Opinion ID: 2010460
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Cooke Testifies Again.

Text: When the State concluded its rebuttal, the jury was excused and the trial judge brought in Cooke for another colloquy. Cooke said that he wanted to take the stand again to discuss the New Jersey home invasions and Dr. Mechanick's testimony, particularly what Cooke did and did not say to the doctor. The trial judge explained that Cooke could only talk about things that were brought up in the State's rebuttal and that if Cooke went beyond that and started talking about, among other things, complaints about your lawyers or complaints about how your lawyers are handling this case versus how you wanted to handle the case, Cooke would have to leave the courtroom. The trial judge also reminded Cooke that if he testified again, his legs would be shackled, but the shackles would be concealed from the jurors. The trial judge explained that it was not in Cooke's best interest to tell the jurors he was shackled, like he did the last time he testified. The trial judge asked if defense counsel wanted to speak and defense counsel stated: It is the advice that we have given Mr. Cooke thatunderstanding our differences in the trial strategies that we have pursued and that he wished us to pursue and recognizing those differences in opinionit remains our advice to him that he is not best served by testifying. In other words, it is against the advice of his lawyers that he testify at this point. The State continued to object to allowing Cooke another opportunity to testify, but the trial judge disagreed with the prosecutor's arguments. The trial judge concluded that he would permit Cooke to testify again. The trial judge also warned the prosecutor not to provoke Cooke during cross-examination. The trial judge said: Honestly, I seriously had problems with your behavior last Thursday [when the defendant testified] and I'm telling you this nowI wish I had interceded further because I think some of it exacerbated a situation which you knew was going to be difficult as it is. I just don't want a repeat. When the jury was brought back into the courtroom, Cooke was again seated at a special witness stand where his legs could be shackled but not visible to the jury. The trial judge said to Cooke: You have indicated that you wish to address certain matters which came up in connection with the State's rebuttal evidence. You may now do so, sir. Cooke began with the following: First of all, I would like to talk about the incident from Atlantic City, one thing. Like I told you on Thursday, I'm defending my own self. So I don't have to speak on that no more. Then Cooke talked about the New Jersey crimes and gave details about the crimes that were not in evidence. When the trial judge told Cooke he could only talk about things that were brought up in the State's rebuttal, Cooke said: I need to let the jury know the truth.... I mean, you're trying to convince the jury like I'm a compulsive liar. But it seems to me the State is a hypocrite and not me because everything I said was true. The trial judge excused the jury and explained to Cooke that he was not following the rules and he was testifying about things that were not in evidence, and therefore, he lost his right to continue testifying. The trial judge said: I'm going to stop this right now before it gets any worse. Cooke was removed from the courtroom. After the jury was excused for the day, the trial judge ruled that, because of Cooke's conduct, he would not be permitted to return to the courtroom, even during summation and charge. The trial judge was concerned with any disruptions that may interrupt the flow of counsel or me in the arguments and charging the jury and also noted that Cooke still alludes to the dispute he has with his own counsel about the case. The trial judge was afraid that during the defense summation Cooke would interrupt in a way that would be more prejudicial to him than his absence from the proceedings would be. Therefore, Cooke would continue to watch the proceedings by television from the holding cell.