NARRATOR: The view through the courthouse security
camera seems pretty typical--
a judge, lawyers, defendants.
Everyone is conducting standard court business
until a deputy approaches a man slumped over
at the end of the second row.
He's unresponsive and can't be revived.
Apparently he's overdosed right there in the gallery.
As court proceedings continue, unaware of the situation,
a nurse seen here in blue is called in to check on the man.
She acts fast and administers a dose of Narcan.
And seconds later, the man is revived.
Officers help him to his feet.
And he's escorted out of the courtroom,
where he refuses further medical treatment and leaves.
Quiet in the courtroom, please.
NARRATOR: The near-fatal overdose was shocking enough,
but not nearly as bizarre as what happened that very same
day just a few hours earlier.
Spencer Boston, come on down, Mr. Boston.
NARRATOR: This is the arraignment
of 20-year-old Spencer Allen Boston.
At a traffic stop two months earlier, Boston
received citations for speeding and simple possession
of marijuana.
As he walks up to the podium, judge Haywood Barry's
informed that Boston has a special request.
I spoke to Mr. Boston.
He said he wants to represent himself in this case.
I told him today was just an arraignment.
You plead it either guilty, or not guilty by date.
To which he responded, I just want
to plead my case to the court.
So he didn't want to talk to me after that.
So that's why he's here.
Start talking, son.
Yes, sir.
I think it's very unfair, the marijuana law here.
I think we the people deserve better because marijuana
is a very harmless drug.
And it's been around for ages, since the '80s and '90s.
I've heard that baloney all my life.
So don't go any further on that.
Yes, sir.
And--
I don't know whether it's good or bad.
All I know is Tennessee still has it against the law.
I swore to uphold the laws.
And I have to uphold the laws as a judge.
It probably is unfair.
But I can't change it.
You've got to go see the legislature
to get that changed.
Yes, sir.
And if you get it changed--
NARRATOR: Judge Barry quickly returns to the matter at hand.
Now, if you want to plead guilty, you can today.
But if you want a trial, we can give you a trial [INAUDIBLE],,
which is Officer Vincent.
Officer Vincent.
Do you want to face trial today?
Yeah, we can do that.
That;d be fine.
Then you make another statement.
NARRATOR: As the judge works with the court employees
to schedule a trial date--
May 7.
NARRATOR: Boston decides to take action as he pulls
out what appears to be a joint.
No one seems to notice until, shockingly, he lights up.
And this time, it's noticed immediately.
We the people deserve better.
NARRATOR: Boston may have finally pleaded his case.
We the people deserve better.
NARRATOR: But he's immediately taken
away by the court officer.
And Judge Barry gets the final word.
Take him to jail.
NARRATOR: Slapping Boston with a disorderly conduct
charge as well as another charge of possession.
The judge also holds him in contempt of court.
And Boston is forced to spend 10 days in jail.
The joint was collected as evidence.
Joining us now is Spencer Allen Boston.
So clearly, you wanted to make a statement about the law.
But looking back on it, was this the right way to do it?
Yes, sir.
In my eyes, that was the right way to do it.
People say, oh, you could protest and talk
to the house of reps or talk to the legislative
and whatever else.
But in a way, they're not listening to us.
So the only way to really grab attention
is by doing something stupid.
I mean, not necessarily stupid.
But like a peaceful protest is how I looked at it.
It was civil disobedience, like Rosa Parks, how they
said go to the back of the bus.
And she said, not happening.
Nobody got hurt.
No harm, no foul.
And it gained attention.