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Judge loses temper, hits Apple counsel with 'smoking crack' remark

After Samsung wrapped up its case on Thursday, an obviously frustrated Judge Lucy Koh jibed Apple counsel when presented with 75 pages worth of briefings for its last remaining witnesses, alluding that the lawyer was "smoking crack" with the long list of 22 people.

U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh's outburst was directed at Apple lawyer Bill Lee, who named 22 poeple he plans to call to the stand to counter testimony from Samsung's expert witnesses, according to in-court reports from CNet.

Tempers were running high as Apple has only six and a half hours of argument time left of its allotted 25, calling into question the feasibility of presenting 22 new witnesses. Samsung has only one hour remaining.

"I mean come on. 75 pages! 75 pages! You want me to do an order on 75 pages," Judge Koh asked, raising her voice. "Unless you're smoking crack, you know these witnesses aren't going to be called when you have less than four hours."

Apple's counsel replied, "Your honor, I can assure you, I'm not smoking crack," and went on to say that he believes the 22 witnesses could be called in the time available.

"If it turns out I went through 75 pages for people who are not going to be called, I am going to think of a proper tax for that," Judge Koh said.

The "tax" could come in the way of time cuts to the two hours each party gets for closing arguments, which are currently slated for Tuesday. The judge has already threatened to lop off time if counsel continues to bombard her with paperwork.


U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh.
Source: U.S. District Court

On Wednesday, Samsung lawyers warned they would produce pages worth of objections if Apple didn't cut down its proposed witness list. Judge Koh pointed out she was trying to keep the case on track, but her "rag tag" team simply couldn't keep up with the parties' "legion of lawyers."