J. Mark...you need to go live elsewhere. Maybe a place where your attitude and the behavior you endorse would get you hung publically or your hand chopped off or....well you get the picture.

Since you endorse such behavior, I sure hope you don't have any children because if you do, you are breeding future criminals or kids who wouldn't think twice of flipping you the bird, spitting at you or cursing in your face.

@J.Mark Lane: And you'd find yourself in jail. The closest thing we have to an absolute ruler in this country is a judge in his own courtroom. You ignore that fact at your peril.

J Mark, you are just another vermin in our society then. I hope you don't/haven't have/had kids. Your offspring will be just another burden for the criminal justice system and sitting in jail by the time they hit puberty.

J. Mark Lane

The judge did the right thing here. The girl should know better than to show that kind of dis-respect to the judge. Would you tolerate that behavior from your children?

Oh and you can ignore Ulysesses Everett McGill. His children are growing up in a home where discrimination is tolerated against gays/lesbians, or anyone else that doesn't fit the conservative right winged environment.

Mr. J. Mark Lane is trolling you guys....

J mark, YOU are full of crap. You either respect the system and the judge or you end up in jail. He was not pompous at all. You ever heard "you don't tug on superman's cape, you don't spit in the wind"? They should add you don't go into a courtroom and act like a spoiled brat and flip off a judge and expect them not to say anything.
I admit the justice system is not perfect. But the world does not owe that girl respect until she earns it. Her apology goes a long way in establishing that, but now her actions will tell whether she was serious or not. Otherwise, she will be back. And Ulysesses is right but I should add not only your offspring, but you will end up in the same boat unless you figure out what respect is and show some.

J. Mark, I'll put my advanced degrees up against your GED any day.

ItsAboutTime

You can read my personal interaction with this type of issue below at post #8.

Were you pitching or catching last night with Bruce?

J. Mark Lane

That's cool, one of the things that makes america great, is having differences of opinions.

Ulysesses Everett McGill

Are you still obsessed with someone else's sex life? LOL.

No, J. Mark Lane, the judge was absolutely correct. You seem to have a strange notion of what's acceptable behavior in a courtroom. You'd better hope you never find yourself in that position. With your attitude, you'd find yourself in a cell pretty quickly.

A judge's contempt power is independent of the penalties for the crime involved. In other words, it doesn't matter whether you're being tried for running a stop sign or for murdering your grandmother - contempt of court is punishable in exactly the same way in either case. The judge isn't "enhancing" the punishment for the crime - he's exercising his power to punish contempt.

It's possible to appeal a contempt citation, but I think you'd find that judges tend to support one another in this arena. They all know that letting defendants and others treat the courtroom as some sort of playground, complete with giggling, flippant remarks, and verbal abuse, would turn it into a circus. They have zero tolerance for that sort of nonsense.

Oh and you can ignore Ulysesses Everett McGill. His children are growing up in a home where discrimination is tolerated against gays/lesbians, or anyone else that doesn't fit the conservative right winged environment

================

While you accurately describe my loathing of the homo lifestyle, your last statement is false. However, I am intolerant of blind sycophants that tolerate the moral erosion of our children and youth

This is a prime example of what is wrong with our society today. Young people have absolutely no respect for themselves, let alone authority. They act like spoiled children and think it is completely OK to mouth off to police officers, judges, and anyone else. The parents do little if anything about it. Most parents of young children today are completely self centered and that attitude is passed down to their children. The children are allowed to do basically whatever they want so long as it does not impact on or inconvenience the parents. When the children do something that impacts on the parents, the reaction from the parents is often over the top and focuses entirely on how the child's behavior has inconvenienced the parents, not on why their actions were wrong. The parents will start screaming and yelling, behaving in a completely inappropriate way, instead of having a calm and rational discussion with the child about why their actions were wrong. The message the parents send is that the children can do whatever they want but it better not interfere with the parents or their plans. The parents do not explain to the children why their actions were unacceptable beyond the fact that it inconvenience the parents, so the children do not learn appropriate behavior.

I have no tolerance for the kind of disrespect that obnoxious little bitch showed to the judge. She's old enough to know better and got exactly what she deserved. Hopefully it's taught her a lesson. Just because you see it on TV or hear it in a rap song, doesn't make it okay in real life. I would never dream of talking that way to someone in authority, which is probably why I've never been a defendant in a court room. Straighten up, girl, or say "adios" to the rest of your life.

Guess the judge doesn't know these young party people well..She's not sorry to him, she's sorry she got caught maybe with drugs.Partying is their life..ask that Casey girl that who killed her own child just to party.

Either this girl will be back in that court room by the end of the summer or in a coffin! She is laughing her head off right now.

Nice discussion, J Mark and Early. But it looks like you both are missing the fact that the BOND was increased because she said "adios". There are statutes that dictate the amounts of bonding. I don't know what the statute is for the bond in a possession charge. Maybe the judge was cutting her some slack and when she said "adios' (basically inferring familiarity with the judge) he raised it to the max.

That would be acceptable under the statute but his doing so as a reaction is iffy. I know this because I once covered a court case where a misdemeanor stalking charge resulted in a judge setting a $100,000 bond. He could not do that. That was a FELONY bond, and he was "using bond in lieu of a sentence." He even made a statement to the effect that he was going to make sure to keep the defendant in jail for a while. Pre trail jumped up and said he couldn't do that. The judge had to recuse himself from the case as it turned out, because he was familiar with the family involved in the case.

This raising of the bond was the catalyst for everything that happened after that. There IS case law defending the judge's contempt citation, but if the catalyst was proven to be suspect, a good attorney could do some real damage here.

J Mark

What the judge did is totally acceptable and totally correct. FYI - the JUDGE is the who makes the rules of conduct for the courtroom. IOW - you play by HIS/HER rules, NOT yours. Every attorney, every officer of the court, everyone connected in any way knows this.

This little child was TOTALLY out of line and needed to be taught a lesson. As a member of the legal community myself, my hat is off to him. A few days behind bars and cooling her jets is exactly what this little idiot needed. I've personally known of judges who were willing to let someone like her off easy but because of ATTITUDE displayed, just like this, got whacked with a harsher penalty to make a point that it was a serious matter. Respect for the judiciary goes a LOOOOOOOOOOG WAY when you're made an ass of yourself in the first place.

As a mother, I would have been deeply embarassed to have a child of mine EVER acted in this way. God forbid she EVER did caught not only would she get it in court, but she would have paid for it at home as well.

This kid is representive of her upbringing and needs to be taught respect of authority.

GOOD FOR THE JUDGE!

Or hopefully she uses this experience to change the course she is on. It does happen, trust me. Some people need a wake up call and can then live an honest, law abiding life. I hope she completes the treatment program, it will be good for her. Jail does not offer the same kind of support as a rehab center. Good luck.

sometimes its hard not to have contempt for some judges and their court proceedings.

JS in SD: you are absolutely right. OR the parents freak out on the police officer, the judge, state's attorney, etc. and accuse them of "picking on" their child. It's always someone elses fault, NEVER their precious angels fault. I have seen parents back their kids up, who are undeniably in the wrong, but will fight visciously with whoever DARES accuse their babies of doing anything. Sickening.
Parent vs. Friend ....you can be both, but you have to understand there is a line. Sometimes you have to apply a little tough love.

"Homo lifestyle"??!? Seriously? Maybe it's time you crawled back into your time machine, Ulysesses Everett McGill, and returned to 1950, from whence you came.

No, the judge is full of crap. And full of himself. The girl is a child and needs and deserves some understanding and a little help. She did not deserve the pompous and arrogant treatment this judge gave her, which was all about himself and nothing about her. I would basically offer him the same gesture.

J. Mark Lane - The "girl" is eighteen, old enough to vote or to marry in most states in this country. In short, she is an adult. She got what she needed, and what she obviously never got from her parents: an object lesson that actions have consequences, and that one is accountable for what one does.

This story reads as an example where the legal system actually worked. No irreparable harm was done to this young woman, and she may have learned that, while it is easy to extend one's middle digit from a closed fist, it is not always easy to deal with what comes of that gesture.

EarlyOut - So... could I be held in contempt for saying, "You are incorrect, Judge, and you do not understand the law"? I hope your answer is no.

No, but for telling the judge to f*ck off, or delivering the equivalent statement with your middle finger, yes, you would be held in contempt.

A court room is not a forum for the free-form exchange of ideas. It is an imperfect mechanism for arriving at the legal truth of a criminal or civil matter. As such, it only works if participants do not speak out of turn, restrain their words to matters pertaining to the case, and refrain from insulting either the system or those around them.

Giving the judge the finger does constitute "contempt of court", and will probably get you a citation, fine and/or incarceration in almost any courtroom in the country.

I have no problem with that.

Rodriguez-Chomat said Soto wasn’t entirely to blame for her behavior.

The judge using society as an excuse for her behaviour is just as pitiful as the kids using society as an excuse. There goes my respect for that judge - allow the kids to deflect personal responsibility.

ItsAboutTime

You can read my personal interaction with this type of issue below at post #8.

Were you pitching or catching last night with Bruce?

Ahhh, Ulysses...

Psychological projection or projection bias is a psychological defense mechanism where a person subconsciously denies his or her own attributes, thoughts, and emotions, which are then ascribed to the outside world, usually to other people. Thus, projection involves imagining or projecting the belief that others originate those feelings.

Me thinks this "heterosexual" doth protest too much.

Isn't Ulysses a Greek name? Curious choice for your web moniker.

That chick needed a good old-fashioned butt whupping from her "parents". Seems like just another possible illegal alien being rewarded for their bad behavior. The judge did not have the balls to let her sit in jail as he should have which will just reinforce her bad behavior, She only apologized to get out. But then again, it is Florida, AGAIN. This state is a bad, bad joke on the rest of the country.

J. Mark Lane....YOU are full of yourself...she should still be in jail along with that long hair idiot lawyer. What she exibited was the 'screw you' youth trend in this country...

R E S P E C T, what happened to it? When I saw this clip I really wanted to slap that little girl upside her head. The judge did the right thing. She seems to be very young and hopefully she will learn.

People need to learn respect, especially to those in a power of authority. I know most of us don't like the pompous attitude they give us, but if you hadn't broken the law, you wouldn't be in that position.

If I were her judge, I would have told her too bad, she can't control her anger, even in a court of law, she will face the consequences. How will our younger generations learn anything, if we are always letting them off?

I have no tolerance for the kind of disrespect that obnoxious little bitch showed to the judge. She's old enough to know better and got exactly what she deserved. Hopefully it's taught her a lesson.

Exactly. The little tramp is lucky the judge had mercy on her magnly a$$ - she deserved to have the book thrown at her.

I doubt she'll learn her lesson, however.

@ dman:

J. Mark Lane - The "girl" is eighteen, old enough to vote or to marry in most states in this country. In short, she is an adult. She got what she needed, and what she obviously never got from her parents: an object lesson that actions have consequences, and that one is accountable for what one does.

I agree. by the time I was 18 I had a good grasp of what kind of behavior was acceptable. we've become a society that is concerned only with our rights but not with the responsibilities that go with them, and we fail to understand that the exercise of our rights can carry unintended or even undesirable consequences.

Isn't Ulysses a Greek name? Curious choice for your web moniker.

it's the name of the main character in "O Brother, Where Art Thou". Excellent movie. The character in the movie, however, was not a small-minded homophobe

J. Mark Lane ....... If while in the courtroom you show dis-respect while standing in front of a judge you are in contempt. This is not contempt of the judge. This is contempt of the court.This young woman was in contempt. Your questions of saying things about a judge outside of the courtroom are not contempt of the court but the practice of free speach as long as they truthful statements. If you lie about anyone in a malicious manner you are liable for slander.

This girl is very lucky. He is hoping she has learned a leason from this. If not she will be behind bars again and the next time theree will be no turning back.

Nice Sandie! So because she is Hispanic she is probably an illegal? The reason the GOP will continue to lose elections is that you have no grasp on ethnicity. The assumption is anyone who speaks Spanish or breaks the law is a Mexican. I've got news for you, more Mexican's are VICTIMS of crime than are criminals. Because crooks know they can't really call the cops when they are victimized. I suspect that the face of illegals that you have, are actually those from Puerto Rico...Here legally as US citizens, paying taxes and more importantly voting. I agree as a Florida resident that the state is pretty screwed up, especially since we have had this TP crook Rick Scott in office but make no mistake there are much worse places to live. Mississippi, Alabama (Crazed bunker guy), Arizona (cowboy Joe as Sheriff), we certainly are headed down the crap hole being lead by those other red states though.

she learned you cant show your contempt for the legal system even though thats exactly what you think.so next time keep to yourself the contempt most of us feel for a system that deserves contempt

?

Sounds to me like the whole thing started with the judge giving her a flippant "bye-bye" when ordering her out. So she says "adios", which is THE SAME THING and he gets even more uppity, raises her bond for the hell of it, because that's HIS courtroom. No, it isn't. That's OUR courtroom, paid for with our tax dollars and operated under the auspices of OUR Constitution. You people who advocate this 'above the law' mentality some judges and cops have in this country are quite disturbing to me. Go read some Thomas Payne, or any of the writings of the founding fathers; they were supposed to 'respect the authority' of the laws in place; they chose to resist tyranny, which is why we are here having this conversation.

the judge started it by being a jerk, and it ends with her humiliated and in tears for having courage to speak out against tyranny, yet you all applaud the tyrant.

Pathetic.

Ahhh, just another Liberal in training. She and J. Mark, pete above, are the typical scum of our society that now think that is the normal behavior and is their right. She was acting like a bitch, got slapped like one. We need more Judges like that. A lot more.

Yeah, Jon, and you're the scum that believes tyranny is acceptable. They called those people Tories back the day. Right, that's what America needs; more tyranny. With the guy in office launching drone strikes against our own citizens, cops gunning people down at random, and 24/7 surveillance of our entire society, what we clearly need are more judges who disrespect people to stroke their egos, then punish those who don't kowtow and fall in line in their little make-believe kingdom. Absolutely. You win the internet.

Uppity? You do realize he is a Judge - and he is sitting in Judgement of her as she is standing there in front of him. It is what he does, what he was appointed or elected to do. He didn't ask her to break the laws, and come have a sit down conversation with him. She was brought before him, so he could Judge what bail to set for her crimes. From the clip I saw, and the text of the conversation prior to her saying "adios", he had every right to conclude she had no respect for the situation she was in.

What law did you get the Judge is above - he is the appointed representative of the law, and this woman showed him absolutely no respect. I saw no tyrannical actions by this judge at all. I saw a snot nosed brat standing there acting like she didn't have to tolerate him or what he was telling her, and he reacted like many would - challenge if you like and accept the consequences if you do.

Also, you seem to have entirely missed the point that, while her behavior was certainly rude, it was in response to his rude behavior in the first place. She wouldn't have done that if he had been the objective arbiter he was supposed to be.

Optimist - I'm just going based on what the attached article said. if MSNBC can't get all of the facts down, they are failing at the news. Also, again judges are supposed to be OBJECTIVE, or not inserting their opinions or assertions into courtroom proceedings.

xanax...as in zany the nanny...bo-bo fanny...fe-fi...get ya high...we need more bitches like that...

pete - even she accepts her actions were contempt. She isn't trying to argue the judge was out of line, she knows she was. You don't act rude in court - it isn't a hard concept to accept. You didn't read the text of the conversation prior to the "bye bye" and "adios". He kept trying to make her realize they weren't out clubbing - her actions and words leading up to the "adios" after he just told her she would have to come up with 5k in bail money are why he called her back and raised bail. He didn't believe she showed any concern for being told she was in jail until she came up with 5k so maybe 10k would get her attention - and it did.

Optimist - where is this additional text in this article?

My point is simply, if we can't be rude in court, the judge should not be able to either. "The court" is the thing being held in contempt, right? Then every judge who makes rude comments, or raises their voice, or makes subjective observations - like any about her lifestyle - should also be held in contempt of court.

pete - it was published last night along with the video of her exchange with the judge. I agree with you, but not with your conclusions. Search for the video and the text and then decide - but it was obvious this young lady had never been in a situation where she couldn't have the last word - until now.

Additionally, I'd wager money that her lawyer advised her to simply say what he wants to hear so that she can get out of jail. Privately, I'd bet you my house, she thinks he's an a$$hole.

Optimist - would be great if MSNBC would provide a link to that, if they can't be bothered to include it in the original article.

This girl, her peer group, youth younger and the last couple of generations of parents are exactly what is SERIOUSLY wrong with this country!!!!! It's all about ME ME ME, my rights, my freedom to shoot off my mouth and be disrespectful and defiant with anyone and everyone in a position of authority or who has a different set of morals and values than theirs!!!! Along with our righs comes HUGE responsibilities and WAY too many fail to grasp that concept today!!!! There is a right way and a wrong way to address our peers, our elders and authority and this girl chose the WRONG way and got exactly what she deserved!!!! This nation as a whole needs to get back to some basic tenets of correct behavior. That would absolutely include but definetely is NOT limited to the following as expressing everyting I have to say would result in writing a book!!!!! People need to take personal responsibility and accountability for their own actions, need to treat others as they expect to be treated with diginity and respect, to follow the laws of this nation and be resposible productive citizens not a drain on our society and our judicia systems, not to be druggies and if we are to accept the consequences of our actions!!!!! Many other posters have aslo stated some KEY things that citizens today are seriously lacking in!!!! A big one is common courtsey!!!!!!

Although the defendent's behavior was out of line, so is the judge's ego.

Sure, the judge can get anyone to "apologize" to stay out of jail. He could get her to call him "sir" or "your honor" or "you're an English Sheepdog" if that's what he wants to hear. So the kid appears and says "gee, I don't know what came over me; I'm really sorry" as she thinks "how's that you fat asswipe douche". What was accomplished?

So, we have two problems: a defendent with an attitude problem and a judge forced to demand verbal respect because, apparently, he's unable to obtain it with his behavior on the bench.

it should be about her freedom.whats seriously wrong with this country is we have far too many sheeple willing to let a government run amok step on them and the world at large.they serve us not the other way around.we need her generation to grow a spine and stop what mine has failed at

Pete, I think you've missed the point. And of course she only said what she said to get out of jail, she's not sorry for what she did, and THAT is the point. Your excusing of her behavior is exactly the mentality that has created children like this little girl. You and those railing against the judge suffer from, among other things, what George Carlin called "child worship." This girl needed to be put in her place for many reasons, chief among them she obviously does not take the fact that she is playing with her life on a string very seriously. If the judge needed to use shame and ridicule to take her down a notch, heck, I'd be happy with that!

But no, everyone in this girl's world are like you, and want to justify the unjustifiable for the sake of some phantom rights that this girl does not have.

She came to court with xanax in her system, and you say the judge started the disrespect? Since when is a kid coming to court high a reasonable enough sign of respect that should just be shrugged off by responsible adults in positions of authority?

Fact of the matter is this girl is lucky as in my honest opinion she should have spent 30 days in jail. Her attitude is one that is omnipresent in the youth, created by adults, and we have just begun to reap what we've sown in that regard. If this girl does clean up her act, which her smug attitude suggests is unlikely, she will probably have this judge and life-event to thank, not you apologists who've come on here to "save civil liberties" when you are actually doing nothing but continuing to strip this culture and youth of civility.

This site seriously needs to add a thumbs down button to the reply area so that we don't have to waste precious time addressing immature and juvenile comments like yours Nevada. You appear to be just another one of a generation of ME ME ME know-it-alls with no respect for authority and little knowledge of our legal system. If you should find yourself in front of any judge for any reason you'd be well advised to keep your disrespectful mouth shut as I believe you'd find yourself in a similar situation to the young woman in this article.

Disgusted-your above post is right on and very well stated!!!!

As an aside, in the video, it's stated that she has major anxiety problems - which is exactly what Xanax is for. People calling her a "druggie" must be some rather lucky people to not require any pain medication, anxiety medication, or anti-depressants. Must be great to be you. Do you require a stepladder to get down from that high horse?

I would have thought Xanax would tend to put a lid on that sort of outburst.

Please John, if that's what you think of today's youth, that maybe they will grow a spine and stamp out government overreach, then you have no clue about today's youth. They are already the most entitled-minded generation, lacking civility and responsibility at every turn, less academically successful and ignorant of common sense, and you think what they need is to wrestle more power? Kids and catering to their every whim and life of bliss and no negativity is one of the biggest problems this country is facing, and this girl could be the poster-child of that movement.

No, what these children need to learn is that unlike what EVERYONE has been telling them in response to their average, mediocre achievements, they are not special. They are not extraordinary in this world of 7+ billion people, and that is OK. What is not OK is to walk around this world acting as if you are exceptional and expecting everyone to treat you as such. Like expecting to be treated with respect when you go to a court proceeding while you are high and treat the proceedings and the crime you committed as if they are some kind of joke. THAT is the mentality that is on trial here, and it's high time it was.

Disgusted - I believe you've missed my point. the judge can certainly act within the law if people are acting with contempt, but he should continue to be objective, which the article seems to suggest he was not. With his "bye-bye" he was also in contempt of the court.

Xanax bars are not legal, over the counter products. They are designed to create long, sustainable highs, making them very common on the club scene.

And sorry, I'm not one of those slobberers of the phramaceutical industry. I'd be willing to bet that it's just as strong a chance that her shakes of anxiety are caused by her dependence to xanax (or other drugs) as they are the reason she needs the xanax.

J. Mark Lane - Your posts are quite impressive. I could not agree with you more. This judge clearly made it all about himself with no concern for the girl or the problems she's facing.

It cracks me up. Any of these other yahoos on here that think you're full of it.......I bet would gladly give up their left nut to have you presiding over their case rather than the arrogant windbag judge mentioned in the article. I LOL because it's true, I know it, you know it and they know it.

Actually the way I see this the girl was actually saying "Adios" as a racial slur of sorts, on the effect of the judge being Hispanic. THAT was what got her called back. this would be the same as her saying "later brotha" or something of that effect if he was black. I do not like judges or police 99.999% of the time, because in truth most are power hungry bullies that like to exhort their power over others. BUT this time I think the judge was right, and actually he seemed like a kind man who was trying to just teach the girl (woman shes 18) a lesson that might just keep her from making bigger ones in the future. Anyhow she seemed to actually appreciate the gesture of him accepting her apology, and even said "I don't normally act like that" and so I think it worked pretty well. As far as telling a judge "your a fool" or something along the lines of that kind of language, Yes it is not only contempt but a slanderous term as well and you would be lucky to not be taken to civil court on the judges behalf on that. Contempt btw is NOT in contempt of the JUDGE, it is in contempt on the COURT i.e. the legal system and the judge is bound by law to enact punishment (what he/she deems fit) accordingly for ANY infraction on the system...like contempt

ah, Jon, and you're the scum that believes tyranny is acceptable. They called those people Tories back the day. Right, that's what America needs; more tyranny.

You win the internet.

...and you pete sullivan, win the tin foil crown for delusional beliefs and hysterical utterances.

This story is not about drone strikes or judicial tyranny. It is about a young lady who gave a judge the finger, during a court proceeding, and if you really believe that at any time or in any part of this country such a act would not have drawn a contempt of court charge, then you are living in a dream world.

Good for the judge for calling her to account for her insolence, and for having the restraint to accept her apology.

After everything was said and done in the courtroom it comes down to "I'm sorry" to sweep this whole thing under the rug. If the judge is naive enough to accept this "tearful" apology then the only thing "served" was the stupid ego of the judge and nothing else.

The girl proved that you can do or say anything you want as long as you apologize to some egocentric judge at the urging of some, probably, court appointed lawyer.

No wonder that our country is in the shape it is in now.

Unfortunately, typed text does not carry tone with it, so how the "bye-bye" was said is not known, and of the utmost importance. Was it a "bye-bye" like, "get out of my courtroom!"? Maybe, and that would be disrespectful. Or was it a "bye-bye" of the "sigh...i'll hold out hope, but I know exactly how this one's life is going to turn out."? Or, was it one of many possible variations in between? While I do not know the answer to that, I do know that this girl's crime landed her in court (her fault) and like many other kids today, she has a superiority complex that seems really cool until the reality of people who are really your superiors comes to smack you in the face one day, much like my former student who thought she was a real bad m'fer until she reached for a cop's gun during a group fight at a local McDonald's. When her face smacked the pavement I saw that superiority complex escape her face faster than she went down to the ground.

Ronster - Flawed logic. Unlike this little criminal, I don't illegally possess xanax or any other drugs/objects that would land me in court, so why exactly would I even need to consider your scenario? Nope, once again, the point has been missed. She committed a crime so she went to court. That was her first mistake. Strutting around as if nothing was wrong was her second.

See, me defending the judge's behavior will never come to bite me in the backside because I will not put myself in the position this girl did. However, your apologies for her behavior and all adult apologies for all examples of such child behavior is exaclty why we have the astronomical numbers of youth in jail, on the streets, out of school, on drugs, pregnant, etc. You may see your apologies as considerate of the youth, but I guarantee you THEY see it as permissive of their behavior.

Term 1 - I feel like you. I'm usually on the other side of the law enforcement/courtroom argument, but it is hard for me to now look at this case as a microcosm of the youth culture that is being cultivated in this country. And although abuse of power is an issue this country must address, a perpetually uneducated, lathargic and entitled youth poses far more long term consequences for this nation which will be facing unparalleled challenges in the future.

"I have no tolerance for the kind of disrespect that obnoxious little bitch showed to the judge."

Well to be fair I'd say he also showed disrespect when he upped her bail for her simply saying bye in what I suspect is a language she often uses. If your bail got doubled simply because some judge didn't like the language you said bye in you'd be pissed also..

I think they were both wrong to some degree and it was the judges action that started the whole mess.

PS you calling her a "little bitch" is probably the same attitude that judge had and it shows you are no better than her when it comes to "respecting others" Respect works both ways, you dont demand it, you earn it.

Disgusted - It must be great to know with such certainty that you will never find yourself in front of a judge at anytime in your life. Flawed logic? Certainly, but not on my part. BTW - Where did you see me apologizing for her behavior? You won't be able to find it....because I didn't.

It's sad that you continue to see the judge as taking the high ground as you continue to defend him. So let me get this straight. The girl says "Adios" and as a result the judge doubles her bail.....and then before she is excused the judge says "Adios" to her. Excuse me....but in my world, the judge deserved to be flipped off. It was an arrogant power trip on his part. Period. In fact, he should have apologized to her yesterday because he was supposed to know better.

"Now if the girl would be so receptive to some advice on that ghastly hair color..."

From her lawyer?

Having witnessed a few arrogant judges and cops; sometimes giving the middle finger is the correct response. Under those circumstances, I would have served those 30 days with pride and never apologize. From the looks of it, that does not apply in this case.

I have experienced the agony of having to personally deal with a young drug addict in my family. Any addict with expensive jewelry is not just an addict. She is a drug dealer. 30 days on a contempt charge(and the higher bond) may have saved the lives of other young addicts. I'm sure the judge is well aware of these facts. That's likely why he mentioned the jewelry and tried to impose higher sanctions.

Commonsense - Good post. I bet the judge called up her Public Defender immediately after the video went viral.....told him he would suspend the 30 days and release her with zero bail if she would publicly apologize to him in court. His sick demented way of saving face, apparently.

If the judge had any balls he would have been the one apologizing to her for his obscene arrogance.

I have no problem with what the judge did!! This will be a major learning experience for this young woman!! (Yes, I said young woman! People in today's society forget that at 18 years old you are a legal adult and she is extremely lucky this judge showed compassion!) This is a firm reminder of how young people feel they are entitled and don't have to be responsible for their actions! I'm glad this went viral and hopefully it gets the message to young adults that you can and will be held accountable for your actions! I hope she learns from this experience because next time, because this is a national event now, she won't be so lucky and a judge will "throw the book" at her!

Another ZioNazi pig judge. No suprise 99.9% of US judges are ZioNazi pigs who eat cop semen. Not flipping off a judge and respecting ZioNazi prohibitionist pigs is like spiting a big green luger on the US constitution, all US judges are with the synagogue of Satan. Xanex a party drug like dopey is the fastest of the dwarfs in sleeping beauty. Every judge in Amerika should be forced to drink a gallon of cop sperm in public and have the videos posted on youtube and shown to the Amerikan people over and over and over again until we never ever let an elitist ZioNazi pig in public office ever again.

Seriously ? The judge blamed lyrics in music and the dialog in films ? Hot damn, I'm not taking any resposibility for any of my actions ever again. I'm blaming it all on our *culture*.

The day Americans are punished for merely expressing an opinion, is the day we can add to the list and include ourselves as one more fascist nation.

@maggieadela:

Her hair color is the least of her worries. The judge might have made some sort of drug rehab part of her continued release.

the judge should have stuck to his guns and reduce the sentence to 30 days house arrest+chores...."you are grounded"

@Debi-numbers - What are you talking about? That girl's disrespectful and childish attitude is what got her called back by the judge and her bail raised from $5000 to $10000. Then she showed more disrespect to the judge and the court using profanity and flipping him off so he gave her 30 days for contempt of court. You do know what the word contempt means, right? Disrespect and disdain - the exact attitude this girl displayed towards the judge - she deserved exactly what she got. We can only hope this is a lesson for her allowing her to turn her messed up life around. The judge is correct too, we live in a society of foul-mouthed, self-centered, infantile teens and young adults who have no respect for anyone. All they care about is immediate satisfaction of their own wants without working for it.

This girl is an all too common representation of the youth in this country. They feel entitled to everything and think they can do anything they want at any time with no consequences. They are ignorant beyond reason to law and refuse to contemplate how their actions will affect them and others in the long-term. In other words, owning a smartphone doesn't make you smart. Unfortunately, I see our country going the way of Mike Judge's "Idiocracy."

If being speaking disrespectfully is against the law, many of the posters here should be arrested.

Judge escalated the situation but freedom of speach doesn't apply in his courtroom.

Still, the judge is apparently unaware of one recent court case in NY where it was held that people DO have the right to express themselves in such a manor to law enforcement and rightfully so.

Nor does he acknowledge the never ending abuse BY law enforcement that'e been going on forever.

He was also completely aware of the viral nature HIS actions caused on social media and apparently didn't like the attention.

Wow, debi. Are you actually condoning her flipping off a judge?!?! In court?!?! You make my point on the future of our nation.

I can't believe people support the judge. He sentenced her to 30 days in jail because she offended his ego. She was disrespectful, so? It is NOT a crime. Yes, the judge has leeway but its purpose is to control the courtroom so that court can proceed. This case was already decided and she was dismissed, therefore she did not disrupt the proceedings. He abused his power. Contempt of court is not meant to be used in that way. He should be punished.

let this be a lesson

DONT DO THINGS UNLESS YOU CAN STAND BEHIND THEM ALWAYS AND FOREVER

Wow, debi. Are you actually condoning her flipping off a judge?!?! In court?!?! You make my point on the future of our nation.

Yes JS69, and you make my point proving the fascist direction our country is headed.

We are losing our ability to peacefully protest government and corporate corruption, or unjust legislation because people like you deem those actions as "disrespectful" and should be silenced just because you may not agree.

And btw, court is a public facility where justice, unfortunately not always, is determined; not hallowed ground.

Move over China, Iran, Russia and any and all other countries who punish their citizens for speaking out.

pete sullivan

Optimist - I'm just going based on what the attached article said. if MSNBC can't get all of the facts down, they are failing at the news. Also, again judges are supposed to be OBJECTIVE, or not inserting their opinions or assertions into courtroom proceedings.

I WISH it was Pete, but it is not. What we have right now is a judicial system that is operated by ego and Assumptions based on a grandiose sense of self. I respect judges, but many of them that I have had to deal with have based their words (not judgement)on their personal opinions, rarely facts of any kind. And im talking about the judges snide remarks that have nothing to do with what is being judged, that they make constantly against the person they are supposed to be objective to I have seen it all...judges do not act respectful anymore...and it shows in society.

A judge just told me "im sure its something you did", he was speaking to me about a restraining order against me from a woman harboring my run away son. I wanted my son home and so i got her fired from her job (she did illegal), in turn she filed a restraining order...and then judge told the ENTIRE COURTROOM my son "probably ran away because of something I did"...right in front of my minor child!!! the judge did not know me from a snake in the grass...my son was not even in my care when he ran away nor was that judge covering the run away itself (that was CPS, not court)...but that judge just spewed his hate on me when I was trying to get my child home...not to the lady keeping him from me...which is now in serious trouble and CPS (after the restraining order) ruled he had to come home or go to juvenile detention for runing away...I got a letter from Jan Brewer that says Im a good mom....yet that judge said I wasn't during a restraining order from a third party.

Another ZioNazi pig judge. No suprise 99.9% of US judges are ZioNazi pigs who eat cop semen.

Wow, PLandH, I turned over rocks as a kid and encountered more intelligent creatures than I do in reading your post, and less pathological.

You seem obsessed with the legal authorities and "cop semen".

Why?

I'd hate to walk around with all that on my mind.

We are losing our ability to peacefully protest government and corporate corruption, or unjust legislation because people like you deem those actions as "disrespectful" and should be silenced just because you may not agree.

Debbie, there's never been a time in my life time or, I think, at any time in the last 100 years when a defendant could give the sitting judge a 'f*ck you' gesture and not be cited for contempt.

This story is not the moral equivalent of Patrick Henry saying "Give me liberty or give me death.". It is just about a spoiled 18-year-old brat who badly needs to grow up.

1) If you condone the judges action for doubling the girl's bail after she said "Adios" to him, then proceed to # 2. If you don't then we can all agree the judge was wrong for responding poorly in a knee-jerk fashion.

2) So you're still on board with the judge. Then why did he use the same disrespectful "Adios" when excusing the girl right after he doubled her bail. Anyone would have and should have flipped him off for his arrogance and power trip. In other words, it's wrong for you to say "Adios" to me, but it's perfectly fine for me to dismiss you with "Adios"...oh, and by the way...here's 30 days in jail for flipping me off and disrespecting me.

Huh? This judge ought to be disbarred.

and the oscar goes to.......

First....I would like to thank......

No doubt the middle finger response deserved a contempt charge.

However this does not excuse everything this judge did prior to that charge.

He used bail amount as form of punishment .He deemed her adiós as contemptuous not as flight risk! Bail is to assure a person appears for trial.

Contempt is used to punish disrespect. As demonstrated when she gave him the finger.

He needs to be punished for his wrongful actions - Just as she needed to be punished for hers.

bobyoung - You should be an arbitrator in your next life if you aren't one already. You nailed it down just about better than anyone else here.

I do applaud the girl for flipping him off, though. Only in doing so, did this warrant a spotlight on the judge's unwise actions. For that, she should be commended. Transparency should always be the way when we have people in position of authority. Clearly this was an unwelcome spotlight for this judge, otherwise he wouldn't have suspended her 30 days in jail and let her out with no bail at all.

RECOMMEND Penelope Soto appear on the next episode of "SCARED STRAIGHT".

Maybe her PARENT(S) should be there also.

Little RUNT !!

dman:

It is just about a spoiled 18-year-old brat who badly needs to grow up.

Yes, but the last time I checked, being spoiled, being a brat and needing to grow up was not illegal requiring punishment by the law.

The judge didn't like what she had to say, and abused his power not for the purpose granted to him, but to punish her for the words she spoke.

No wonder the abuse of power is so prevalent in this country. If we the people ignore and have forgotten where the lines of power are drawn, how do we expect those given that power, to respect those lines?

We are shocked and dismayed when someone given the public trust and power abuses that power, but at the same time, enable others to do the same thing and even encourage it.

"Yes, but the last time I checked, being spoiled, being a brat and needing to grow up was not illegal requiring punishment by the law."

===============

you are correct, none of those things you list are illegal. giving a judge the finger is not on your list, and it is exactly contempt of court. like it or not. and a great many people could stand to learn from this. just because you think you are right or that someone else is wrong does not justify being an A-hole about it.

What lesson should she have learned when we let celebrities walk free for doing far worse then she did?

branda, you don't get to get away with doing something wrong just because you think someone else got away with doing something wrong.....

Freedom of expression? let's just cut to the chase and call it what it is....abuse. it is not ok to be abusive of another person. period. not even if you think they are wrong. there is no place in the Bill of Rights that states that you have the right to abuse people. people have the right to pursue happiness, and being abused infringes on that right. that is why punching someone in the face for being a jerk is a crime. that is also why bullying is a crime.

just because you think you are right or that someone else is wrong does not justify being an A-hole about it.

And again, being an a-hole is not illegal.

Please cite the law specifying the illegality of giving the finger.

The judge was the first one out of line who clearly abused his power by punishing her and doubling her bond just because she responded "adios" to his "bye bye". It wasn't until after he abused his power that she communicated what she thought about him.

Unless she actually does something to break a law whereby a punishment is appropriate and merited, maybe the judge needs to be reminded that he puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like everybody else, and that it was wrong of him when he abused his power to punish simply over the spoken word "adios".

As a judge, he is expected to travel the high road, not the sometimes low road of those he is judging.

Term 1 - I thought of the racist angle to begin with, but realized it's moot, as she is also Hispanic. Simply saying 'adios' to a spanish-speaking person is not racist, regardless of tone. It may have been rude, but as disrespectful pointed out, we don't know what tone the judges 'bye-bye' was in; she may have merely responded to rudeness with rudeness.

dman - good to see you're still living in fascist fantasy land, where America is flawless so long as her citizenry obeys without question, and doesn't become too 'insolent' (your words, buddy).

Debi, ronster, bobyoung, - glad to see that others here can see through the 'respect the system at all times or ELSE' BS brainwashing that has become the norm for people, apparently.

roadlesstraveled - sorry to hear that you had to experience firsthand the sort of subjective crap that passes for a judiciary in today's America. I suppose when you're appointed instead of elected, you get a sense of untouchable tenure, and forget the fundamental operating procedures of the system in lieu of power tripping.

@Debi-1314897

Your rants are seriously deluded. Your missing the point entirely if you think you can go into a court room, charged with a crime and insult a judge in his or her courtroom.

This woman came into court already accused of a crime - he is not.

You might have the "right" to flip off a cop, and not be charged with it as a crime. You don't have a right to disrespect a Judge.

Check the story and see if any of those involved believe the woman had that right. She doesn't now that she isn't high. Her lawyer doesn't (since he hasn't gotten high yet), and her family doesn't.

You have the right to free speech, you can flip off a cop and get away with it if you choose to put yourself in that situation.

You don't have the right to come before a judge, already accused of a crime and show nothing but contempt and disrespect for him. He has no reason to treat her with any respect, she has every reason to show respect - since obviously - he can make her life living hell if he chooses too and there isn't a lot she can do about it.

No doubt the middle finger response deserved a contempt charge.

I disagree. The only one whose actions deserve a contempt charge is the judge who abused his power.

Optimist - your last sentence there says everything we need to know about how broken the system is. "He can make her life a living hell if he chooses to". Right, because that's what my tax dollars are paying for: ego-fueled power trips.

Again, OBJECTIVE versus SUBJECTIVE. The first is what all judges are supposed to be, the second is what many of them appear to be.

The fact is that she committed a crime that had no victims, damaged no property, and was only disruptive of some ideal society concept that certain people have, where no one ever gets high for any reason, everyone is content in their servitude, and above all else, no one ever rebels against ideals forced upon them by others.

Why was she even there in the first place? Was she driving while super high on Xanax? That would be a safety hazard, and would warrant incarceration and treatment. Fact is, the government makes a fortune on prison slave labor, so they continue to promote defunct ideals, and restrict personal freedom to ensure a larger prison labor force. The fact that she was "accused of a crime" does not in any way justify contemptible hypocrisy on the part of the judiciary.

If he has no reason to treat someone who is "innocent until proven guilty" with respect, then he deserves no respect either.

For all of you who still believe there are those who belong on the level of unquestioned authority, the sexually molested children who were brought up to treat priests with utmost respect and to never question their authority because they were the closest human to god (even higher up the rung of importance than any judge), more than likely disagree with you.

optimist:

Do you really believe the judge had the right to double her bond because she responded "adios" to his "bye bye"? How are the words "adios" against the law?

Courts are a place to conduct the law, not egos.

Her lawyer doesn't (since he hasn't gotten high yet),

Her lawyer convinced her it is impossible to fight a corrupted city hall.

You don't have the right to come before a judge, already accused of a crime...

Being accused of a crime doesn't give you the privilege to treat someone like a criminal.

The fact is that she committed a crime that had no victims,...

She was accused of a crime...

Fair point. :)

So she was ACCUSED of a victimless crime, and that somehow equates to the judge having no obligation of respect. Apparently.

truthhurtsattimes

branda, you don't get to get away with doing something wrong just because you think someone else got away with doing something wrong.....

It's Brenda not branda and yes, if you are not going to give out the same punishment for equal crimes no matter who you are then you should also get away with it as you put it. Why should celebrities get 20 chances while the rest of us get 1 or none? You should not be able to buy your way out of doing time for the crime. Another way the 2% think they are better then the 98%.

Yes, but the last time I checked, being spoiled, being a brat and needing to grow up was not illegal requiring punishment by the law.

Debbie, being a spoiled brat and acting out in your personal life is not illegal. Being a spoiled brat and acting out in the courtroom is another matter entirely.

A defendant giving the judge the finger is contempt of court in any court and at any time in our nation's history, and yes, that is punishable by the law.

One could argue that the Judge raising her bail in response to her flip, "Adios", as she was leaving the courtroom was an overreaction. However, I was not there, and context and tone are important.

But once she gave him the bird, she crossed the line.

This is not equivalent to Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white man in 1955. It is just a story about a spoiled, childish woman who chose to display these "qualities" in court, and got just what she deserved.

One could argue that the Judge raising her bail in response to her flip, "Adios", as she was leaving the courtroom was an overreaction. However, I was not there, and context and tone are important.

Lol. It's very easy to want to add your own narrative when trying to prove your point, but as you stated, you were not there and don't know whether her "Adios" was flip or not. Even if it was, did it impede justice or was it a matter of the judge's ego becoming more important than the justice system itself.

The point is, the judge "egged" the defendant on when he doubled her bond. His role is to mete out justice, not antagonize or escalate.

Another point of view at the use/misuse of contempt of court:

"Criticisms of the Contempt-of-Court Power

The discretion permitted to judges in determining what is contempt and how to punish it has led some legal scholars to argue that the contempt power gives too much authority to judges. Earl C. Dudley, University of Virginia law professor, wrote that in the contempt power, "the roles of victim, prosecutor and judge are dangerously commingled."

Much of the criticism focuses on the lack of restraint or due process in determining punishments
for contempt. In criminal contempt, the contempt charges become a separate matter, but they may be heard by the judge who made them. In addition, the same judge may commence punishment immediately, and the punishment may be in effect until the contempt case is settled. Critics have argued that judges—who are the principal offended party—may be too harsh. For instance, in 1994, the U.S.
Supreme Court overturned a decision by a Virginia judge who had fined the United Mine Workers of America $52 million in connection with violence that occurred during a 1989 strike. The High Court stated that the fines were excessive and improperly imposed because the union had never had a chance to defend itself in a trial before the fines were imposed."

Debi-1314897

One could argue that the Judge raising her bail in response to her flip, "Adios", as she was leaving the courtroom was an overreaction. However, I was not there, and context and tone are important.

Lol. It's very easy to want to add your own narrative when trying to prove your point, but as you stated, you were not there and don't know whether her "Adios" was flip or not. Even if it was, did it impede justice or was it a matter of the judge's ego becoming more important than the justice system itself.

I think this new generation thinks they can do whatever they want, because there is no punishment. Parents have no way to punish their children anymore so the children think they can do whatever they want. I for one think this should happen more often in courts. Maybe the judge just got fed up with seeing this kind of person come through his court without showing him his due respect as a judge for the peoples court. Maybe if more judges did this then people would act accordingly when speaking to a judge.

Maybe the judge just got fed up with seeing this kind of person come through his court without showing him his due respect as a judge for the peoples court.

You mean similar to behaving more like the older generation who showed respect for the authority of priests and were molested?

The point is, the judge "egged" the defendant on when he doubled her bond. His role is to mete out justice, not antagonize or escalate.

Debbie, somebody has to be in control in the courtroom, and in our legal system, that somebody happens to be the judge. Part of the mechanism for maintaining control is the power to hold individuals in contempt of court, at the very wide discretion of the judge.

Yes, there are abuses of that power, and there has been for as long as this system has been in place. But neither defendants, lawyers, nor other attendants are empowers to respond because 'the judge "egged"' them on. This is not a setting for free-form social interaction, but for settling matters of law. If you don't like the bond that was set, or believe it was set unfairly, I believe there are legal remedies. But flipping the judge off is not going to fix matters.

That is contempt of court, on any day of the week, in any court room in the country. Always has been. Always will be.

I'm still unable to see why you and others are making such an issue of this incident. As I said before this story is not about somebody making a political statement, or fighting for social justice, but about somebody mouthing off in court.

So, if you still see shades of the 1969 Chicago Seven Trial here, we'll simply have to agree to disagree, as I do not.

I'm moving on. I humbly suggest you do too.

That is it.

For the record, yes, somebody needs to be in control of the courtroom, but not for the purpose of stroking their ego and in the process, abusing their power.

No, this is not the Chicago Seven Trial, but is indicative of the overreaching and unfettered power of some judges, and some are saying enough is enough.

Debi-1314897

Maybe the judge just got fed up with seeing this kind of person come through his court without showing him his due respect as a judge for the peoples court.

You mean similar to behaving more like the older generation who showed respect for the authority of priests and were molested?

Who gave catholic priests any authority to do anything? Certainly wasn't the Government or the state, so not sure what you mean. If you gave them the authority then that is your sad mistake, especially after decades of people telling you what they do to children.

Don't like it? Then move. Get out. We don't want or need you.

Who will send you that check every month chuckie?

See chucleheads response to your post. That is exactly what I was talking about in my previous post!!!!! Chucklehead you definetly describe yourself well and YOU ARE part of what is wrong with America today!!!!! Accept resposibilty and accountability for your own attitude and behavior and GROW UP!!!! You kiss your momma with that rude and disrespectful mouth??? Learn to make a point without being nasty and immature and and have a serious discussion and differing opinions, ideas, values and morals and maybe you'd be better off!!!!

I'm sorry, but I am just thinking of the right thing to say. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqNZekTvzBU

chucklehead, pack your own damn bags. As a vet of several deployments from Somalia to Iraq, I sure as hell didn't fight for your stupidity. See yourself to the door, nitwit.

Waaahh, Rush Limbaugh made me poop in my Republican diapers, and I have a flaccid pee-pee weenie. I need help. He sniffed a mountain of oxycotin dust, bought by his illegal Mexican maid. Waaaaahhhh!!! I am a Repoob-lick-con. I need my diapers changed. Waaaaah. Glenn Beck changes my diapers. And, I have gas. Waaaaaah.

Roosterboy.....

You are not a Republican, not a Libertarian, not a Democrat, not a Liberal, nor a Progressive.....just an adolescent.

Race to the Top FAILURE.

And he even went so far as to accommodate her by blaming society for her actions.

I'm guessing it was partly because other courts have found and held that flipping off other people is a form of expression and that is permissible under the law. Had she stayed in jail much longer the ACLU would have been all over him.

"flipping off other people is a form of expression" . . . and what does it express? It expresses contempt, which is exactly what the judge nailed her for. You are not allowed to disrespect the court. The reason is fairly simple. The court is an entity designed to achieve justice. If you erode the respect for that entity, you erode justice. Our system may not be perfect, but it strives to establish justice and fair play and equal treatment for everyone. Any system is dependent upon the cooperation of those it serves. This cooperation includes respect.

I would never enter a courtroom expecting to be allowed to cuss, gesture or make rude noises. A courtroom is a place of process for justice. You may personally dislike the judge, the bailiff, or your own attorney, but you don't get to act out that dislike within the venue of the court.

This young lady's contempt citation was appropriate. I hope the judge also sentenced her to six months in rehab, but I am not optimistic. As a society, we frown on addictive behaviors, but we fail to provide the treatment that might change those behaviors. If she isn't treated, she will end up back in someone's courtroom or in the coroner's office. Xanax is a very dangerous drug, highly addictive and very likely to lead to a life ending OD. So you can bitch about the judge if you want, but this young woman is headed down a very dangerous path. He is pretty much all that stands between her and an early death.

thinker, you obviously don't do that much. There is such a thing as contempt of court. Morons like you think society revolves around you. That fk'n communist organizaton ACLU can kiss that judges ass.

So many of you think you are some how special, Some how the rules and laws do not apply to you. News flash, they do. This young woman, not a child as has been tossed around, she is 18 an adult in the eyes of the law and most rational people. It's funny how young people always want to be treated like an adult and speak of respect, but if they get their butts in a bind, then their misunderstood kids? You demand respect while showing none. You feel you have the right to be an idiot, and you do. However, those actions have consequences. You can't have it both ways, if your an adult you will be held accountable for your actions, even the stupid childish ones, if you want to be treated like a child, then you will get a paddling. See how that works? Age is of no relevance, Child or adult, there are consequences for ones actions.

Contempt of court has been around nearly as long as the republic, it applies to the Pepsi generation just as did all those before you. Welcome to adulthood. Had I been the judge in this case her apology would have gotten her 30 days cut to 15, but rest assured she would have remained a guest of the county. Young people feel "entitled" to behave badly. You can, but it will get you into trouble at some point. The thing is, when you enter a court room, the judge is the master of that court, their discretion in the proceedings are the decision of the judge. Your opinions on the matter are quite irrelevant. She could have been slapped with a hefty fine to go along with her jail sentence. Given this judges decision to release her after her apology shows extraordinary compassion on this judges part. He was in no way obligated to eliminate her jail time. Personally, I think a few more days in lock up, would have been good for this spoiled little druggie.

Wake up 18 and ups. The laws and rules do apply to you. Break them and the police will arrest you, a court will try you and if convicted will put you in jail, fine you or both. You may not like it, but that's life in teh real world. The sooner you figure that out, the better off you and the rest of society will be.

To The thinker:

You're SO wrong.

The ACLU would not have been all over this.

You probably think that income taxes are illegal too.

In fact, flipping off a police officer is NOT illegal, because it IS freedom of speech - not so in a courtroom. You think that freedom of speech has no limits ? Try publicly advocating the violent overthrow of the government - or advocating the assassination of a government official; or yelling "fire" (falsely) in a crowded theater.

And, to those who blame it on an ego of a single judge- uhh, no. This was contempt of COURT, not "Judge" - this judge has the OBLIGATION to safeguard the decorum of the courtS - not just his, but the institution.

You armchair lawyers crack me up.

"Thinker" ?

lol - more like "stinker".

Now disappointed in the Judge---he should have followed thru with his demands she stay in jail for 30 days--

That is what is wrong in our Court System--this kind of behavior will continue; someone needs to teach this girl, and all peoples who disregard the Laws of the Court. Apologies are worthless.

No backing off. How else does one learn a hard lesson in life.

"@woodsmith

Interesting point the judge made about rampant lack of respect these days"

=======================

i would have to agree. i sort of miss the days when being disrespectful to someone meant that you better be ready to fight. now they will lock you up for that. they should have made being disrespectful a crime too, the world would be much more peaceful right now if we just locked up the a-holes. everyone has a right to pursue happiness, don't they? even if you think that someone else is wrong, they still deserve to be happy, do they not? how are they to pursue happiness if someone is treating them, well, like a servant? if you infringe on the rights of another you can be rightfully interfered with.

this judge has the OBLIGATION to safeguard the decorum of the courtS - not just his, but the institution.

Doubling a bond for saying the word "adios" is not safeguarding the decorum of the courts nor is it protecting the interests of justice. It's an abuse of his power.

harleyguy

I know we don't agree on much but this time we are on the page.

In fairness, although I feel as strongly as you do about the little delinquent, you have to reward good behavior or it goes away. Maybe this girl now realizes if you do the right thing, you don't get punished. If she'd apologized and not gotten any slack from the judge, she wouldn't be much inclined to do the right thing again.

Harley, I agree totally, he just reinforced the attitude that nothing will happen when I screw up. The judge should have stuck with his first decision. If he didn't mean it the first time he shouldn't have said it.

AG99 - I agree with giving her slack but making excuses for her is going too far. That's where the judge F'd up.

harleyguy65

However the judge blew it the second time. Letting this disrespectfull, drug addicted loser off the hook was absolutely ridiculous!

As much as I agree with your assessment of her personality and lifestyle, I think the judge acted appropriately. It was right to hold her accountable for her contempt of the court (not contempt of judge, as others imply). It was also right to modify the sentence in light of her modified behavior, even if she was shedding crocodile tears.

The Judge showed wisdom, intelligence and compassion to this girl who did not have a record of previous arrests. She did something stupid by taking a drug that has serious health and legal consequences and then compounded her ignorance in court by acting out, ie., not taking her actions seriously. If not for the wisdom of this Judge she could have spent 30 days in jail fermenting resentment; instead he showed compassion by accepting her apology and releasing her from jail. So, he taught her a twofold lesson, he/we/society care about her well being, and that she should show respect for herself and others. She may well be sentenced to time in jail for taking an illegal drug. But, in this instance, with no one hurt other than herself and her family, she would be better served by an order to to attend intensive counseling sessions and an apology to herself and to her family.

As far as the aclu entering into this -- the organization is way too black and white. True justice is a combination of letter of the law tempered by circumstances and compassion.

That stupid bimbo will probably get invited by Jay Leno for his Tonight Show. Put the snotty little drug addict on display and make her say stupid things for a laugh.

Geo absolutely agree with you. You have nailed a lot of things that are wrong with and dragging down our society!!!!!! Unfortunately as long as we continue to praise and value the ME ME ME, I have all the rights in the world and NO personal responsibility and accountability mentality this country will continue to slide downhill !!! We have to meet somewhere in the middle between super restrictive values and the concept of no values, morals and resposnsibility at all. You don't have to be super conservative and ultra religious to do and say the right thing, to be a responsible and accountable person, to accept all the consequences of your actions, to be a productive, honest and valuable addtion to society etc.. etc..As a society we somehow dropped the ball between the dark ages (sarc) and the free love, do your own thing, do what ever feels good no matter the consequences age and it's only gotten worse. There is a middle ground between the so-called angry old white man age and the PC ME ME ME no responsibility age!!!!!!

White Supremacists are wrong?.....the judge, defendant and the authors of this story are all Hispanic.

Welcome to the New America.

jw101:

Hispanic people are Caucasions, therefore they are considered white - they are not of a different race

No they aren't.they are mud ducks..same as the dotheads..get a reality check..

You did the right thing with your son and I applaud you for it. Maybe he can teach you something called 'tolerance' and how to be non discriminatory. Probably a lost cause there, but he and your grandchildren will grow up in a world, where 'your type of discrimination' will be a thing of the past :)

His time in jail has made him more intolerant of gays than me. Nice try.

Yes, I was secretly applauding. So sick of obnoxious, entitled brats.

Are we talking about Lohan?

Plus seems like she has a family who cares.

At least it looks to the judge like they care. Who wants to bet the lawyer cajoled them into being there?

When you get to be a judge, you can let them all flip you off. I am flipping you off right now.

No, the judges make the conduct rules for the court room. You play by their rules, NOT yours. Got a problem with that? Too bad. If you hadn't screwed up, you wouldn't be in court.

I can see the judge thinking she was being disrespectful because she flipped him off, but for saying adios, not so much.

bilbao72 - we can see what kind of jerk off idiot scum bag you are. I know a few officers you can flip off, they will treat you right.

I disagree bilbao, respect for authority has gotten way out of control. You may disagree with authority but you can still respect it and challenge it in a civilized way.

Then buddy boy YOU are part of the problem!!!!!

You fell for the troll dude, and you didn't even reply to the right thread, you made your own which is now a couple pages down thanks to replies. Congratulations on failing at Internet, better luck next time.

Big Trouble- So slamming somebody else and belittling them make you a WINNER at the internet???? Sorry, but you dear are the epic failure!!!!!! Seriously your remarks were uncalled for, unnecessary, juvenile and really pointless else you have some intelligent response and reasoning as to why you felt your post was needed?????

Yes, she went to far when she flipped the judge off... but the idea that judges are absolute rulers is obnoxiously subservient and absurd. You'll notice that as soon as the girl had an attorney by her side, the judge's demeanor changed. Was the girl out of line? At first, slightly. (btw the judge was reviewing the value of her jewelry to decide whether she would qualify for a public defender, not how high to set her bond amount....) With the cussing and flipping the bird, way out of line. But judges are expected to be professional and impartial. It was clear this judge had an ego. Flipping out and giving a higher bond because someone says "Adios" in reply to your, "Bye bye"? Come on. Its nice to see the judge tuck his balls back between his legs as soon as the girl had representation standing by her side.

No, judges are not kings. THEY have laws and standards they must abide by as well. Did he have the power to do what he did? Certainly. Did he have appropriate grounds to do it? Arguable. What isn't arguable is whether the judge was acting out of ego in making his decision. He can do that, of course. But I'd say that makes him a poor judge. He clearly was looking for any kind of excuse to deny her public representation. At the point where it was clear she needed SOME kind of representation, any good judge would have either ruled one way or the other on public defense and told her to go. Instead, he started to act like a spoiled child himself.

She's an 18 year old girl. Old enough to vote, sure. But still just a kid out of high school. The world isn't that black and white and any reasonable person knows that.

I do hope she learned the lesson. That things like drug abuse and disrespect put you at the mercy of other HUMAN BEINGS. Being a judge doesn't put that BUFFOON... (yes, that is exactly what he is... if you think a robe somehow makes a person magically above reproach, then you are a tool. THat is what he acted like. Period) into some special category where he suddenly is wearing a cape and can suddenly do no wrong. He was well within his power, but just because laws GIVE people certain powers doesn't release them from the responsibility to use them wisely. THere are any number of better ways the judge could have taught this girl a lesson. Instead, what she will remember is that he was a prick that was baited by a little bit of laughter (something people do when nervous.. .not just 18 year old kids) and the word, "Adios".

For anyone defending the judge, I'm sorry, but I'll have to disagree with you. The judge's clear change in demeanor when the girl had an attorney by her side speaks VOLUMES.

Amen to that Alan.

Why, because she temporarily altered her body chemistry? Locking people up for THAT alone, when those laws are simple figments of mankinds imagination we've invented that do very little good and generally end up causing more harm in the life of someone who, according to reality, is more likely to outgrow the problem if left alone.

Millions of people become addicted and abuse some kind of substance or behavior for a period of time in their life, grow out of the problem, and never commit any other crime other than possessing some molecules someone decided to call, "illegal". I'm not condoning drug use, but I am damning the incarceration of people who commit no other crime aside from possessing them. IF and WHEN a person actually becomes a criminal who is a harm and danger to society, LOCK THEM UP. But do it because THOSE are the people who have proven they need to be segregated from normal society for its own protection. THe enormous number of otherwise normal people living normal lives but taking a pill here or there, smoking a joint at night to chill or whatever... who never get a brush with the law, pay their taxes, design your bridges, fix your teeth, perform surgery without issue and perfectly sober... speaks for itself. Taking one person from that vast number and marking them with a scarlet letter that generally sets a negative course for the rest of their life is not a solution. Its a GD waste of money and a human being. I'm sorry, but when you look at the amount of cost involved with incarcerating a person who was commiting no other crime other than ingesting a molecule that temporarily altered their mental state is insane and logically should itself be a crime, if such were measured by the damage done to another human being rather than arbitrary anti drug brainwashing on the one side while being engulfed in the "there's a pill for every ill" marketting and attitude rampant in America.

Hey I like Fabio...Fabio's sleazy brother maybe.

Why are we calling her a child? She is eighteen years old, by this time she should have left those little childish displays behind her. I guess it is possible she could still be in high school, but she is by no means a child.

And how about every judge who's let Lindsay Lohan get away with all of her sh!t over the years? Guess they're all trying to teach her some kind of "lesson", right? And it sure seems to be working, since she's such a well-behaved, classy young lady today.

I feel a little for Lohan, though. Look at her parents, Lohan was nothing but a marketable commodity from early childhood. I don't think she ever had any sense of direction coming from the right places.

Well we are empty nesters and I guess all of these young people look so young. Our kids have all grown into wonderful successful and polite adults. It took a large investment of love, time and money to raise these kids right and just from looking at the picture you can't help but wonder if this poor young girl was given a fraction of what our kids received; frankly I doubt it.

Raising happy successful kids properly really just takes a lot of love; never thought much of parent's who were too heavy on discipline; although it may compensate if not overdone when the parents have poor parenting skills (lower intelligence maybe?). When kids get a shabby deal in the parent department they don't need to get bullied by authority figures to improve themselves, they need a system that cares, educates(be polite don't flip off judges/anyone) and reduces recividism.

So you willing to house the inmates and pay their expenses??? And the big one...willing and able to guarentee their good conduct?????? I'd doubt it!!!!!

code for nothing

Patting yourselves on the back are you? - Those who do not have successful offspring are of (maybe) lower intelligence? -- well, golly, gee whiz, guess you never read of the genes that play a role in development. All I can say is that you are one of the lucky ones -- but gloating is unattractive.

Wow... I think you just may have read a little too much into that message, "tired of entitlement".

BTW.. if you're tired of entitlement, are you saying youre volunteering to be a slave? I'll answer that. Yes, you are, basically.

The constitution is a list of pure entitlements that you claim as a right as a citizen of the USA. Now, I guess maybe I'm assuming too much here in guessing that you are an American, but only an American could be so naive as to believe that what I'm sure you're referring to.. ie things like social security, medicare are the only entitlements Americans claim.

I could go so far as to say you're actually quite possibly completely wrong, if by "entitlements" you're referring to "welfare programs". But this impotent anger you ahve at the idea of someone else getting something you aren't for less than you feel you "earned" is a rabbit hole of confusing nonsense, urban myths of strapping young black men coming out of the store with T-bone steaks and cases of beer purchased with "welfare checks" and the lot is pointless. Most of what you are most likely angry at are either A. figments of your imagination hatched from media sources intent on getting you to buy into a system that provides wealth for them and nothing for you, or B. a percentage of ppl who do indeed "cheat" the system that is so infintesimally small as to be irrelevent. The number of wall street hedge fund crooks is far larger in scope and dollar sign damage than the number of ppl living some kind of lavish lifestyle while not working for it on welfare or social security.

What am I talking about? Oh, pinnacles of our society who ppl swooned over and rushed to wait in line to invest with like Raj Rajaratnam, Milliken, the list goes on. Until it came out that they were actually stealing from the likes of you, people like you fell over yourselves to ignore their partying, drug abusing lifestyle in order to put your retirement fund in their hands so they could gut it.

Those are the people you should be harboring anger towards... not the guy getting his paltry 217 dollars a month to live off of.

I agree with you. I would have let her sit in jail for 30 days. She was not sorry for what she did in the court room. And, I tend to agree that she will visit a court room many times in her life...

Ya, its not. And that makes it all the worse. You're a bigot and proud of it.

Wow, for someone who supposedly hates liberals, that's quite a liberal attitude to have. Hypocrite much?

Oh, and FYI, liberals hate you too.

Taught her a lesson? What lesson was that? That a guy in a robe can get a kid to say whatever he wants to hear by threatening her?

Anyone with momentary authority can get anyone else to say anything. I could put a gun to your kids head and make you say I'm the coolest person you've ever met. There, did I teach you a lesson? Do you truely understand now how totally cool I am? Or do you still think I'm a violent worthless douche?

The Judges point is society is way too lenient with our children, we don't discipline or are terrified to as parents for we may be arrested for making our little darlings behave. Disrespect for authority and our elders is very common today and if you read many liberal posts discussing poitics/politicians especially then you'd see that disrespect for elders, aging and the wisdom that many elders do bring regardless to race, political party etc.. We are a society that believes WAY to much in "if it feels good do it" no personal responsibility or accountability necessary. But the part he may be wrong about is her having fault in it. If her family taught her any values, morals etc.. ever expected her to be accountable for her behavior and actions then YES this situation is her fault because she was taught wrong fro mright and knew better. The judge feels that many in our society have FAILED to teach our kids right from wrong or expected good behavior and that many probably should have but failed to DEMAND good behavior etc.. from our kids!!!!

The fact that the girl is lying is beside the point; the judge needed his ego stroked.

But, let's try it your way and slam her in jail for a year. Society can pay around $40K to keep her locked up for flipping off the judge. Better raise taxes to build all the new jails we'll be needing.

I'm flipping you off Nevada, maybe you should thank me for being myself.

The War on Drugs is an abysmal failure. Time all drug abusers get rounded up and put in a camp under guidance and watchfull eye of Sheriff Joe. First offense, second, doesn't matter. Nice Camp in Arizona away from the World. Work, study and eat good. If that doesn't help, then a lethal injection. You are worthless to Society. The insane notion that marijuana is okay and should be legalized is so out of touch its ridiculous. Now give me the alcohol response. No alcohol is the best answer, unfortunately Wall Street, Hollywood and Madison Avenue all have a vested interest in making money. They care less about your health. Maybe the latest study will open some eyes. Marijuana smoking has been directly linked to testicular cancer. So what else is it connected to. Really folks? Hot gases, tars and a ton of other chemicals is okay to suck into your body? Thats why they call it DOPE. Its for dopes.

Seriously "The Lazaro"? I hope you get painful, debilitating cancer and end up strung out on 9 different types of pain medication, then have some doctor with your attitude tell you to screw off. He's not going to let you put some molecule some lame brain decided to rule as "illegal" into your body.

You've got exactly 0 critical thinking power, have an irrational fear of things you've been trained to believe are bad for dubious, arbitrary, supersitious reasons.... If a person is doing things that are actually harming society, sure, segregate them. Otherwise, I think youre rediculously naive to think that the only people who fall under the umbrella of the term, "addicted to drugs" are the low lives and stigma ridden you picture. Its likely you are surrounded by dozens of people you interact with in your daily life who have either abused something or been addicted at some point in their life in the past, or are currently, but who are obeying all laws, may well be far more upstanding citizens than you could ever hope to be, and quite likely could be the guy who performs surgery on you, represents you in court, RULES on you in court as a judge, pulls you over for speeding... the list goes on. You're just too stupid and willfully ignorant to grasp it.

Who cares what study is linked to what health wise. What business do you have telling another adult what in the hell to do if it in no ways affects you in your life? What people do in their personal time, in their private life, is none of your business. Once they do affect you, do what you want with them.

You've got some nerve and absurd notions to view life as so disposable that because someone puts some random molecule in their system to temporarily alter their body chemistry, giving them the death penalty is even in the universe of possible responses to deal with it rationally. You have the respect for life that the worst terror plot scheming scheister has. YOU with your attitude toward life and flippancy towards ending it for minor things are a greater threat to society than 100,000 average people going through a phase of addiction to one substance or another. But sadly, you are clearly to dense to get that.

Washington Post, New York Times, L.A. Times, Miami Tribune........ see a trend here???

What are you blabbering on about? She is most likely highly illiterate so the only job she could get is fetching coffee for your fox news liars and dopes. I think fox calls them news anchors.

What? No!