[Rembrandt_fan]

The article implied that the man yawned theatrically, more as a display than a genuine show of fatigue. My father (now passed on), a hard-headed, no-nonsense superior court and juvenile county judge, would probably have admonished the juror, too--although I don't think Dad would've nailed the guy for contempt. So in my view, knowing a little of judges from personal experience, the judge in the article doesn't come across as power-mad or out-of-control. Further, this wasn't a case of a stolen chicken: it was an attempted murder trial, demanding a certain amount of seriousness and gravity from all concerned.

[TexasGreg]

Further, this wasn't a case of a stolen chicken: it was an attempted murder trial, demanding a certain amount of seriousness and gravity from all concerned.

In the actual trial proceedings, yes. But in the Voir dire? How did the yawn adversely effect the outcome of the case? From what the judge said, it's clear that it simply offended HIM.

[supercat]

Further, this wasn't a case of a stolen chicken: it was an attempted murder trial, demanding a certain amount of seriousness and gravity from all concerned.

I think the issue was that the trial hadn't started yet, and so the juror was getting bored sitting around doing nothing while waiting for something to happen that he would have reason to pay attention to.