Federal Judge Kimba Wood agreed to recess a fraud trial so that the Orthodox defense attorney could attend his grandson’s brit.
Wood, in Manhattan District Court, ordered the recess of the trial Nov. 29 after learning of the birth of Bennett Epstein’s grandson. Epstein had filed a motion last month asking for a “writ of possible simcha” in order to attend a brit in Philadelphia if his daughter gave birth to a boy.
The judge earlier had agreed to Epstein’s request, which said, “Should the child be a girl, not much will happen in the way of public celebration. However, should the baby be a boy, then hoo hah! … My presence at the bris is not strictly commanded, although my absence will never be forgotten by those that matter.” — jta