As the hearing continues, the tension inside the courtroom becomes impossible to ignore

As the hearing continues, the tension inside the courtroom becomes impossible to ignore. Judge Boyd carefully reviews the facts of the case and the defendant’s past history. This was not the first time violence had entered this family. Court records reveal that the defendant had previously received probation for assaulting the mother of his children. Despite being given that opportunity to change his life, the judge believes the lesson was never learned. When the defendant speaks to the court, he pleads emotionally for mercy. He explains that he wants to go back to his children and promises he will never make the same mistake again. But the judge begins to question the logic behind the crime. Why would a grown man become so angry at a toddler? Why would a father choose violence over patience? The prosecution explains that the defendant feared his son might grow up to be gay simply because the child was playing with dolls. For many people in the courtroom, that explanation is difficult to comprehend. Judge Boyd pauses for a moment before responding, clearly disturbed by what he has heard. The judge reminds the courtroom that a two-year-old child is still learning about the world — too young to even understand the ideas the father was projecting onto him. Instead of protecting his child, the defendant chose to hurt him. And now, the court must decide what justice looks like.