Sycamore Row - John Grisham

names to bewilder the opponent.
The opponent seethed, but suddenly had more pressing matters. Judge Atlee said,
“Now, Mr. Brigance, you have two motions pending. One to change venue, the other for
a continuance. I’ve read your briefs, and the responses from the contestants, and I’m
assuming you have nothing more to add to these motions.”
Jake rose and wisely said, “No sir.”
“Just keep your seats, gentlemen. This is a pretrial conference, not a formal hearing.
Now, is it also safe to assume there has been no progress in the search for Ancil
Hubbard?”
“Yes sir, that’s safe to assume, though with more time we may make some progress.”
Wade Lanier stood and said, “Your Honor, please, I’d like to respond. The presence or
absence of Ancil Hubbard is of no importance here. The issues have been boiled down to
what we expected, to those always in play in a will contest; to wit, testamentary
capacity and undue influence. Ancil, if he’s alive, did not see his brother Seth for
decades prior to Seth’s suicide. Ancil can’t possibly testify to how or what his brother
was thinking. So let’s proceed as planned. If the jury finds in favor of the handwritten
will, then Mr. Brigance and the estate will have plenty of time to keep searching for
Ancil and hopefully give him his 5 percent. But if the jury rejects the handwritten will,
then Ancil himself becomes irrelevant because he’s not mentioned in the prior will. Let’s
move on, Judge. You set the trial date of April 3 many months ago, and there’s no good
reason not to go on as planned.”
Lanier was not flashy, but he was down-to-earth, even homey, and persuasive. Jake
had already learned the man could argue effortlessly off-the-cuff and convince anybody
of just about anything.
“I agree,” Judge Atlee said gruffly. “We will proceed as planned on April 3. Here, in
this courtroom. Please sit down, Mr. Lanier.”
Jake took notes and waited for the next argument. Judge Atlee looked at his notes,
adjusted the reading glasses far down his nose, and said, “I count six lawyers sitting
over here on the contestants’ side of the courtroom. Mr. Lanier is the chief counsel for
the children of Seth Hubbard—Ramona Dafoe and Herschel Hubbard. Mr. Zeitler is the
chief counsel for the two children of Herschel Hubbard. Mr. Hunt is the chief counsel for
the two children of Ramona Dafoe. The rest of you guys are associates.” He removed his
glasses and stuck a stem in his mouth. A lecture was coming. “Now gentlemen, when we
get to trial, I have no intention of tolerating a lot of excessive and unnecessary chatter
from six lawyers. In fact, no one except lawyers Lanier, Zeitler, and Hunt will be
allowed to speak in court on behalf of the contestants. God knows that should be
enough. And, I’m not going to subject the jury to three different opening statements,
three different closing arguments, and three different examinations of witnesses. If there
is an objection, I do not want three or four of you jumping up and waving your arms
and yelling, ‘Objection!’ ‘Objection!’ Do you follow me?”
Of course they did. He was speaking slowly, clearly, and with his usual heavy
authority. He continued, “I suggest that Mr. Lanier take the lead for the contestants and
handle the bulk of the trial. He certainly has more trial experience, not to mention the