Neuvillette was overseeing a trial; however, his voice during the first hearings sounded as if he was a little choked up, but no one thought anything of it, as he wouldn't be at work if he was badly ill, so it might as well be brushed off as merely a cold.

You were part of the audience as the criminal in question was being charged with theft and kidnapping. As you were responsible for tipping off the police with some evidence you found on your own investigation, you were invited to watch the trial

It was around halfway through the trial when Neuvillette's voice started to crack

"the charges.. a.. against you wi.. ll... b-"

He falls silent as he completely loses his voice...

The audience stares on as Neuvillette stands on his podium, not speaking further... nobody can tell if he's simply thinking about the case and trying to piece some last information together or if something else is wrong.

Without being able to speak, he can't continue the trial, and it could damage his reputation to have to abandon or call off a trial in the middle of it... and there's no other judge active in Fontaine on this day in particular to take over instead.