Reply #3: This may provide some insight into Sharpe's behavior:

[Bill Bored]

Judge tells Former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno: I'm boss here, pal

BY Glenn Blain
DAILY NEWS ALBANY BUREAU

Friday, November 13th 2009, 4:00 AM

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2009/11/13/2009-11-13_judge_tells_bruno_im_boss_here_pal.html

ALBANY - Former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno got a judicial smackdown at his corruption trial Thursday.

"Let me explain something to you once, Mr. Bruno, and I will not explain it again," said a scowling U.S. District Judge Gary Sharpe just after he sent the jury home for the day.

"For once in your life you don't control something - I do," Sharpe told the former Republican kingpin. "If you ever do what you just did in the presence of that jury again, which is question any of my rulings, I will take measures to make sure you don't repeat that."

Sharpe's scolding came after Bruno appeared to express frustration with Sharpe for allowing prosecutors a final chance to question a witness before leaving for the day.

-snip-

Bruno's supporters have been critical of Sharpe, suggesting he's biased for the prosecution because his son works for the U.S. attorney's office in Albany.

Bruno spokesman Kris Thompson later told reporters that Bruno was simply trying to speak with his attorney Abbe Lowell and his remarks were misinterpreted as an attempt to communicate with the judge or the jury.

-snip-