Judge Takes the Piss Out of St. Paddy's Day Revelers in Court

When it rains on DeHart Street, it smells like urine.

At least, that's what Judge Gary Truxell has heard from people in regard to the public urination that has been reported on the road on occasion. And, apparently, DeHart, among other Morristown roads, saw plenty of pee, and public drinking, during the St. Patrick's Day weekend on March 12 and 13.

The Morristown Municipal Courthouse at Town Hall was filled on Thursday, April 14, mostly with folks being seen by the town for those two ordinance violations. As it was "plea day," Truxell told the roughly 75 people at the beginning of the 1:30 p.m. session that they were either going to plea "guilty" and pay the fine, or plea "not guilty" and have their appearances rescheduled. It allowed for the filled courtroom to empty out quickly.

The set fee for violating these town ordinances? $456, plus $33 in court costs, totaling $489, a number that brought audible gasps from many in the room.

And, so began the rapid succession of accused offenders seen by the judge. A few incidents not related to public drinking and urination also were seen. One pleaded "not guilty" and was told to reschedule. Everyone who came before the judge for public drinking and urination offences on March 12 and 13 pleaded "guilty."

There was a mixture of males before Truxell accused of public drinking or urination, with most females accused of public drinking only. But, even a few of them apparently could not find an open bathroom.

"I'm so embarassed," said Rahkiyyah Furby, as she seemed to smile nervously into her chest.

The judge said she was accused of public urination. How do you plead? Furby lightly smacked herself in the forehead and sighed. "Guilty ... I'm so embarassed."

Janine Delrossa did not make any personal comments about herself, but also pleaded "guilty" to public urination. Later, Nicholas Switzer, accused of public drinking on Morris Street, told the judge, "I was not on Morris Street ... but, I plead 'guilty.'"

All in all, it was a fast-moving session, with most people agreeing to pay the entirety of the fine immediately, while some would pay over several months.

"These are quality-of-life offenses," Truxell said. "When it rains on DeHart Street, I understand it smells like urine. That's not fair to the people who live there, or the people who come to Morristown."