Disclaimer: I don't own The Judge or John Q
John Archabald sat in the defendant's seat staring at the judge. He was found guilty of only one of the chargers of the three he faced.
"Mr. Archabald," Judge Palmer began, "I understand why you were driven to do what you did. I have 3 sons and if any one of them was in need of a transplant I would have done the same thing you did. The fact and it is one I learned far too long ago is that sometimes we must show mercy instead of judgment. As a judge it is my duty to administer justice. I have thought my options over. In light of your situation I hereby order your sentence to be one year in a minimally security jail, suspended."
"What does suspended mean your honor," John asked.
"It means your conviction will be on record for one year," Judge Palmer said, "But you won't spend any time in prison. You're not a criminal. You're a hero."
John was more excited than he'd felt in years. He thanked the judge before he was allowed to leave.
Later at lunch judge Palmer took his wife out.
"You were right," he told her.
"Just in general, or about anything in particular," Mrs. Palmer joked.
"I was too busy trying to teach Hank to "swim" that I didn't see he was drowning."
"It wasn't Henry that was driving," Mrs. Palmer said, "It was Dale. Henry got behind the wheel to protect Dale."
Judge Palmer looked surprised.
"When did you find out," he asked.
"Today," Mrs. Palmer said, "Dale felt so guilty about it that he told me the truth and asked me to tell you."
"Well, I can't be angry with Dale," Judge Palmer said, "He has a disability. I owe you an apology and I owe Henry an apology. I shouldn't have called you a contemptuous moron. Turns out that was me"
"No," Mrs. Palmer said shaking her head, "Turns out you're human"