake of both the populace and the residence." The counselor turns back to the judge. "Just give me timed with him. I'll send reports of his progress and tell you when he's ready to go back to civilization."
The judge and the rest of the jury were quiet. Some agreed, but others were still uncertain. Well, until Miss Mutt opened her mouth. "You know, we get to decide that Mr. Buzzard's punishment. Not Scrooge, his family, or his enemies." Everyone in the jury room gave her a questionable look. The college student gives them a mischievous smile. "Wouldn't it be nice to get back at them?"
"Why the blazes are they taking so long?" Scrooge said in annoyance. "How hard is it for them to make up their minds?"
"Maybe their deciding how long Bradford should be in jail?" Huey suggested.
"I'm pretty sure the obvious answer is forever?" Dewey said annoyed. "Urgh, I'm bored."
"Be glad you're not Bradford." Louie said, pouting his thumb at the vulture. Who was sitting in front of Magica de Spell, Glomgold, and Ma Beagle.
"You're lucky that I haven't gotten my hands on you yet!" Magica said. She gives Bradford a look that could kill him on the spot.
"And you call yourself Scrooge's Greatest Villain." Ma Beagle said with a mocking tone. Her sons, at least the usual three she brings, snickered besides her.
"You're not even wearing a kilt!" Glomgold said while pointing his finger at the vulture.
Bradford stayed quiet while the three villains continue threatening him. He was a dishevel, shaking mess. Scrooge look at him with a smile of satisfaction, "serves him right."
Just then the doors of the jury room open, and Judge Jude and the jury reenters the court room. "Finally," Dewey said in exasperation as he sat back up in his seat.
"Order, order in the room!" Judge Jude bangs his gavel. He gestures a hand at the jury for one of them to speak. "Jury, what is your verdict?"
Jones Jughead, Donald's old anger management counselor, stood up from his seat. "We, the jury, pronounce Bradford Buzzard guilty for the crimes he committed."
"We know that!" Magica yelled. She points at Bradford, "just tell us what this blasted man's punishment is?" Several people in the courtroom shouted in agreement.
Judge Jude bangs his gavel once again. "Oder! Oder in the court!"
As the crowd settles down, Scrooge noticed something odd about the members of the jury. They were smiling with a certain glee that his villains would have when victory was within their grasp. And those smiles… Were directed at him.
The courtroom finally went silent. "Now then, if you would let me speak," Judge Jude said firmly. He looks down at Bradford and signals the guards to get him. With the of exception for the jury, almost everyone was confused by this behavior. "Bradford Buzzard, I sentence you to the Duckburg's Mental Hospital. You will remain there until Mr. Jughead decides when are ready to return to society."
"This trial is now over." That was the last thing Judge Jude said before the room exploded into chaos and the guards quickly escorted a confuse Bradford out of the room.