Crime Story Editor

Editor's Note: As Inside the Robe draws to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Judge Mader for allowing us to republish her work and take part in sharing her story. We'd encourage everyone to revisit and share the Judge's work via our Crime Story Collection page. In Part 95, Judge Mader concludes her chronicle of a year in the life of a judge. In her afterword, Judge Mader reflects on the family members who got her to where she is today. You can find links to all installments of Inside the Robe here. December 21 A substitute prosecutor and...

In Part 94, Judge Mader recounts a unique apology from a defendant’s family member to a victim’s family during a sentencing hearing. The Judge also details a catch-22 situation where a defendant is deemed neither competent enough to enter a plea because nor eligible for release without a trial. You can find links to all installments of Inside the Robe here. December 19 It’s the week before Christmas and the courthouse is quiet. I’m handling all of the matters for four judges on my floor. The only cases going to trial are ones in which either the defendants representing themselves are refusing to...

In Part 93, Judge Mader explains a tactic she uses both to discipline herself to follow the law and to discourage prosecutors from over-charging. She also reflects on a plea deal she approved that she has come to feel is unfair to the victims in the case. You can find links to all installments of Inside the Robe here. December 14 A new case in my court involved the defendant, a forty-seven-year-old man with no prior criminal record, sitting on the steps of a Motel 6 next to a second man he claimed not to know. A plainclothes narcotics officer, also known as...

You can find links to all of Crime Story’s coverage of the Robert Durst trial here. In this episode, Durst Sentencing – Part 2: Susan's Family Speaks, host Kary Antholis and co-host Brittany Bookbinder continue their discussion of the Thursday, October 14th, court appearance of Robert Durst. Kary and Brittany present excerpts from the victim impact statements delivered by members of Susan Berman’s family and examine Judge Mark Windham’s sentence for Robert Durst for the murder of Susan Berman. They are joined by Charles V. Bagli, who is covering the Durst story for The New York Times and CrimeStory.com, for a...

In Part 92, Judge Mader assesses the dismissal of a vehicular manslaughter case based on evidence of faulty brakes. The Judge also explores some of the specific legal perils faced by a defendant who decides to represent themselves when accused of a sex crime. You can find links to all installments of Inside the Robe here. December 12 One case before me finally ended, after several years spent on my morning calendar. An elderly man, driving a Nissan Infiniti, had been late and was rushing to a car auction. Crossing an intersection against a red light, traveling at least twice the speed limit,...

In Part 91, Judge Mader discusses the case of a repeat offender seeking a lesser sentence because of health concerns, while reflecting on an earlier case to muse on unexpected romantic pairings that she sees in court proceedings. You can find links to all installments of Inside the Robe here. December 8 The trial that arrived in my court this morning felt like it would never settle. The defendant, a career criminal, was charged with one count of robbery using a taser gun. He had a horrible record: two prior robberies, one felony assault on a police officer, and a charge of manslaughter...