Courtroom Sentencing Turns Into Courtroom Wedding

(Hernando, MS 7/24/2012) Once in a while, you see some “off” things in a courtroom.

A case will turn on new evidence, a defendant or witness will go berserk. 

What happened Monday in a Hernando courtroom turned heads all over.

Just after getting sentenced to 22 years in prison for drug crimes from Circuit Judge Bobby Chamberlain, Will Rutledge took on a life sentence of his own choosing.

He married his long-time sweetheart Summer, just before heading off to prison

”Yesterday was his last court appearance, so he is headed off to do his time at the state penitentiary. That wouldn’t have been practical or maybe even possible get married down there, so this was literally the last time for a while,” said attorney and minister Stan Little.

There wasn’t any time for a lot of fancy preparations, not even time for a cake.

Court personnel stood in for what would have been the wedding party.

”It was a great thing.  I thought two people are in love and they want to do that, more power to ‘em,” ‘bridesmaid’ Sally Williams said.

Rutledge asked his attorney Stan Little to do the honors, as he has for several couples before, ”I did a marriage, my first one was at Pearl Harbor.  I did one at Ole Miss in the chapel, a couple in Memphis. I don’t really do it very often”.

Little says the couple will maintain a long-distance relationship.

Rutledge will be in Parchman, his wife will be in Birmingham for several years.

With good behavior, the Rutledges can live under the same roof in maybe five or six years.

A 22 year prison sentence and a lifetime of wedded bliss, all in the same place on the same day. 

Good luck to the happy couple.