Superior Court Judge Gerardo Sandoval legally excused Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (pictured) from showing up today for what was to have been her first court appearance since being charged with shoplifting $2,500 worth of items from Neiman Marcus last month. And the judge also said she would not have to appear at her next court date, which he set for Dec. 7. The reason? None given, says the Chronicle’s Henry K. Lee.
Add: DA spokesman Omid Talai said prosecutors had wanted the Castro Valley Democrat and wife of an Alameda County judge to appear in future court dates “to help with any possible disposition of the case and just to treat her the way every other defendant is treated.”
