Sycamore Row - John Grisham

last will and testament of Seth Hubbard, and I simply refuse to take that oath. I don’t
like this will and I want no part of it.”
“Mr. Brigance?”
Jake stood next to his soon-to-be-ex-client and said, “Your Honor, Mr. Amburgh was
once a lawyer and he knows the basics of probate. I will prepare an order allowing him
to withdraw, and at the same time I’ll submit names for his replacement.”
“Please make this a priority. I want the administration to proceed while we sort out
other matters. Regardless of what happens to the holographic will, or the prior one, the
estate of Mr. Hubbard needs tending to. I assume there are several parties who intend to
contest this will, am I right?”
A squad of lawyers stood, nodding, and Judge Atlee held up his hand. “Thank you.
Please be seated, everyone. Mr. Amburgh, you may be excused.” Amburgh managed a
terse “Thanks” as he scampered from the plaintiff’s table and hurried down the aisle.
Judge Atlee adjusted his glasses and said, “We will proceed as follows. Mr. Brigance,
you have ten days to find a substitute executor, and, according to the wishes of the
deceased, let’s make sure it’s not a lawyer from this county. Once the executor is in
place, you and he will begin the task of locating assets and identifying liabilities. I
would like a preliminary inventory as soon as possible. In the meantime, the rest of you
should file your objections to this will. Once all parties have properly joined in
opposition, we will meet again and map out a plan for the trial. As you know, either
side may demand a trial by jury. If you so wish, then please make this demand timely,
when you file your objection. Will contests proceed like all other civil trials in
Mississippi, so the rules of evidence and procedure will apply.” He removed his glasses
and chewed on a stem as he surveyed the lawyers. “Since we are headed for a trial, I’ll
tell ya’ll right now that I will not preside over one with a dozen lawyers. I cannot
envision such a nightmare, nor will I subject a jury, if we do in fact have one, to such
abuse. We will define the issues, streamline the procedure, and try the case in an
efficient manner. Any questions?”
Oh, a thousand questions, but there would be plenty of time to ask them later.
Suddenly, Booker Sistrunk rose, and in his booming baritone said, “Your Honor, I’m not
sure what’s appropriate at this time, but I would like to suggest that my client, Lettie
Lang, be appointed as the substitute executor to take the place of Mr. Amburgh. I have
reviewed the law of this state and have found no provision requiring a lawyer or an
accountant or the like to serve in this role. Indeed, the law sets forth no requirements
for training or experience for one to serve as either an administrator, in the case of an
estate with no will, or an executor, in a case like this.”
Sistrunk spoke slowly, carefully, with perfect diction, and his words boomed around
the courtroom. Judge Atlee and the rest of the lawyers listened and watched. The words
were true. Technically, anyone could be named to take the place of Russell Amburgh:
any sane person over the age of eighteen. Not even criminals were excluded. However,
given the size of the estate and the complex issues facing it, a more experienced,
dispassionate hand would be needed. The notion of putting Lettie in charge of a $20
million estate, with Sistrunk whispering in her ear, was shocking, at least to the white