Pandemic Reflections: Looking Beyond Our Courtrooms
By Hon. Stacie F. Beckerman, U.S. Magistrate Judge In December 2019, I informed a pregnant defendant (“G”) at her arraignment that I was detaining her pending trial. She fainted. The deputy U.S. Marshal called 911, and G was rushed to the hospital. She was treated and released, and at the continued hearing, I stood my ground. However, a few months later, her baby was born suffering from complications, and I released G from custody to nurse her daughter to health while housed in a structured program. Soon G had demonstrated that she was not going to run, and I allowed her to return home to her family, but with…
On Liberty, During a Pandemic
By U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman I enter the courtroom and sit behind the bench in silence, without the ceremonial “all rise.” Instead of greeting the defendant, defense lawyer, prosecutor, and a small crowd of onlookers in the gallery, I sit alone and turn on my computer. On the monitor, the split-screen captures video feeds from all over the state: an individual in custody in federal prison, a defense lawyer sitting at his kitchen table, the prosecutor sitting in her home office, a court reporter, an interpreter, and me, seated and robed at my courtroom bench, positioned in front of our federal court seal. Court is in session. Thanks to…
The Investiture of U.S. Magistrate Judge Mustafa Taher Kasubhai
By U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman On December 5, 2019, the Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse in Eugene filled with friends, family members, and colleagues to welcome U.S. Magistrate Judge Mustafa Taher Kasubhai to the District of Oregon federal bench at his formal investiture ceremony. Jackie Klein, Judge Kasubhai’s courtroom deputy, opened court and U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShane welcomed the crowd. The jury box overflowed with judges from the federal bench, as well as the Oregon Supreme Court, Oregon Court of Appeals, Lane County Circuit Court, and Multnomah County Circuit Court. Several distinguished speakers, with whom Judge Kasubhai has crossed paths throughout his legal career, paid…