Comtempt of court for wearing shorts?

[Rageaholic]

I remember catching a fail blog video where a woman was arrested for wearing shorts in court. here's the video and here's an article on it.

Now I don't think it would have been much trouble for her to dress better, and she was told several times, but... what's the big deal? Putting her in jail over this is so disproportionate. It sounds like the judge was on some kind of power trip.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

He wasn't. He warned her twice, fined her once, and she obviously didn't give a damn. What was he supposed to do, just fine her again when it's been shown that doesn't do anything and she continues to disrespect the court? Jail time is a punishment for contempt of court, there is a precedent for it.

"Uh, I forgot..."

Yeah, sounds like what the kids back in high school would say when the teacher asked them why they didn't have their homework again.

[Nyoibo]

It's called contempt of court, that's exactly what she was showing.

[Rageaholic]

Why does it even matter?

[Andara Bledin]

This woman isn't very bright at all.

She got warned once. Then, she got another warning and a fine to try to make the warning actually sink in. It didn't. So, off to jail to add further reinforcement.

Her excuse? She forgot. >_<

And, lest she get off with just the 3 days in jail, she had to be extra stupid and try to hide the (legal?) drugs she had on her person.

Then again, considering the charges against her, she's obviously not the brightest candle in the arrangement.

^-.-^

[Panacea]

Why does it even matter?

Because court is a serious matter, and judges want the parties to take it seriously. Appropriate dress matters: it affects your credibility. So does your ability to follow simple instructions.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

Then again, considering the charges against her, she's obviously not the brightest candle in the arrangement.

^-.-^

She just doesn't have one wick of sense, does she?

[Greenday]

I showed up to court in a suit for a driving violation. I'd never have expected the judge to take me seriously if I shown up like a lazy SOB wearing shorts.

She deserves the jail time.

[Rageaholic]

Because court is a serious matter, and judges want the parties to take it seriously. Appropriate dress matters: it affects your credibility. So does your ability to follow simple instructions.

But jail time? Seriously?

As much as an idiot this woman seems like, I don't know how anyone can say jail time for how you dress is necessary. And the fact that they warned her several times seems to imply that they wouldn't have gone with the trial over what she was wearing. If that's true, it reflects more on the judge than it does her.

Contempt of court sounds like a BS charge anyway.

[Greenday]

Contempt of court sounds like a BS charge anyway.

When someone just stands there and acts belligerent, it's contempt of court.

When someone refuses to act proper, it's contempt of court.

Contempt of court = refusing to play by the rules in court

She refused, now she's paying.

[MadMike]

This woman isn't very bright at all.

She got warned once. Then, she got another warning and a fine to try to make the warning actually sink in. It didn't. So, off to jail to add further reinforcement.

Exactly. It's a lot like some of the people on CS (and to a lesser extent, here) who post things that get themselves in trouble with the owner and/or moderating team, and then proceed to do it again, and wonder why they keep getting in trouble.

I know there are some judges and cops out there who are on a power-trip, but this doesn't sound like one of them.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

It's only 3-days of jail time.

Three days of jail time that she could have completely avoided if she had not worn short-shorts (they were hot pants, not just shorts) to court.

She has no one to blame but herself. The judge warned her, then followed through on the punishment.

I would've agreed if he sent her to jail on the first offense, but he didn't. He gave her two chances, and then she struck out on three.

[Rageaholic]

Exactly. It's a lot like some of the people on CS (and to a lesser extent, here) who post things that get themselves in trouble with the owner and/or moderating team, and then proceed to do it again, and wonder why they keep getting in trouble.

I know there are some judges and cops out there who are on a power-trip, but this doesn't sound like one of them.

But here you just get banned. She was thrown in jail over this. Totally not necessary.

[AmbrosiaWriter]

But here you just get banned. She was thrown in jail over this. Totally not necessary.

Yes it is. She was warned.

Contempt of Court is there to allow judges to keep some semblance of order and respect in the courtroom. That is why it is there.

She was disrespecting the court, she was given the chance to correct the behavior. She could have avoided this entirely if she just put on a proper pair of pants and showed up. She didn't, so she has no one to blame for the three-days of jail time.

THREE DAYS.

Not 30, not months, not years.

Three freaking days, that she could have avoided if she conducted herself like a big girl and put on a pair of freaking pants.

[Rageaholic]

On second thought, now that I saw the video for a second time, this may have been a special case. Sounds like the shorts thing was the last straw.

I still don't think wearing shorts is a jail worthy offense, but some of the things she was innitially charged with may have already warrented a little jail time anyway. (I also think judges are power tripping assholes, but that's a topic for another thread).