This courtroom is a place of respect.
It is a place where we seek justice.
Yes, but we do it with dignity, compassion, and fairness.
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.
But what matters more than her name or her father’s position is what she did.
And let me tell you exactly what she did.
Because this isn’t just about breaking the law.
