This morning, Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees refused to wear a mask in court and in the hallway. This is still required on the second floor of the Courthouse. Humboldt Superior Court CEO Kim Bartelson had to intervene. Instead of putting on a mask, Mr. Rees went to his office to appear via Zoom.
Assistant Presiding Judge Kelly Neel who is in Courtroom 2 today ordered him to come down to court. Mr. Rees came down and refused to wear a mask even after he was ordered to do so. Judge Neel ordered him to leave the courtroom and everyone in Courtroom 2 had to wait for over a half hour for another Deputy DA to appear.
Assistant Deputy DA Stacey Eads was running around to cover Mr. Rees cases assigned for preliminary. She has her own work. Two experienced Deputy DAs are in trial.
Shortly before the noon hour, Mr. Rees walked in with a mask on just as Deputy Public Defender Casey Russo was making a motion to dismiss a case for failure to prosecute.
Around 11:50 a.m. Mr. Rees asked the Judge Neel to recuse herself from hearing the motion.
I was not inside Courtroom 2 for all the events but I was at the Courthouse and on the second floor.
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