It was oddly quiet in the Santa Clara County Superior courtroom Tuesday, as Jeffrey Scott, the husband of Councilmember Marico Sayoc, prepared for the start of the civil harassment trial against him, brought by frequent civic disruptor Cyndi Sheehan.
That’s because neither Sheehan, nor any of her conservative-activist supporters, had shown up. A bailiff decided to do a sweep of the building to see if they’d gone to the wrong room.
“I’m in the doctor’s office today,” Sheehan told the court when finally reached over an audio line through Microsoft Teams. “I really need to reschedule it.”
Scott has been under a temporary restraining order following a confrontation between the two parties at a municipal building in Los Gatos last fall. Sheehan has been seeking a permanent order.
“I’m not prepared,” Sheehan said, noting she’d asked for a continuance.
‘Ms. Sheehan elected not to show up’
—Nicole Ford, attorney for Jeffrey Scott
Judge Eric S. Geffon noted this request had been denied and asked for more information about why Sheehan suddenly couldn’t make it.
Her husband has seizures and has an operation today, she said.
“Emergencies happen,” she said, expressing her annoyance with the question.
Geffon pointed out the surgery would’ve been on the books when she asked for the latest delay.
Nicole Ford, one of Scott’s attorneys, argued Sheehan had had ample time to find a better date.
“This matter was set on the 14th,” she said. “She had more than two weeks.”
The judge asked Sheehan which hospital she was at and if she could get to court later in the day.
Sheehan said she was at Good Samaritan Hospital and wouldn’t be able to make it, adding she doesn’t know why this information would be anyone’s business.
And, sounding frustrated, she attempted to make claims against Scott and his family, before the judge shut these outbursts down.
Ford asked the judge to dismiss the case, noting Scott is living with a cloud over his head while the temporary restraining order remains in place.
“My client continues to be prejudiced by this,” she said. “Ms. Sheehan elected not to show up.”
Geffon said he was willing to give Sheehan the “benefit of the doubt,” especially considering the hearing was supposed to be on for two days.
The trial was originally scheduled to start Monday, but had been bumped to start Tuesday—meaning Scott’s attorneys were only available for a single day this week.
Geffon said he’ll need to see proof Sheehan’s husband actually was receiving care at Good Sam. He ordered the parties to an in-person trial on April 22 at 9am.
And in a major victory for Scott, he allowed the temporary restraining order to expire at the end of the day.
