Six months in jail for yawning in court!

[JR6ooo4]

was this posted already?

Ill. man faces 6 months in jail for yawning
(AP) – 5 days ago
JOLIET, Ill. — Drowsy spectators in one suburban Chicago courtroom might want to stifle their yawns from now on. Clifton Williams, 33, of Richton Park, is facing six months in jail for making what court documents call a yawn-like sound in Will County Judge Daniel Rozak's court last month. The yawn happened as Williams' cousin, Jason Mayfield, was being sentenced for a drug charge on July 23.
Rozak found Williams in contempt of court and sentenced him to six months in jail. However, Rozak could free Williams after a status hearing Thursday, if Williams apologizes and the judge accepts. By then, Williams will have served 21 days.
Witnesses disagree about whether Williams' yawn was out of line.
Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, said the prosecutor in the courtroom at the time told him that what came out of Williams' mouth could hardly be called a "yawn."
"This was a very loud, boisterous, deliberate attempt on the part of this individual to disrupt the proceedings and show disrespect to the court," Pelkie said. "It was not a guy who involuntarily yawned. This guy was making a statement — a very loud statement — in court."
Mayfield disagreed, saying it was "not an outrageous yawn." Williams has written his family to say that he can't believe he's in jail "for nothing."
A message left for Rozak Tuesday was not immediately returned.
Six months is the maximum sentence judges can give for criminal contempt without a jury trial.


The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

OUCH....

and yawns are contagious! I wonder how everyone else held their yawns back?

Mikeeee

 

[Geoff_M]

Judges have pretty wide latitude when it comes to their court rooms. In our town last year a local judge threw a social studies teacher, whose class was observing a trial, in a cell for a few hours on a contempt citation when the students made a mass exit during the proceedings in order to catch their school bus back to their school. The judge didn't care for the shuffling sounds the students made and the teacher, sensing that the Judge wasn't happy, compounded matters by trying to explain why they had to leave and apologizing out loud. He was ordered arrested on the spot and the kids were sent back without him. The teacher, IIRC, was released after he appeared before the judge later in the day when the trial proceedings were finished for the day.

 

[Vixen]

some judges are such A**es

 

[LuvOrlando]

Can a judge be reprimanded for an abuse of power?

I happen to be an easy yawner. If anyone yawns anywhere near me it comes out and is totally involuntary. Dr's know its a neurological thing with some people, how can the judge do that. Its like putting someone in jail for hic-cups!

The whole idea seems petty and spiteful, not at all dignified and behavior seemingly not worthy of someone in the position of a judge.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office, said the prosecutor in the courtroom at the time told him that what came out of Williams' mouth could hardly be called a "yawn."

"This was a very loud, boisterous, deliberate attempt on the part of this individual to disrupt the proceedings and show disrespect to the court," Pelkie said. "It was not a guy who involuntarily yawned. This guy was making a statement — a very loud statement — in court."

Doesn't sound like a "yawn" to me. I agree with the judge. "Clifton Williams" sounds like an ***. Reminds me of a 3 year old, playing dumb, with the "What did *I* do?" attitude.

I've been to court a couple of times...once to contest a parking ticket, and once to testify for a friend getting a divorce. I sat there, both times, for a long time. Saw a lot of cases come and go. The parking ticket time, the judge was one scary guy...I wouldn't dare speak up. The cop didn't show up in court, so I got off, but I got a HUGE lecture from the judge about what a jerk I was for parking in a handicapped space (I didn't, which is why I went to court to fight it). The other time, the judge was extremely respectful of everyone in the courtroom, even the guy in handcuffs who was taking parenting classes so he could get custody of his kids.

 

[dismom2]

Doesn't sound like it was just an innocent yawn. Sounds like the guy was just being a smart-xxx. But, I do think judges over abuse their power sometimes.
If it was 'just a yawn', everyone would be in trouble--- they are contagious, and I always yawn after other people do.

 

[livie1205]

I am sure the judge did not throw him in jail for a simple yawn!lets get real,I think he was unhappy his family member was going to jail and thought he would be funny...i guess he is not laughing now.I am pretty sure a judge can do what he wants in his courtroom...they are protected from complaints.I think EVERYONE who got sent to jail would complain if they could.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Please don't think for a minute that I believe he did not deserve it.

kind of like that coughing and saying a word at the same time. words that are banned here and in polite public speach....

Our social studies teacher got in a little bit of trouble the same way. But a little more innocently. we waited outside for the judge to signal when we should come in.

before everyone was in he was spouting the rules, so half the people did not hear them. one rule was how we were to be excused. the teacher came in last, making sure no students were straggling behind and he did not hear any of the announcments.

not all judges are brilliant, and some are quite power mad. Like the one who had the cleaners lose his pants....

Mikeeee

 

[daughtersrus]

I've been in this court house a few times. Let me just say that the behavior that goes on is something that I never expected. The disrespect that many of the people show is unbelievable! You would think that if you were appearing before a judge or there to support a friend or family member that was, you would be on your best behavior often that is not the case.

I don't believe for a second that he just happened to yawn at the exact time that his cousin was being sentenced.

The court rooms are not very big at all. When you enter, you are told to take a seat,no standing, no noise at all, no reading, no ipods, not hats... I can't believe how many people I saw taken out because they simply couldn't abide by these rules. They would stand along the wall, put their hat back on, talk to the person next to them...Maybe this judge has just had enough and I don't blame him one bit.

 

[alexandria674]

That is rid-*yawn*..oh crap


Someone post my bail.

Jk

 

[Liberty Belle]

That reminds me of when I was in college and my friend had to go to court for writing a bad check. I went with her for moral support, but figured we'd have to wait awhile, so I brought a book. The bailiff was not too pleased when I opened it up to pass the time.

 

[EthansMom]

Very few judges would cite a spectator for a quiet yawn. But, from the sounds things, the spectator in this case did a huge, loud, fake yawn which is disrespectful of the court. I agree with the judge.

BTW, several years ago, my uncle, who recently retired from his bench, made national news after he cited a defendant for contempt when he (the defendant) refused to remove his ballcap for the procedings.

ETA: It's kinda like back in high school... the teachers with the most disruptive classrooms were the one's who let the rowdy students get away with bad behavior.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I don't believe it was just a yawn.
And, Liberty Belle, I can totally see myself bringing a book along like that but when I think about it I can see the problem...rustling pages can make a lot of noise, you could drop the book, etc. I wouldn't have thought of it beforehand, but I can see why he had a problem with it.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

6 months seems harsh to me.

I'm yawning right now just from reading the article. However--knowing that I'm easily...able to yawn on command--I've learned how to stifle it.

Being "audible" isn't necessary and if he yawned in an obnoxious manner--I could see what made the judge mad.

 

[NotUrsula]

You never know with judges. I couple of years ago I was on jury duty and using the assistive listening device that the jury supervisor had issued to me (I'm hard of hearing.) The judge noticed it and came down on me like a ton of bricks assuming that it was a music player of some sort. Watching him furiously backpedal when the bailiff confirmed it was court-issued was rather hilarious. (Though what was funniest was that it was a parabolic mic -- I could hear every sidebar and counsel conference in the courtroom from 30 feet away. DH the attorney was VERY interested in that part.)

DH has dealt with some judges that are serious power junkies, especially when it comes to counsels' clothing. God help you if you don't wear a proper suit -- several women attorneys of DH' aquaintance have run afoul of judges who are affronted at "provocative" clothing worn by counsel.

 

[My sister's princess]

Maybe the cousin was sleepy caz he couldn't buy uppers from his cousin while he was in jail I mean it was the sentencing not the trial so the man was found guilty right.....