... when I was a young prosecutor in Orange County (Southern California) in the late '70's, the procedure in traffic cases was to have a DA present to negotiate pleas and put on the cases that had to be tried (they now do this without DA's).

In one case I had, the defendant was a doctor whose name I don't recall (I call him Jones here). He was an arrogant, officious, overbearing jerk who had caused a traffic collision by doing something stupid (and illegal). Don't recall now what the offense was, either, but after I put on testimony from the other driver and the investigating officer, the defendant testified on his own behalf.

During my cross-examination, I asked him a question which I phrased, "Mr. Jones ...." He interrupted, saying, "It's DR. Jones."

I repeated the question, asking, "Mr. Jones ...." This time, the doctor turned to the judge and asked, "Can't you make him call me DR. Jones?"

The judge looked down and said, "No, MR. Jones, I can't." ----- jim o\-S