Man in Disfigurement Case May Face Sledgehammer Expert Amid Cowbells

Man in Disfigurement Case May Face Sledgehammer Expert Amid Cowbells by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack SDNY COURTHOUSE, July 16 – A man with two separate assault cases, one of them with intent to disfigure, faces a wound expert as to weapon at his future trial. His defense lawyer, who tried unsuccessfully to get the two cases consolidated, said this one will need expert discovery.    NYS Justice April A. Newbauer noted the doctor's testimony might be on "blade not sledgehammer." And maybe more.     Downstairs, a different vibe in the courtroom of Justice Erika M. Edwards. As one female defendant stepped forward for a voluntary surrender on a warrant after relapse into heroin, the courtroom deputy rang what appeared to be a cowbell. After several absences were genially excused, a defendant who had injured a police officer was by contrast detained.    Then Justice Edwards left the bench, and approached Inner City Press in the back of her courtroom. She brought with her a court security officer, and the prosecutor (who responded to Inner City Press' question by saying DA Bragg's press people should be asked).     The incentive in Justice Edwards' MDC-92 courtroom appears to be the full sealing of convictions, if all goes well. Things are quite different in the Federal courthouse down Baxter Street. There, no cowbells are heard, and judges walk straight to their robing rooms and not out into the audience. Justice Edwards' approach was appreciated, and we'll aim to have more on it. *** Your support means a lot. As little as $5 a month helps keep us going and grants you access to exclusive bonus material on our Patreon page. Click here to become a patron. Feedback: Editorial [at] innercitypress.com Mail: Box 130222, Chinatown Station, NY NY 10013 Other, earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.  Copyright 2006-2026 Inner City Press, Inc. To request reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at] innercitypress.com