Lawyer's Twin Stand-In Stunt at Preliminary Hearing Leaves Judge Furious
Kansas City lawyer Dorothy Savory substituted her client’s identical twin brother at the defense table during a preliminary hearing last week, provoking the judge and prompting prosecutors to seek a contempt citation.
A prosecution witness identified the twin, Darion White, as the man who grabbed her, the Kansas City Star reports. The arresting officer discovered the deception when he saw the real defendant, Darrel White Jr., get off the elevator.
Judge Kenneth Garrett III of Jackson County was not amused. “I’m just so furious right now,” he said.
Savory denied that the twin stand-in was intended to get the alleged victim to identify the wrong man, according to the newspaper’s review of the transcript. “This honorable court asked for Mr. White, and that’s who’s at the table today, Mr. White,” she said.
Prosecutors are seeking to hold Savory in contempt and to get her kicked off the case, the story says. County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker also said she has a duty to report Savory’s conduct to the state bar.
