Mo. man sentenced to 30 days for flipping off a judge

Friday, July 27, 2012

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A 31-year-old Springfield man has been sentenced to a month in jail for an obscene gesture aimed at a judge.

The Springfield News-Leader reports (http://sgfnow.co/NMuH5d) that the man was arrested Wednesday after he was in a municipal courtroom watching a proceeding. According to the judge’s docket sheet, the man disrupted the court three times.

The docket sheet also says that then as he was leaving the courtroom in direct view of Judge Todd Thornhill, the man lifted both arms in the air and extended the middle finger of each hand.

The court then found him in contempt and ordered him to jail until August 23. He was booked without incident.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com

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kentheco 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Sure, thirty days for an expression of free speech and if charged with burglary would have been placed on probation. Here is another example of a judge abusing his position. No one was injured, nothing was destroyed or damaged, and because it happened in the judges “kingdom” he can abuse the rights of another individual.

JMO 9 months, 3 weeks ago

It's called contempt of court and I'm surprised the judge didn't do it the first time he disrupted the proceedings. I sure would have.

Gabrielle 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Maybe community service would've been a nice consequence. If he is employed, he may well loose his job. Who pays for the jail expenses?

JCLifer 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Agree with Kentheco. The guy could have been back for his 3rd or his 10th DUI, and they would have just given him probation and told him not to drink and drive anymore. This sentence was way out of line. However, I do appreciate the humor of the judge.

cavscout_99 9 months, 3 weeks ago

Well I suppose its just about respect. My nephew once told me "I hate you". I said well you might hate me but your going to do what your told in my house. That man was in the Judge's house. If he didnt want to spend time in jail he should not have flipped the bird.

Sure you can have free speech!! No one took away that right for him. But with every action there is a consequence. If people dont like the consequence that the man received for his action then perhapps those that dont like it can go through the proper schooling and become a judge themselves.

Those that can't do, usually criticize or work for the IRS.

The old saying applies here "When inRome" I could not walk into a strangers home and slap him in the face then leave and not expect some sort of repercussion. Flipping off the Judge was disrespectful. Not to mention he had already interupted the court room three other times.

Me personally if I were the judge I would have chuckled, but I still would have given him something to look forward to. elh

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