I don’t care if you are rich or poor.
I don’t care what your last name is or who your father is.
In this courtroom, everyone is equal under the law.
That is how it works.
That is how it should work.
And that is how it will always work as long as I am sitting in this chair.
So let’s talk about why we are here today.
The defendant before me is a young woman, 23 years old.
Her name is Madison Elizabeth Thornton, born March 12th, 2001, currently residing at 1847 Blackstone Boulevard in the east side of Providence.
She is the daughter of Robert Thornton, the CEO of Thornton Industries, one of the largest real estate development companies in Rhode Island with a valuation of over $400 million.
Judge, good morning everyone.
Please be seated.
We have an interesting case before us today.
Let me tell you, in all my years on this bench, and I have been doing this for a very long time, I have seen just about everything you can imagine.
But every once in a while, a case comes through these doors that reminds me why I still come to work every single day.
Now, before we begin, I want to make something very clear.
