Woman jailed after cell phone disrupts courtroom

Charlotte Observer ^

[Stew Padasso]

"A fine would have made more sense."

It woud have made more sense for her to leave the courtroom and pay a $50.00 fine on your way out.

[Allan]

Thanks for the article.
The judge's verdict was right on the mark.
University students these days bring their cell phones to class
and even into the examination rooms.
I have become fed up with these moronic melodies playing loudly
at odd moments.
My students all have been warned
that if their phone rings
they will asked to remove the phone and themselves immediately.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Respect for the law is one thing. This was a complete overreaction.

THe Judge should have fined her. That would have sent an appropriate message, not this.

[BBT]

I was recently in court to witness an adoption. There were plenty of signs posted at the courtroom doors and elsewhere, telling people to turn their cell phones off.

[Batrachian]

In the old days they would put you in stocks for uttering profanity on the street. Society has become too lenient. Take care of little things like this, and the big things take care of themselves.

[society-by-contract]

Who are we? Those people died out 200 years ago. WE on the other hand were born into the bondage of post-new deal America.

I couldn't agree more. This use of the first person plural pronoun is a reflection of the collectivist mindset so common in this republic: our schools, our roads our children (that one especially make me want to vomit).

[Stew Padasso]

"In the old days they would put you in stocks for uttering profanity on the street."

I agree. We need to bring back witch burnings too.

[Raymond Hendrix]

Amen! Three cheers for the judge (although I think one night would have been suffient). It is too bad that we allow every apect of our lives to be interrupted by some new and exiting electronic device. The judge brought order to the court. Good for him. Next he needs to jail lawyers who saunter into court late.

[RadioAstronomer]

Interesting link due to te events of the past few weeks:

http://archive.aclu.org/news/w080797b.html

"August 7, 1997: Judge Orders Ten Commandments Removed in South Carolina"

""No matter how well-intended, there has been no purpose stated in the arguments -- no secular purpose" for putting up the commandments, Circuit Judge R. Markley Dennis Jr. said."

"This is a religious document that favors one religion over others," he said, noting the commandments appear to come from a Protestant Bible. "It will send messages to non-adherents that they are outsiders -- not full members of the political community."

[Batrachian]

If burning a few witches is the price for a decent society, then I'm all for it. I'll strike the match, as long as the witch's name begins with "H" and ends with "y".

[Willie Green]

The man in front of me went all to pieces & got up & started back to find it. That was a bit over the top too.

I don't know about that.
I guess it depends on what he did when he located the discourteous patron who didn't turn the dang thing off before entering the theater.
IMHO, there's nothing wrong with an occasional ranting & venting against the cumulative offenses one normally endures in public. As long as the situation doesn't escalate into physical violence, no harm, no foul. It serves as a good reminder to everyone present that certain behavioral norms are expected in such a venue.

[RadioAstronomer]

I agree. We need to bring back witch burnings too.

Talk about no liberty! Ever read what all the restrictions and punishments there were in the puritanical towns? Heck I would have been killed! LOL

[Conservababe]

A judge has the privelige of setting courtroom rules. He/she can mandate dress code, disallow the press, deny cell phone usage etc.

Persons who show disrespect for the court are usually punished heavily.

Good for the judge.

[FreedomCalls]

I always prefer breaking wind in these special moments

Just how often do you find yourself standing in front of a judge getting sentenced?

[Stew Padasso]

Those were the good old days for some folks.

[RadioAstronomer]

IMHO, there's nothing wrong with an occasional ranting & venting against the cumulative offenses one normally endures in public. As long as the situation doesn't escalate into physical violence, no harm, no foul. It serves as a good reminder to everyone present that certain behavioral norms are expected in such a venue.

So which is a worse disruption? A cell phone that goes off or a ranting guy. I was in a theater with a friend of mine (who was a Dr. on call) and he forgot to put it on vibrate. Should he have been haranged as he left the movie theater for a medical emergeny? True story.

[RadioAstronomer]

Those were the good old days for some folks.

Looks like! LOL

[RadioAstronomer]

Look at my post #29. Interesting statement from this Judge.

[Libertina]

ROTFLOL The judge had probably warned them, and obviously has had enough. I'm with him on this one. People in theaters not only leave cell phones on, but TAKE CALLS during the movie. "What are you doing... watching a movie...any good?....ok...want to meet tongi....". My fist job as a teenager was at a lovely old two-story theater with velvet seats and curtains, a glass-encased smoking lounge... Ill-mannered people such as these would have been removed.

[Maria S]

"Good for the judge."

My sentiments exactly! I am sick of rude, inconsiderate people who think if they're more than 4 inches from their cell phones, they're going to die!! Standing in a check-out line...talking on the phone (the clerk patiently waits for the talker to write a check while talking at the same time); talking on the phone while driving through red lights; talking, talking, talking.