The Hall of Lawson rose high at Central Street in Business Park. Many rows of stone steps led to a stately building balanced on several columns. It resembled a national monument. Fitting, as it had been built in the 19th century to ensure every patron, both innocent or guilty would have a fair trial...

At least, that's what Dr. Lawson, the town judge had envisioned at the time. Whether time had eroded those qualities was up to modern day legal workers to decide for themselves.

A yellow taxi cab arrived at the foot of the steps and attorney Mina Hawkins emerged with a briefcase and a triple cappuccino in one hand, a pink E-Phone in the other and a hastily buttered piece of toast in her mouth. Using her strong jaw muscles, she managed to chew and swallow it without even holding it.

She wore a light purple pants suit tailored to her size, and strived to dress fashionably yet professionally at the same time. On her lapel was a bizarre pin of a brain with bird wings, representing her apprenticeship at Bird Brains Lawyering Co. A butterfly shaped pendant hung around her neck.

"Alrighty!" she proclaimed, brushing the crumbs from her pink business suit. "I got a hot date with justice…and it's courtin' time!"

She looked back at the taxi cab. "How's that for a tagline!" she winked. "I was working on that all night!"

A raspy "Don't quit your day job, kid!" was the response from the driver and as she closed the door, it zoomed off, nearly blasting her with exhaust.

"Hey, don't JUDGE me so harshly," Mina giggled. "I'll save that for the judge!"

An alarm rang on her phone. "Oh lawd! I'm late!"

She began to sprint as fast as she could up the steps. This was quite the challenge in bright pink heels. Halfway up the steps, she stopped; and the young lawyer started sputtering instead.

An old woman in a dark blue janitors outfit and a grey hair bun approached her. "Excuse me, dear!" she creaked. "Can I help you?"

Mina nodded, still catching her breath.

"You're much younger than me," the old woman said, "why are you so out of breath?"

"The term is…skinny….fat…" Mina said, finally able to speak. "The most exercise I get is a single flight of stairs at my attorneys office. And most of the time, I just use the elevator."

"Kids these days and their elevators," the old lady snapped. "But anyway, what are you doing here?"

Mina managed a smile. "I'm here to handle the Les Schargo's case!"

The old woman's mouth spread into a smile too, showcasing her remaining teeth. "Oh, you're Mina Hawkins, the upcoming rookie lawyer!"

Mina placed both hands on her hips. Her eyes glimmered as brightly as the stars.

"That's me!" She held her hands to her cheeks and turned around. "Wowie zowie! I already have a fan and it's only my first day."

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"And you are so pure and innocent too," the old woman said. "A literal child of the law!"

"Excuse me, I'm 18," Mina muttered, "But uh, how exactly did you hear about me? I don't even have a business card yet!"

The old lady hungrily rubbed her hands together. "Of course I know you, my dear. You're gonna get steamrolled by Les Schargo's corporate lawyers. Ooh I can't wait to catch that on court TV later."

So Mina wouldn't be late for her reckoning, the old lady directed her to the west wing. Mina thanked the old lady (though she had a strong urge to deck her with the briefcase.) Instead, she grumbled and continued to trudge up the steps to her doom.

She passed through a set of golden doors and found herself in the lobby. She marveled in awe at the towering statue of Dr. Lawson, carved in gold. He was in his mid forties and bespectacled, but his spiked hair and his arched nose made him look very astute and hawklike in his judge's robe. As she walked by, she caught a glimpse of the plaque below his visage: "Dr. Regal Lawson" and beneath his name, "–Like the sun, may truth and justice shine on everyone"

Mina bowed her head to pay her respects and headed down the red carpeted corridor. She passed old portraits and smaller busts on pedestals of other famous lawyers and justices. And at last, she reached a set of wooden doors with a plaque beneath it reading: "West Wing Court"

"Ok…" Mina said. "All eyes will be on me when I enter. I better make a memorable entrance."

"I know!" she exclaimed. "I'll use that super cool tagline. Everyone will be so awestruck by it! My adoring fans will print it on t-shirts and wear it to all of my cases!"

She tapped her cheeks to prove to herself she wasn't dreaming. "I have such a great grip on reality! Now here I go!"

She pushed through the double doors.

The courtroom was expansive with many aisles of traditional wooden pews for observers. A corner to the far left was reserved for the jury's seating. Up front were stands for the defense attorney, justice and prosecutor. The room smelled musty, but Mina believed in with the strong reek of truth and justice.

As everyone in the pews and the camera crew turned to face her, Mina's self importance swelled. (Or maybe it was just her head.)

She strutted down the aisles and hummed the song "Mid Twenties Ninja Feline" the triumphant theme song of Ninja Kitty, her favorite cartoon on Toonerama.

Once she reached the end of the aisle, she thrust her hand forward, still holding her briefcase.

"I got a hot date with justice!" Mina announced, "And it's courtin' time!"

The crowd was utterly silent until a deep and sassy female voice rose above the quietness.

"Excuse me, child, but when it comes to love, Justice is already served!"

Mina's mouth dropped. The soulful voice came from the judge's stand.

A larger older woman sat behind it, her face was an auburn shade of brown. Her hair was a blackish-grey and very curly. She was dressed in black judges robes and raised her dark chocolate eyes inquisitively at Mina. "Little girl…do you know who I am?!"

"Oh my lawdy!" Mina gasped, her hand to her mouth. "It's Reethra Fitzgerald!"

The crowd all gasped. The cameras quickly turned to catch their jaws open.

The woman stood up, shaking her head in disbelief. "Did you get a PHD in stupidity or something?! Here's a history lesson, honey. I am…Justice Divine Justice!"

"Wait a minute…" Mina exclaimed. "You're THE Justice Divine Justice? I know you! I read all about you in Lawson Legal School!"

It was all flooding back to her. Justice Divine Justice was one of the most famous sitting judges in Business Park. Once a famous singer in her own sixties group, The Divines, she turned to law and became a groundbreaking female judge.

"Order!" Justice Divine Justice exclaimed and banged her gavel. " Now that we got that out of the way…let's get down to business: there will be no courtin' in my court! Only divorces!"

The middle aged judge winked at the camera. "They're good for ratings!"

Her pale face flushing redder than a bloody snowbank, Mina nodded her head nervously. "I'm sorry ma'am. I just wanted to make a grand entrance. This is my first court case!"

Justice Divine Justice stood up. She scowled as her face darkened. Her voice reached far and wide over the court. "Your name Miss Attorney?"

"Mina Hawkins."

"Miss Mina Hawkins, I mean this truthfully and verily. If you keep up these flamboyant shenanigans, this case will be your last!"

Mina gulped and shuddered. In an effort to make a good impression, she ended up making the worst one ever.