He reached into the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a phone. The small device seemed incongruous in his tiny hand, yet it held a power that everyone felt at that moment.

“Your Honor,” Zaden began, his voice trembling just a little, “can I play something for you?” The judge furrowed his brow, exchanging a glance with the court clerk, then nodded gently.

“Go ahead, son,” he said, his voice a soft balm in the tension-filled courtroom.

Zaden unlocked the phone and navigated to the audio recordings. His fingers moved quickly, as if he’d practiced this very moment. The room remained silent, a collective breath held in anticipation.