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Attorney Aaron Brockler is used to fighting for his clients – but not so used to his clients trying to fight him.
Cleveland-based lawyer – whose answering machine announces "intelligent and aggressive representation" – spoke to his client on Tuesday after a judge of the Cuyahoga County joint trial court handed down a lengthy prison sentence: years. Brockler wanted his client, David Chislton, to know that he would try to reduce the time he had.
The next thing Brockler knew, he told the Washington Post, was on his back, under a court table and under Chislton, who was biting him.
Chislton punched Brockler's face shortly after the judge made his decision, according to Brockler's story, a police report and images of the incident reported by a body camera.
"He was hoping to be under 20," Brockler said in an interview. "And I think that when the judge said 47 years old, he just broke and I'm the closest person to him and he let him out."
The collision caused Brockler's stretch and left him with an injured hip, a broken nose and a concussion, he said.
"It really knocked me out," said Brockler, who previously played ice hockey. "It brought me back to my hockey days. It was like being hit in the head with a slap shot.
The Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office accused Chislton of criminal assault for the courtroom incident, whose department spokesman told The Post he was unprecedented in his stay there .
"I have been here for 12 years and have not seen anything like it," said police officer John O'Brien.
That day, Chislton was in court for being sentenced to a sentence resulting from a police clash in 2017, in which Chislton allegedly assaulted his girlfriend, who accused her of having sexually abused a teenager, and set fire to her building.
He pleaded guilty to domestic violence and several counts of criminal assault and arson, according to court records.
Chislton knew he was considering a lot of jail time, Brockler said. Brockler was Chislton's third lawyer in the case, he said, after Chislton clashed with the top two. Chislton appreciated the help of Brockler, said the lawyer. And after working together, Brockler found him relatively sweet.
During the trial, as one of Chislton's victims said about her sudden onset, Brockler recalled saying, "Really? But he looks so calm. "
"So boom," added Brockler.
The lawyer said he was happy that his injuries would not get worse, but he would like the sheriff's office, responsible for the security of the courtroom, to look into what went wrong and which led to aggression. Brockler said Chislton was handcuffed from the front, with all the range of motion available. It was the "main fault," said Brockler.
The ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Chislton's restraints, but a statement by the highest court judge alluded to courthouse security protocols.
"This incident is a reminder that the safety of our employees, citizens and anyone in our hearing rooms should be a top priority," said Judge John J. Russo. "We thank the MPs and others who responded to the incident for their prompt actions, and we encourage the sheriff's department to thoroughly review security protocols for court proceedings."
Brockler went into criminal defense because he wanted to help people, he said, and the hardships he suffered will not change in this regard. But he will "make sure" that his clients are properly retained.
Chislton, meanwhile, could face additional charges for the courtroom incident. And he may have to find a new lawyer.
"He is a former customer at this point," said Brockler.
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