A judge in Benton County, Washington apologized Monday to a woman whom he told last week in court that she would have to leave if she did not take off her knitted hat; the woman, a cancer patient who had lost her hair during chemotherapy, left the courtroom in tears.

Benton County District Court Judge Holly Hollenbeck would not allow Bev Williams to remain in his courtroom Friday unless she took off her knitted hat, saying that he had a no-hat rule.

The woman, who was there to support her teenage daughter who was facing a misdemeanor charge, left the room in tears. Hollenbeck would not change his request even after he learned that Williams had lost her hair during six months of chemotherapy.

Hollenbeck said earlier this week that he had managed to get in touch with the Kennewick woman Monday, when he was able to reach her on her cell phone, and that he apologized personally for his inconsiderate gesture. He also said the no-hat rule no longer applies in his courtroom.

The Tri-City Herald reported the incident last week and it gained nationwide attention as Seattle news media picked up the story and then the Associated Press gave it stateside exposure over the weekend.

A few hours after he had apologized to Williams, Hollenbeck contacted the Tri-City Herald and said, “Words can't express how sorry I am,” the paper reports on its website (http://www.tri-cityherald.com).

Readers have been indignant and angry with Hollenbeck’s gesture last week. Monday, the judge said his apology to the woman had nothing to do with the subsequent media attention and that he had known since Friday that he would apologize to Williams and waited until he found her so it could be personal and not in a newspaper.

“It was a terrible way to treat a lady who was obviously ill,” Hollenbeck added when he spoke to the Herald.