There was an emotional reunion of sorts at a Miami-Dade jail Tuesday afternoon between a man just released from prison and the judge who put him there.
Video from a Miami-Dade County courtroom made international headlines last July when a judge revealed she recognized the man sitting in her courtroom, causing the man to break down in tears.
Judge Mindy Glazer was presiding over a bond hearing for 49-year-old Arthur Booth who was suspected of burglary, grand theft, fleeing and resisting arrest.
“Mr. Booth, I have a question for you,” Judge Glazer said.
“Yes, ma’am?,”Booth replied.
“Did you go to Nautilus for middle school?” she asked, prompting Booth to lower his head and weep openly into his hands.
“I’m sorry to see you there,” Glazer said. “I always wondered what happened to you sir.”
WATCH: ‘He pulled out a knife’: Edmonton road rage caught on camera
On Tuesday, a follow-up occurred to that bittersweet first encounter, this one much more sweet than bitter. Judge Glazer was there to meet Booth upon his release from prison after serving 10 months.
Along with Booth’s family, Glazer was there to offer her support and encourage him to turn his life around.
“Take care of your family. Try to get a job. Stay clean,” Glazer told Booth as the two old school friends embraced. “You’re going to do something good for somebody else.”
“You better believe it. You better believe it,” Booth replied.
Speaking to CBS Miami afterwards, Booth said he will always be grateful for Glazer’s support both then and now.
“She’s an inspiration and a motivation to me right now. Mindy is incredible,” Booth said. “Cause I know where I could’ve been, but I’m not giving up on life. It’s just a new lease on life for me right now.”
“He had a good judge who wanted to give him a chance,” Glazer added. “This is a group effort to see you succeed. Don’t let us down.”
Comments