An attorney who is representing 31 criminal defendants in pending cases has been fined $500 by a judge for showing up 35 minutes late for the start of a trial.

Acting Supreme Court Justice Suzanne Mondo in Brooklyn (See Profile) said Douglas Rankin ignored a court directive to appear for the beginning of a client’s trial at 9:30 a.m. on March 5, despite having been warned that he would be fined if he was not in court at the appointed time. She imposed the fine after a March 23 hearing.