Sleuth5
LUDO ERGO SUM
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2008
- Messages
- 5,903
- Reaction score
- 296
how it is legal or allowed that the judge can jail this guy basically by having a quick trial within a trial? Could the guy have said I want legal counsel? I have my own? or pleaded the 5th?
Also, how could his actions have caused a mistrial? How can flipping the bird to a lawyer in court cause a mistrial?
The presiding judge in a courtroom has the legal authority to charge anyone with contempt involving the case, either directly or indirectly, involving an event in the courtroom, or outside if he or she has issued an order and a person violates it. There are both civil and criminal contempt charges.
If you are sincerely interested in understanding the legal reasons for his right to do this, you might consider putting this question on the VERIFIED LAWYERS thread here. You'll get an answer.
The bottom line is that it is entirely legal. When you enter a courtroom, you are bound to observe the rules laid out by the court for your behavior while there and any restrictions he or she has imposed. That's the law.