Inside Courtroom 3B the air smelled of pine cleaner and coffee that had been sitting on a burner since dawn.

Judge Carolyn Winters sat at the bench with her reading glasses perched low on her nose.

Donald Sterling stood at the petitioner’s table in a navy suit, smoothing down his lapels.

“Your Honor, this is a routine dissolution.

Seven years of marriage.

No children.

The wife took care of the house.”

“Mrs.