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 Judge in Santa Barbara for several years, the
path of Judge Avery crosses many times that of lawyer Julia Wainwright, as well as that of the Capwells.
Just and benevolent in the various cases he has presided, he always sought the truth and the best possible compromise for all concerned.
In
January 1991, honorable
judge Paul Avery has the heavy task of saying if the accusations of rape
made by Julia Wainwright Capwell against Dash Nichols are founded or
not. The
preliminary hearing must answer this serious question, especially since
the accuser and the accused had previously had consensual relationships.
Judge
Paul Avery does not want any outburst in this affair. He
knows that a case brought by district attorney Keith Timmons and which
concerns the Capwells can only be agitated. He
listens carefully to the speeches of Belinda Bradley, Dash's lawyer who
explains that the file is empty, then that of Keith Timmons.
The
first testimonies will be decisive. After
having well listened Mason's and Julia's, judge Paul Avery announces to
Dash that in his eyes, the data brought by the accusation are
sufficiently important for a trial. The
conclusion is without appeal for Dash; a
trial will take place a few days later, to Julia's great relief.
Judge
Paul Avery is a man of a certain age who focuses on the facts and the law.
Of a firm character, he naturally imposes respect in his court - perhaps
he knows that with a district attorney like Keith Timmons, the scandal
is very close. During the trial, we find in his court Edward Nichols,
Dash's father who comes to support his son, Michael
Donnelly who will be brought to testify, Augusta Lockridge who comes to
support her sister, and journalist Eden Capwell who comes to cover the
facts. He
and his jury listen carefully to the facts and the testimonies of Edward
Nichols, who evokes the past and the first accusations of harassment
against his son. Then that of Michael who reveals his past relationship
with Julia. Then Julia and Dash tell their own version of the facts.
Judge
Paul Avery manages to maintain a certain calm in his court, until the
announcement of the verdict. For the jury, the decision is final : Dash
is innocent. After a few seconds of amazement, Judge Paul Avery
faces Julia
Wainwright's anger, rage and frustration. She goes after him, the
justice system, the jury, even though it was made of a few women. Without
realizing it, in her words with the judge, Julia announces her desire to
take the law into her own hands...
Judge Avery will be asked a year later for two important
cases : the adoption of Channing Capwell II and the trial for murder of B.J. Walker. It is in his own office that the meeting between C.C. and the reconstituted Lockridge clan
takes place. It is with joy that Lionel and Gina sign the adoption papers under the
eyes of Minx (disillusioned) and C.C. (sad and dismayed to see his flesh entrusted to his worst enemies), who will also end up validating the adoption. At the end of the meeting, Lionel
gives his hand to C.C. which he ends up shaking. Judge Avery can be proud of this moment, which represents a great victory. In the heads of the two clan leaders, it is certain that through this handshake, C.C. and Lionel think about the
past : yesterday it is C.C. who raised Lionel's (supposed) son and today it is Lionel who will raise
C.C.'s son...
A few months later, Judge Avery shows up at
Julia's house. He knows Julia and Mason for several years, he knows their fiery characters... Professional and benevolent, he comes to make sure with the
principal concerned that (defense lawyer) Julia and (judge) Mason will manage impartially the upcoming trial, because indirectly, it is B.J.'s life
that will be played in their hands. He wants to know how they will manage the trial and the media noise that will be made around it, because it is obvious to him that the press will put on the front page the particularity of this trial, where judge and lawyer share the same bed. Will they talk about the trial at
breakfast ? he asks them. And even if Julia and Mason assure him that they will know the balance between their personal life and the trial, Julia even offering to leave the home, he gives them a bit of
advice : he hopes that the trial will not destroy their marriage ! The future will show us that for the first time perhaps, both of them have shown themselves to be adults...
Portrait
written for this site by Lilian
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