• We are now running on a new, and hopefully much-improved, server. In addition we are also on new forum software. Any move entails a lot of technical details and I suspect we will encounter a few issues as the new server goes live. Please be patient with us. It will be worth it! :) Please help by posting all issues here.
  • The forum will be down for about an hour this weekend for maintenance. I apologize for the inconvenience.
  • If you are having trouble seeing the forum then you may need to clear your browser's DNS cache. Click here for instructions on how to do that
  • Please review the Forum Rules frequently as we are constantly trying to improve the forum for our members and visitors.

Lawyer jailed over pledge refusal in court

Aaron1124

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
2,044
Location
Kent, Washington, USA
Go find your own damn line(s). You can't even spell Sonora... and you come up with all this other crap? 10-1 you're in your teens or very early 20's... a flamin' liberal who expects everything handed to 'em... including the answers. There's no set piece scenario. Life's not that simple.

What "crap" am I coming up with? LOL@ Calling me a "flaming liberal" because I support civil liberties. Socially, yes, I am very liberal. Fiscally, I am very conservative. You do not know me. You are the one who are making these accusations that "rules are rules", so please, go ahead and cite a source stating what consists of "contempt of court". Remember, the site policies say that if you're going to make a statement regarding legalities, you must do your best at citing a legitimate source. By the way, I am a 28 year old man - not that it has absolutely anything to do with this conversation.

And if I'm not mistaken, I think I read elsewhere that the judge did come up with that policy himself. As has been mentioned, the judge is there to preside over hearings, he is not a deity nor can he arbitrarily order anyone to do whatever he wants them to do simply because it's his courtroom.

So, tell me "Sonora", where is the line drawn? What orders, if anything, in your mind, constitutes a violation of law?

What if the judge asked everyone in the court room to say a prayer to Jesus Christ, despite there being Muslims, Jews and Buddhists present? Should he toss them all in jail for refusing?

How about try answering the question instead of throwing out the red herring.
 
Last edited:

eye95

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
Aaron,

I am sorry you had to tolerate such an unnecessarily insulting post. :mad: Normally, I don't have to read that stuff. But you saw fit to quote it! :banghead:
 

Aaron1124

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
2,044
Location
Kent, Washington, USA
Here is Volokh's take:

Eugene Volokh • October 7, 2010 4:32 pm

That’s what the Court held 67 years ago even as to schoolchildren, and the rationale of the case would squarely apply to others, such as lawyers. But news travels slowly to one Mississippi courtroom, where Chancery Judge Talmadge Littlejohn sent a lawyer to jail for contempt of court, because the lawyer refused to say the pledge. (The lawyer apparently did stand during the pledge, but didn’t speak.) “Give thanks for your freedom, son, or I’m sending you to jail,” is how Radley Balko (The Agitator) put it.

The judge apparently changed his mind a few hours later, and released the lawyer. I’m happy to say that Tom Freeland (NMissCommentator) was working on an emergency petition for mandamus on the lawyer’s behalf, but that seems to have become moot as a result of the judge’s change of mind.

[UPDATE: Maybe further legal action will indeed be necessary; Judge Littlejohn’s order releasing the lawyer says that “the issue of further incarceration shall be held in abeyance pending further order of this Court.”]
 

Aaron1124

Regular Member
Joined
Jul 5, 2009
Messages
2,044
Location
Kent, Washington, USA
Aaron,

I am sorry you had to tolerate such an unnecessarily insulting post. :mad: Normally, I don't have to read that stuff. But you saw fit to quote it! :banghead:

That's alright - the guy is obviously just trolling for an argument, considering he completely disregarded my (legitimate) question. Oh well, I figure once the individual starts disregarding the topic, and starts resorting to blind assumptions to a political affiliation based off of what is said in a thread, then all hope is already lost with them.

Anywho, I'll step aside from this thread for a while, because I don't see it rising back from the hellhole that it's fallen in to.
 

HankT

State Researcher
Joined
Feb 20, 2007
Messages
6,215
Location
Invisible Mode
Aaron,

I am sorry you had to tolerate such an unnecessarily insulting post. :mad: Normally, I don't have to read that stuff. But you saw fit to quote it! :banghead:

Are you saying that you have Sonora Rebel on Ignore, E95?
 

sudden valley gunner

Regular Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
16,674
Location
Whatcom County
This judge is an insult to liberty and typical of what is happening in this country with those who feel they are "authorities".

I have never said the pledge of allegiance in my entire life. I stand and show respect but will not idolize an "image" and pledge allegiance to it. My allegiance is to my freedom and the freedom of my countrymen(women) and I will die fighting for that.
 

eye95

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
We don't just pledge allegiance to the "image." We also pledge allegiance "to the Republic for which it stands."

Time for Red to check in again:

[video=youtube;TZBTyTWOZCM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM[/video]
 

Sonora Rebel

Regular Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2008
Messages
3,956
Location
Gone
http://www.lectlaw.com/def/c118.htm (For those incapable of finding it themselves:)

Contempt Of Court - Civil Or Criminal
A judge who feels someone is improperly challenging or ignoring the court's authority has the power to declare the defiant person (called the contemnor) in contempt of court. There are two types of contempt, criminal and civil. Criminal contempt occurs when the contemnor actually interferes with the ability of the court to function properly - for example, by yelling at the judge. This is also called direct contempt because it occurs directly in front of the judge. A criminal contemnor may be fined, jailed or both as punishment for his act.

Civil contempt occurs when the contemnor willfully disobeys a court order. This is also called indirect contempt because it occurs outside the judge's immediate realm and evidence must be presented to the judge to prove the contempt. A civil contemnor, too, may be fined, jailed or both. The fine or jailing is meant to coerce the contemnor into obeying the court, not to punish him, and the contemnor will be released from jail just as soon as he complies with the court order. In family law, civil contempt is one way a court enforces alimony, child support, custody and visitation orders which have been violated.

However, many courts have realized that, at least regarding various procedural matters such as appointment of counsel, the distinction between civil and criminal contempt is often blurred and uncertain.

A Willful Disregard Or Disobedience Of A Public Authority.

By the Constitution of the United States, each house of congress may determine the rules of its proceeding's, punish its members for disorderly behaviour and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. The same provision is substantially contained in the constitutions of the several states.

The power to make rules carries that of enforcing them, and to attach persons who violate them and punish them for contempts. This power of punishing for contempts is confined to punishment during the session of the legislature and cannot extend beyond it, and it seems this power cannot be exerted beyond imprisonment.

Courts of justice have an inherent power to punish all persons for contempt of their rules and orders, for disobedience of their process, and for disturbing them in their proceedings.

In some states, as in Pennsylvania, the power to punish for contempts is restricted to offences committed by the officers of the court, or in its presence, or in disobedience of its mandates, orders, or rules; but no one is guilty of a contempt for any publication made or act done out of court which is not in violation of such lawful rules or orders, or disobedience of its process. Similar provisions, limiting the power of the courts of the United States to punish for contempts, are incorporated in 28 U.S.C.

When a person is in prison for a contempt, it has been decided in New York that he cannot be discharged by another judge when brought before him on a habeas corpus; and it belongs exclusively to the court offended to judge of contempts and what amounts to them; and no other court or judge can, or ought to undertake in a collateral way, to question or review an adjudication of a contempt made by another competent jurisdiction.

This way be considered as the established doctrine equally in England as in this country.


As a cop, I spent a LOT of time in court. The presiding judge can (and usually will) run his court with a free hand.
 
Last edited:

Venator

Anti-Saldana Freedom Fighter
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
6,462
Location
Lansing area, Michigan, USA
There is a persistent myth that some folks have power that cannot be questioned. That situation does not exist in this country. There is not one person who is not answerable for their actions to somebody.

And the ultimate somebody is We the People.

I am not satisfied that it has been established that the judge overstepped his bounds. However, if he required a recitation of the pledge by someone forced to be present (and not just standing out of respect for others or waiting outside the courtroom until the pledge has been completed), then he overstepped his bounds.

A judge has nearly absolute, but decidedly not absolute, authority in his courtroom.

Some folks need to examine their axioms about the power people in authority in this country have.

A judge can put you in jail for contempt forever, without a trial, etc. But if you killed him you could get out in 25 years. I would say that's absolute power.
 

Venator

Anti-Saldana Freedom Fighter
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
6,462
Location
Lansing area, Michigan, USA
From Wikipedia:

The Pledge of Allegiance was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy (1855–1931), a Baptist minister, a Christian socialist, and the cousin of socialist utopian novelist Edward Bellamy (1850–1898).

I guess the above says a lot.

The pledge should be willing recited, not forced. To force a free person to pledge allegiance to a country that forces you to say a pledge of allegiance is not a country where a person is free to express themselves and therefore not really a free country............
 

HankT

State Researcher
Joined
Feb 20, 2007
Messages
6,215
Location
Invisible Mode
http://www.lectlaw.com/def/c118.htm (For those incapable of finding it themselves:)

Contempt Of Court - Civil Or Criminal
A judge who feels someone is improperly challenging or ignoring the court's authority has the power to declare the defiant person (called the contemnor) in contempt of court. There are two types of contempt, criminal and civil. Criminal contempt occurs when the contemnor actually interferes with the ability of the court to function properly - for example, by yelling at the judge. This is also called direct contempt because it occurs directly in front of the judge. A criminal contemnor may be fined, jailed or both as punishment for his act.

Civil contempt occurs when the contemnor willfully disobeys a court order. This is also called indirect contempt because it occurs outside the judge's immediate realm and evidence must be presented to the judge to prove the contempt. A civil contemnor, too, may be fined, jailed or both. The fine or jailing is meant to coerce the contemnor into obeying the court, not to punish him, and the contemnor will be released from jail just as soon as he complies with the court order. In family law, civil contempt is one way a court enforces alimony, child support, custody and visitation orders which have been violated.

However, many courts have realized that, at least regarding various procedural matters such as appointment of counsel, the distinction between civil and criminal contempt is often blurred and uncertain.

A Willful Disregard Or Disobedience Of A Public Authority.

By the Constitution of the United States, each house of congress may determine the rules of its proceeding's, punish its members for disorderly behaviour and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member. The same provision is substantially contained in the constitutions of the several states.

The power to make rules carries that of enforcing them, and to attach persons who violate them and punish them for contempts. This power of punishing for contempts is confined to punishment during the session of the legislature and cannot extend beyond it, and it seems this power cannot be exerted beyond imprisonment.

Courts of justice have an inherent power to punish all persons for contempt of their rules and orders, for disobedience of their process, and for disturbing them in their proceedings.

In some states, as in Pennsylvania, the power to punish for contempts is restricted to offences committed by the officers of the court, or in its presence, or in disobedience of its mandates, orders, or rules; but no one is guilty of a contempt for any publication made or act done out of court which is not in violation of such lawful rules or orders, or disobedience of its process. Similar provisions, limiting the power of the courts of the United States to punish for contempts, are incorporated in 28 U.S.C.

When a person is in prison for a contempt, it has been decided in New York that he cannot be discharged by another judge when brought before him on a habeas corpus; and it belongs exclusively to the court offended to judge of contempts and what amounts to them; and no other court or judge can, or ought to undertake in a collateral way, to question or review an adjudication of a contempt made by another competent jurisdiction.

This way be considered as the established doctrine equally in England as in this country.


As a cop, I spent a LOT of time in court. The presiding judge can (and usually will) run his court with a free hand.

That doesn't mean that the judge can force someone to say, sing, or do a jig to the pledge of allegiance. This is the United States of America--not some dman nationalist autocracy . . .
 
Last edited:

Dreamer

Regular Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2009
Messages
5,360
Location
Grennsboro NC
I'm an Eagle Scout. I fly the US and NC state flag in front of my house every day (weather permitting). I stand and place my hand over my heart during the National Anthem at sporting events and public rallies. I've said the "Pledge of Allegiance" thousands of times in my life, and do so with pride.

All that said, I personally believe there isn't enough tar, feathers, and rails in the state of Mississippi with which to cover and on which to ride Chancery Judge Talmadge Littlejohn out of town.

The 1A does not stop at the door of a Court.

Judges who view their courtrooms as personal fiefdoms are not worthy of their robes, and should be removed from the bench and disbarred. I might not agree with this attorney's position on the Pledge, but given this judge's attitude, I may well have done the same thing, and proudly worn the chains.

I wonder if this attorney is well-versed in the filing procedure for Federal 1983 suits?
 

eye95

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
13,524
Location
Fairborn, Ohio, USA
That doesn't mean that the judge can force someone to say, sing, or do a jig to the pledge of allegiance. This is the United States of America--not some dman nationalist autocracy . . .

Any judge's contempt ruling can be reviewed and overturned. I am sure judges are loath to do this, lest it be done to them. However, if a contempt charge is so outrageous as to shock the sensibilities of the typical judge, they will provide relief.

Judges are not as all-powerful as some would think. Yes, they are quite powerful in their courtroom, but everything they do is subject to review.

Everyone is answerable to someone, and the ultimate someone in our Republic is We the People.
 

Old Grump

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 22, 2010
Messages
387
Location
Blue River, Wisconsin, USA
Lawyer jailed for refusing to honor the flag and pledge allegiance, a start, a small start but a good start. Now we need more judges with the same amount of concern for the pathetic state of respect public officers in this country, (the president of our country comes to mind), have for our nation is being taught to our students. How can you expect students to respect the constitution and the law if teachers, lawyers and politicians don't.

Lawyer had a right to be an ass and the judge had a right to slap him for it.

Dos centavos from an old dinosaur.
 

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
Lawyer jailed for refusing to honor the flag and pledge allegiance, a start, a small start but a good start. Now we need more judges with the same amount of concern for the pathetic state of respect public officers in this country, (the president of our country comes to mind), have for our nation is being taught to our students. How can you expect students to respect the constitution and the law if teachers, lawyers and politicians don't.

Respect is earned by one's choices and actions - those who respect the rights and dignity of other people. It does not come as a part of an "office" or a costume.

When teachers, lawyers, politicians and cops EARN my respect, I'll happily give it to them. But not otherwise.

Generally speaking, it is the utter failure of these people to respect the true law that causes others to disrespect them. Few, if any truly represent anything but their own brand of "law" which almost always violates the law of non-aggression and integrity.
 

MamaLiberty

Regular Member
Joined
Nov 8, 2006
Messages
894
Location
Newcastle, Wyoming, USA
*sigh*

We are also pledging allegiance "to the Republic for which it stands," not just the flag itself.

Moving on.

Speak for yourself. I'm not part of your "we."

I own myself and owe no "allegiance" to the republic or anything else. I may choose to associate, but I don't owe anyone or anything involuntarily.

Nobody can determine that for anyone but themselves.
 

Doug Huffman

Banned
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
Messages
9,180
Location
Washington Island, across Death's Door, Wisconsin,
Top