Case of a Lawyer’s Court Appearance

An Orange County judge who scolded a pregnant lawyer for wearing maternity clothes mailed her an apology Friday after the lawyer’s husband complained to state judicial officials about the April 27 incident.

Pamela M. Roberson was eight months’ pregnant when she appeared before Superior Court Judge Thomas N. Thrasher Sr., 67, in a Santa Ana courtroom.

Roberson, 39, of Los Angeles, was dressed in an oversized white shirt and black pants, according to a photo that her husband said showed Roberson shortly after her run-in with the judge.

“Well, your appearance, Miss Roberson,” Thrasher told her, according to court transcripts, “leaves a lot to be desired, as far as your clothing is concerned.”

“My wardrobe options are pretty limited at this time, Your Honor,” Roberson responded. “I don’t really appreciate your commenting on my appearance.”

After the hearing, Roberson, who was representing the plaintiff in a business dispute, left the courthouse in tears, said her husband, Stuart H. Baggish.

He had driven her to Santa Ana and was waiting in the parking garage to drive her back to their Los Angeles home.

“I couldn’t fathom what might have taken place,” said Baggish, 39. “What makes a man mistreat a pregnant woman like that?”

The outraged husband called the judge’s courtroom on his cell phone, but Thrasher declined to speak over the telephone, Baggish said.

His clerk said the judge wanted the couple to return to the courtroom so that he could apologize, Baggish said.

By then, he said, he and his wife were 40 minutes away “and, after what he did, I wasn’t about to turn around to drive all the way back with a distressed pregnant woman.”

The next day, Roberson had an emergency Caesarean section, Baggish said, and delivered the couple’s son a month early. The baby is healthy.

While his wife was in the hospital, Baggish began writing complaint letters to the California Commission on Judicial Performance and to Orange County Superior Court’s presiding judge, Frederick P. Horn, among others.

“How would you feel if someone took shots at your [pregnant wife]?” said Baggish, who owns fast-food restaurants. He mailed the letters last week.

On Friday, Superior Court spokeswoman Carole Levitzky said Thrasher was writing an apology letter when Baggish’s complaint arrived.

Levitzky said Thrasher felt his remark may have been inappropriate.

“He has since apologized for any discomfort or embarrassment that may have resulted from his comment,” she added.

The letter was mailed Friday, she said.

Thrasher did not return a call requesting comment.

Baggish said the judge’s apology feels empty and that he should at least receive sensitivity training.

“It looks like they are doing some damage control now,” Baggish said.

“I mean, how long does it take for him to write an apology letter?”