Should the judge really be hugging witnesses? I'm not suggesting it was an unfair trial or anything like that, but shouldn't her honor have known better?
This also annoyed me:
"Don't be afraid of him," Waggoner said. "He's not going to hurt you anymore."
This sort of courtroom drama seems unfair to the accused. If the accused is in fact innocent, there's no way to respond to that.
Saying something more neutral, like "you're safe in here" or "we can protect you" would be fair.
Damn. You beat me to it.
You are in reality guilty of a crime as soon as you commit it. Your legal status as innocent until your trial is over just means your trial is not over and you cant yet be punished for the crime. In reality if you do a crime you have done it, weather others can prove you did it and punish you is a different question.
This judge was talking to the child in terms of reality, she was not punishing anyone, just yet.
I can not understand why she would reduce charges or bond.
"Should the judge really be hugging witnesses?"
No, and I agree with your other comments also.
More destruction from the emotionalization of everything. That is the curse that brought us to the point that occaisioned the situation that made this trial necessary, if you follow my thought.