A Michigan judge whose smartphone disrupted a hearing in his own courtroom has held himself in contempt and paid $25 for the infraction.
The Sentinel-Standard of Ionia and MLive.com report Judge Raymond Voet has a posted policy at Ionia County 64A District Court. It states that electronic devices causing a disturbance during court sessions will result in the owner being cited with contempt.
On Friday afternoon, during a prosecutor’s closing argument during a jury trial, Voet’s new smartphone began to emit sounds requesting phone voice commands. Voet says he thinks he bumped the phone, and the embarrassment likely left his face red.
During a break in the trial, Voet fined himself. He says if he can’t live by the rules he enforces he has no business enforcing the rules.
(AP)
One Response
Good for him. He’s setting a good example