"Cook has zero respect for the vehicle laws of the State of Maryland," argued Assistant State's Attorney Kurt Bjorklund, who wanted any chance of Bishop Cook ever making bail removed by revoking the bail altogether.

The bishop already had one drinking and driving arrest under her cincture when, in 2010, she was nabbed in Caroline County. Then she only received a slap on the wrist and a $300 fine, not enough to change her drinking and driving habits, even though she participated in a six month alcohol abuse program.

The bail reduction request was denied by Judge Klein letting the original $2.5 million bail stand. Bishop Cook's attorney, Jose Molina explained that the bishop will remain behind bars because she cannot afford such a high bond. He had hoped that the court would lower the jailed bishop's bail by about $2 million to $500,000 so that she could enter into a residential treatment facility to deal with her alcoholism. She admitted her drinking problem to the court.

"To me she represents a grave danger to the community," Judge Klein opined, fearing that the bishop would walk out of a residential treatment facility if she went to one. "Her behavior is erratic, it's impulsive."

The defense attorney said that keeping the $2.5 million cash bond is "No bail at all," and that he is "disappointed" in the results of the bail hearing. He also did not consider his client to be a flight risk.

Bishop Cook, who remains incarcerated at the Baltimore City Women's Detention Center, appeared, via video link, at her bond hearing Monday afternoon, but remained mute, allowing her attorney to speak for her.

The Baltimore Sun, reporting on Monday's bail hearing, wrote that the judge, in determining the bishop's bail, stated that Bishop Cook showed a "reckless and careless indifference to life," and she (the judge) "can't trust her (Miss Cook) judgment if released."

The judge considers Bishop Cook a flight risk given the fact she allegedly fled from scene of the accident.

On Friday (Jan. 9), Baltimore City State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby, in leveling felony charges against the bishop, noted that Cook left the scene of the accident where a bicyclist has been hit and was dying in the street, not once but twice.

"It is alleged that Cook failed to remain at the scene of the accident and continued south on Roland Avenue, roughly 30 minutes later she returned to the scene driving north-bound on Roland Avenue but continued past the scene, north-bound, to her current residence," the State's Attorney explained at the news conference. "Miss Cook left her apartment shortly after her arrival and returned to the scene of the incident."

The Episcopal bishop suffragan has been charged with manslaughter in the fatal crash that killed bicyclist Thomas Palermo; leaving the scene of a fatal accident; driving under the influence; and causing an accident due to texting while driving. The cell phone Bishop Cook was using at the time of her accident was issued to her by the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.

Bishop Cook is scheduled to go to trial on Feb. 6.

Mary Ann Mueller is a journalist living in Texas. She is a regular contributor to VirtueOnline