Cook County Criminal Courts Building, 2650 S. California
When the time comes, near nine-thirty,
the streets swell with nervous jurors testing cross-walks,
and natty lawyers in full stride,
and the tense families of the accused.
And they do this daily.
Imagine going to work every day where
more than half the people have never been there before,
and don’t want to be.
I’m perhaps slightly under-dressed,
but comfortable.
I work on the Internet.
I see Chief Justice Timothy C. Evans on the video screen and I think
“No Deals!” 1987.
He was almost Mayor. And I wonder if this was a deal.
Lester Holt with a massive mustache, and before the
facelift that made his eyes too wide
instructs me, and thanks me.
I don’t know what’s more astounding–-
the stenographer or the stenograph.