WOMAN GETS 30 DAYS IN JAIL FOR TEXTING IN COURT ( ANOTHER BLACKROBED AROGANT AUTOCRAT )

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | April 28, 2009 | Bob Unruh

[Robert Drobot]

A Utah mother of four small children has been jailed on a judge's order that she serve 30 days behind bars for allegedly sending a text message while she was watching a court proceeding....According to Jackson's report the incident happened....about a month ago, but his daughter-in-law was summoned to court only yesterday and ordered immediately to jail....Susan Henwood allegedly sent a text message, an action that didn't affect the hearing, its participants, or the judge, but later was reported to him by a member of the court staff, according to Jackson.

[longtermmemmory]

while waiting for the 20 cases ahead of you?

it is no different than reading the file you have in front of you.

There is more to this story. The content of the text must be at issue here.

Lawyers use their blackberry’s all the time to update their location with their offices. “call judge x and let them know I am in judge y’s courtroom.”

[Niteranger68]

Ah, excuse me. I was a court reporter in court for 20 years. Babies crying didn’t bother me, but a public defender had his watch set to go off every minute to remind him to breathe. Yes, it happens. He couldn’t wear his watch in my court again.

Not sure what your point is. Of course the judge can control his court (to a certain degree). If you are in my house, I can control you from making sound by tossing you out. But in the general public, nobody has the right to a sound-free environment.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Lemme guess, you’re one of those silly people with the thing in your ear, talking to yourself loudly.

[Jagdgewehr]

I hate cellular phones and find those who are obsessed with texting or calling on cell phones in certain environments annoying. Some cell phone users are even downright inconsiderate while using their cell phones. Unless I'm directly affected by such disturbances, I just remain quiet in my contempt...minding to my own business.

However, such behavior should not be subject to fine or imprisonment. In most court rooms, the bailiff will ask the user to stop or step outside the courtroom.

[Larry Lucido]

Or church.

Can I at least snore? :-)

[Niteranger68]

You must be one of those “if I don’t want one, you can’t have one” types. Not at all. I have 2 cell phones. One for work and one personal, but I am courteous and don’t use it in the stores or while driving. I would not even dream of using it in a courtroom. I don’t know why you are upset over my post. I did a rant that every FREEPER does from time to time and maybe it was over the top but it was still just a rant.

Since you don't use yours in stores, can I take it your don't talk at all in stores either? Because really, what does it matter if someone is talking to an electronic device or another person? It's really not your business...seriously, it's not. The point is, you are not the national arbiter of cell phone courtesy.

As for the rant, it cuts both ways. You rant...I rant...we rant. It's all part of the debate. I'm not saying your are a bad person, maybe just a tad too concerned about how someone else is exercising their personal freedom.

It's nothing personal. We can still have a beer together...if we can find a bar quiet enough for you. :)

[Niteranger68]

Lemme guess, you’re one of those silly people with the thing in your ear, talking to yourself loudly.

Yea, I'm one of those silly people exercising my silly freedoms to talk to whoever and whatever I choose without asking your permission.

[Trailerpark Badass]

Yea, I'm one of those silly people exercising my silly freedoms to talk to whoever and whatever I choose without asking your permission.

LOL, while you're talking, the rest of us are laughing at you.

So let no one say your oafish social mores have no desirable purpose.

[Niteranger68]

What's funny is these are probably the SAME freepers (the ones complaining about people texting) that go bonkers when the government tries to take away their right to smoke at a restaurant.

I absolutely support the restaurant owners decision if they want to allow smoking or not. If you don't want to smell smoke, go to a smoke-free restaurant. If you don't want to hear loud music, don't go where there is a live band. If you don't want to smell cooked meat, don't go to a steakhouse. I really don't understand people who think they have a right to a purified public environment.

[Niteranger68]

LOL, while you're talking, the rest of us are laughing at you. So let no one say your oafish social mores have no desirable purpose.

Whatever fills your void. Glad to help.

[Tax Government]

If you need a sign to tell you NOT to use a phone during court, you DESERVE to be in jail.

Everybody deserves to see a big sign.

[starlifter]

But she wasn't driving and she wasn't talking. Painting with a pretty broad brush.

Suppose she had been taking notes with a pen and paper? 5 months in the slammer?

[starlifter]

Yup. Things were a lot better before we got that new fangled electricity. Why, what was wrong with a good whale oil lamp? Nothin’ good happens after sun down anyways.

[TankerKC]

If your phone makes noise when you are texting, you need to reset your preferences or get a better phone.

I have no problems. It is the numbnuts texting in the movies. If they are dumb enough to text at a movie that they paid to see, they can't figure out the phone options.

[TankerKC]

I really don't understand people who think they have a right to a purified public environment.

Then feel free to walk into your nearest courtroom and text away. Do it. I dare you.

[flowerplough]

If you need a sign to tell you NOT to use a phone during court, you DESERVE to be in jail.

I really hate text-messaging morons who think it is their god-given right to text anywhere-movie theatre, driving a car, during court, etc...

Well, put me in jail and hate me, 'rat. I've never been in court, and probably never will be, and would have had no idea that one may not send text messages from there. May one pull out a tablet and take notes, or doodle? And if one may do so, may one then also use an electronic tablet or other digital device to take notes, or doodle? And if one may use a paper tablet, or an electronic tablet or other digital device to take notes, or doodle, he still may not send a message from the electronic device, if it is equipped with such a capability? Strange.

[napscoordinator]

ROTFLMAO. That was an awesome last line. I loved it.

[Niteranger68]

ROTFLMAO. That was an awesome last line. I loved it.

Who said we can't have a little fun???

[Niteranger68]

Then feel free to walk into your nearest courtroom and text away. Do it. I dare you.

I wouldn't quite call a courtroom a public environment the same way a city sidewalk is. I'm not saying this judge didn't have the right to do this. But I will say that, based on the info in the story, the judge is an oppressive SOB. Throwing someone in jail for 30 days for texting in court is void of any common sense. Especially doing it weeks after the fact. I wonder how many guilty thugs also came thru his courtroom and left with something less than 30 days? Who do you want walking the streets, a texter or thief?

[Highway55]

This is my Blackberry. There are many like it but this one is mine. My Blackberry is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me, my Blackberry is useless. Without my Blackberry I am useless.