Erin Moriarty: "I object!" | Forensic Files

honorable judges and justices ladies and gentlemen I do want to say that it's also a real honor and a privilege for me
to be here although I will say that I woke up around 3 o'clock this morning thinking I need my head examin because
most people are nervous about going in front of one judge and I'm going in front of a hundred um but I'm not here
to make a motion or an argument I just would like to make some observations and I hope you'll bear with me on these
um I don't know how many of you know that um I started off as a lawyer I practiced law for a few years and just
kind of fell into journalism um I'm older than a lot of people here and it was tough in the
midwest to be a woman a female lawyer and so I ended up in journalism but I had a little bit of trouble adjusting
and I was working in Chicago as a Consumer Legal correspondent and and I got a call from a viewer and
the viewer calls me and he said I filed a claim in small claims court against a plumbing company but they just filed a
motion and asked it to be kicked up to the Circuit Court and if they do that I'm going to have to drop the case
because I don't have the money to hire a lawyer what do I do and I said well sir
go to that hearing and tell the judge I me I'm sure the judge is going to understand Go I mean it's not something
I can do anything about but then I worried great about it so I walked over to the court and went to the hearing and
I saw the company argue and then I saw this viewer this may get up and arguing he didn't do a very good job and the
judge said you know it's going to go into circuit court now I have no idea what possessed me I'm in the back of the
courtroom and I stand up and I go your honor I object and everyone look you object I
mean actually I didn't even realize I had said it and then I realized I had to keep going and so the judge said what do
you object to and I said look if this company really had this counter claim that was so high exceeded the the the
small claims court then they would have filed it I mean I really believe that this was intended to make this consumer
drop the case and let's be honest then if you if you send this to Circuit Court then aren't you defeating the whole
purpose of small claims now I should tell you that the company's lawyer is just going crazy saying your honor and I
also should tell you I did preface it saying I am not a member of the Illinois Bar I was very
worried so um and so the judge looked very amused and he said okay I think you're
right and he did send it and keep it in small claims court he also gave me a lecture never to do that again in his
court and I wish the story Had A better ending because in fact the viewer did go
to small claims court and he lost but I tell you that story because I did have some trouble adjusting to where my role
was as just a journalist and also it will give you a little bit of a sense of who I am and what kind of stories I like
to tell I want a story that makes a difference that really really counts and and sometimes that's not so easy

During a speech in front of the Appellate Judges Education Institution (AJEI) in Dallas on Nov. 14, 2014, "48 Hours" correspondent and lawyer Erin Moriarty shares a story that is slightly in contempt of court.

Brief Summary

A former lawyer shares her courtroom experience and struggles in journalism, highlighting the challenges consumers face in the legal system.

Key points

A Nervous Beginning. The speaker shares their anxiety about addressing a court of judges.
An Unexpected Objection. In a surprising turn, the speaker voices an objection in court, despite not being a lawyer.
The Quest for Meaningful Stories. The speaker emphasizes the importance of telling stories that truly matter.

Episode highlights

An Unexpected ObjectionIn a surprising turn, the speaker voices an objection in court, despite not being a lawyer.“I object!”1:50Feb 26, 2015

Episode quotes

I woke up around 3 o'clock this morning thinking I need my head examined.

Reflecting on nerves before speaking in front of judges.

0:10WatchFeb 26, 2015

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