Judge Morland’s voice became colder.
“So before you filed a sworn complaint claiming there was ‘no way’ your sister had passed the bar, you had already confirmed with her employer that she was a practicing attorney.”
Brenda’s composure fractured.
“I thought they were covering for her.”
A silence so complete followed that I could hear her breathing.
Judge Morland leaned forward.
“You believed an established law firm had fabricated a senior attorney’s identity?”
Brenda’s cheeks burned.
“I didn’t know what to believe.”
“That is not what your complaint says.”
Mr. Avery slid another document forward.
“You also emailed Suffolk University.”
Brenda looked at him.
My mother whispered, “You did what?”
“And received confirmation that privacy rules prevented disclosure beyond publicly available commencement records. You then accessed the archived commencement program.”
He paused.
“Your sister’s name appears in it.”
Brenda said nothing.
My father moved his chair several inches away from her.
