The little girl hadn’t spoken since the night her mother was found on the kitchen floor! Then the court dog lowered his head-and she whispered one sentence toward the defense table…

DO NOT DISTRACT. The sign looked oddly gentle among the polished wood, brass nameplates, and old portraits of judges who had never imagined a German Shepherd would one day become part of the machinery of justice.

By 8:20 a.m., every bench was filled. Local reporters stood shoulder to shoulder along the back wall, their phones muted, their faces alert continue reading …