- Tom Girardi walks into court as judge orders mental fitness hearing.
- Court appearances include a bond hearing and the defendant’s arraignment.
- Tom remained silent and occasionally leaned back in his chair.
Tom Girardi, who was just indicted, attended his initial court appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday and was instructed to get his mental state evaluated.
Normally, initial court appearances include a bond hearing and the defendant’s arraignment. During the 15-minute hearing, however, United States Magistrate Judge Karen L. Stevenson entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of the elderly-appearing disbarred lawyer, who was identified as having Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in March 2021.
She also destroyed all documentation related to his mental health. Judge Stevenson also placed the 83-year-old old’s at $250,000 with the understanding that his brother, Robert Girardi, a former conservative, will be in charge of him.
She claimed that Tom, who resides in an Orange County, California senior living facility, is exempt from wearing an electronic monitor, but she nonetheless barred him from leaving the Central District of California and required him to turn over his passport and other travel documentation.
He might also avoid interacting with any of the purported witnesses or victims involved in the case. Robert, who was in the audience, acknowledged understanding the directive and declared he would sign the bond contract.
Tom, who was dressed in a plum sweater over a white button-down shirt, black slacks, black dress shoes, and a black face mask, remained silent and occasionally leaned back in his chair.
In addition, Judge Stevenson stated that after reviewing the financial affidavit of the alleged con artist, she determined that he met the requirements to be represented by a public defender; his attorneys are Deputy Federal Public Defenders Craig Harbaugh and Georgina Wakefield.
Judge Stevenson also agreed to Federal Prosecutor Scott Paetty’s request that the court be informed if any assets from Tom’s estate are transferred that are worth $5,000 or more.
She then gave the parties the go-ahead to consult when they could come before US District Judge Josephine L. Stanton, who will be the new judge.
The ex-husband of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne was charged last week by a grand jury with five counts of wire fraud for allegedly stealing more than $15 million from his clients.
Tom and Christopher Kazuo Kamon, who is presently being held in federal jail and was the former CFO of the now-defunct law firm Girardi & Keese, are accused of orchestrating “elaborate” lies in order to steal their clients’ settlement money.
The DOJ charged the couple with utilizing the profits of their clients to pay for personal expenses, payroll, and other clients’ settlement money that had been wrongfully taken.
Nearly three months after it became clear that Tom had gotten away with “severe failings” throughout his extensive legal career, the State Bar of California was indicted for its failure to act appropriately after receiving hundreds of complaints against him.
With the help of the Office of US Trustee, the IRS Criminal Investigation agency and FBI are looking into the case against the alleged fraudster, who faces up to 20 years in jail.
Jayne recently indicated that she has “something to say” regarding the indictment but won’t be discussing “right now.” Jayne has been clear that she had no involvement in or even knowledge of her husband of 21 years’ alleged offenses.
However, the 51-year-old Bravolebrity said “No” when questioned directly by paparazzi if she was concerned about her “condition.”
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