"Was what, Ms. DeGrasse?" The judge peered over her glasses.

"Married.The nuclear option, if you know what I mean." A couple of people chuckled."Except for my son. Jarrod. He's nine. He's basically a full-time occupation for me now."

"Please continue, Ms. DeGrasse," the judge said.

"Let's see. I went to St. John's for a couple of years." What Andie really wanted to convey was, You know, Your Honor, I dropped out in the fourth grade, and I don't even know what exculpatory evidencemeans.

"And let's see, I read Vogue andCosmo and, oh yeah,Mensa. Charter member. I definitely try and keep up with that one."

A few more chuckles rippled around the courtroom.Keep it going, she said to herself. Push out the chest. You're almost off this thing.

"And regarding the police"-she thought for a second-“none in the family. But I dated a few."

Judge Seiderman smiled, shaking her head."Just one more question. Do you have any reason or experience that would prejudice you against Italian Americans? Or render you unable to reach an impartial verdict if you served on this trial?"

"Well, I once played a role inThe Sopranos, " she replied."It was the one when Tony whacks that guy up at Meadow's school. I was in the club."

"The club?" Judge Seiderman blinked back, starting to grow short.

"The Bada Bing, Your Honor." Andie shrugged sheepishly."I was dancing on one of the poles."

"That wasyou? " a Latino guy cracked from the first row. Now a lot of people were laughing around the courtroom.

"Thank you, Ms. DeGrasse." Judge Seiderman suppressed a smile."We'll all be sure to check out the reruns when they come around."