I get irritated myself when cell phones ring during public ceremonies. However, this judge's irritation over a cell phone ringing in the court room was a bit much....
On the morning of March 11, 2005, the judge, Robert M. Restaino, was presiding over a slate of domestic-violence cases when he heard a phone ring. According to the commission’s report, he told the roughly 70 people in the courtroom that “every single person is going to jail in this courtroom†unless the phone was turned over.
A security officer was posted at the door while other officers tied to find the phone, but failed.
A security officer was posted at the door while other officers tied to find the phone, but failed.
After a brief recess, Judge Restaino returned to the bench and asked the defendant who had been standing before him in the front of the courtroom when the phone rang if he knew whose it was.
“No,†said the defendant, Reginald Jones. “I was up here.†The ringing had come from the back of the room.
Nonetheless, the judge scrapped plans to release Mr. Jones, set bail at $1,500 and sent him into custody.
He was the first of 46 defendants to be sent into custody that day because of what could be called the case of the ringing cellphone. The judge opined at length about his frustration over the phone.
“This troubles me more than any of you people can understand,†Judge Restaino said, adding: “This person, whoever he or she may be, doesn’t have a whole lot of concern. Let’s see how much concern they have when they are sitting in the back there with all the rest of you. Ultimately, when you go back there to be booked, you’ve got to surrender what you got on you. One way or another, we’re going to get our hands on something.â€
One defendant, according to the report, told the judge, “This is not fair to the rest of us.†To which the judge replied, “I know it isn’t.â€
Another told the judge, “This ain’t right.†The judge responded: “You’re right, it ain’t right. Ain’t right at all.â€
Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/n...bl&ex=1196398800&en=17a74d70cd47cd44&ei=5087
On the morning of March 11, 2005, the judge, Robert M. Restaino, was presiding over a slate of domestic-violence cases when he heard a phone ring. According to the commission’s report, he told the roughly 70 people in the courtroom that “every single person is going to jail in this courtroom†unless the phone was turned over.
A security officer was posted at the door while other officers tied to find the phone, but failed.
A security officer was posted at the door while other officers tied to find the phone, but failed.
After a brief recess, Judge Restaino returned to the bench and asked the defendant who had been standing before him in the front of the courtroom when the phone rang if he knew whose it was.
“No,†said the defendant, Reginald Jones. “I was up here.†The ringing had come from the back of the room.
Nonetheless, the judge scrapped plans to release Mr. Jones, set bail at $1,500 and sent him into custody.
He was the first of 46 defendants to be sent into custody that day because of what could be called the case of the ringing cellphone. The judge opined at length about his frustration over the phone.
“This troubles me more than any of you people can understand,†Judge Restaino said, adding: “This person, whoever he or she may be, doesn’t have a whole lot of concern. Let’s see how much concern they have when they are sitting in the back there with all the rest of you. Ultimately, when you go back there to be booked, you’ve got to surrender what you got on you. One way or another, we’re going to get our hands on something.â€
One defendant, according to the report, told the judge, “This is not fair to the rest of us.†To which the judge replied, “I know it isn’t.â€
Another told the judge, “This ain’t right.†The judge responded: “You’re right, it ain’t right. Ain’t right at all.â€
Link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/n...bl&ex=1196398800&en=17a74d70cd47cd44&ei=5087
