Chad Johnson gets 30 days for slapping his attorney on the butt?

[Emcee77]

Did you guys see this? Total b.s.

Chad Johnson sentenced to 30 days in jail after angering judge

The judge complimented his attorney, and Johnson, who was standing right next to the attorney, slapped him on the butt. He didn't appear to be smiling or goofing off or anything. I thought he was just agreeing with the judge and expressing his appreciation for the attorney. True, not the most appropriate setting for such a casual expression of appreciation, but holy Lord, she should see how defendants behave in court here in Chicago if she thinks that's bad.

Only thing I'll grant her is that there are a couple cuts in the video and Johnson is facing away from the camera, so it may be that Johnson was making faces or doing other inappropriate stuff that didn't show up on film. But man, my impression is that that was some b.s.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

^I would agree. It doesn't make sense for a judge to increase the sentence the State has agreed upon just because of courtroom antics. If you don't like their conduct, the penalty is contempt.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

^I would agree. It doesn't make sense for a judge to increase the sentence the State has agreed upon just because of courtroom antics. If you don't like their conduct, the penalty is contempt.

bingo. i'm unable to understand her reaction without any context leading up to the butt patting. it didn't seem disruptive. i fail to see the harm unless, of course, he had been previously goofing off in the courtroom. i'm sure more info will be released as the media/public will be confused by the sentencing.

 

[IrishLax]

Really ridiculous if that is all he did.

 

[phillyirish]

Apparently Chad was in the process of agreeing to a plea bargain when the incident occurred, so in response the judge refused to accept the deal. Which I guess led to Chad being processed with the full charges. Don't really understand legal terms but I just saw a clip of the courtroom altercation on Philly Sportsnet.

 

[KPENN]

What a bitch.

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

Apparently Chad was in the process of agreeing to a plea bargain when the incident occurred, so in response the judge refused to accept the deal. Which I guess led to Chad being processed with the full charges. Don't really understand legal terms but I just saw a clip of the courtroom altercation on Philly Sportsnet.

interesting context. makes more sense, i suppose.

 

[NDPhilly]

It's not a week or two in jail, its a full month. A little ridiculous IMO.

 

[notredomer23]

Total abuse of power by the judge.

 

[PANDFAN]

in the same boat as many of you thinking it wasn't done as a joke...but i don't care in this case because of the reasons he was in court

 

[BGIF]

The judge just paid his attorney a compliment and it appeared to me Johnson concurred with a sports gesture, " well done" pat on the butt. She didn't seem to take exception to the gesture but rather to the resulting laughter in HER court. She seems to mention the laughter more than the gesture. How dare you laugh in MY court room!

She could have simply mentioned to Johnson and attorney that the gesture was inappropriate in a court room and moved on. She could have addressed her real antagonists, those that dared to laugh in her court room with, "If there's another outburst, I'll have the court room cleared." but she didn't do that either.

She also could have zeroed in on the attorney who laughed upon receiving the butt slap.

Instead she had a hissy fit.

Now Johnson gets 30 days, his attorney, the prosecutor, bailiff, jailers, etc all get to do extra work, and her calendar gets another case to do that was already resolved.

Yes, your honor, we're laughing. Not with Johnson or because of Johnson but because of your tantrum which was inappropriate.

 

[ACamp1900]

Yeah, I don't like Johnson one bit... at all...

but BGIF hit it on the head... this is a total judicial hissy fit.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

It was an overreaction. But what was he thinking?

 

[Rhode Irish]

It was an overreaction. But what was he thinking?

Same thing he is always thinking: "what would be funny right now?"

And he is usually right. This instance included. The judge should throw herself in jail for 30 days.

 

[NDWorld247]

That court officer's face is priceless. His face is probably what everyone was laughing at.

 

[BobD]

I think the ruling was a little strict, but who does that in a court of law? I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I think it shows lack of respect. Anyone else, or am I on my own?

 

[dshans]

Well, barring additional evidence and a more complete context, I'll keep my gavel quiet. For all I/we know this was "the straw that broke the (judicial) camel's back."

I'm neither a judge nor a lawyer (and have not played either on TV) but have spent a good deal of my life working within the legal system. I can easily imagine previous actions that led to the "bitch's" reaction. Brief snippets on the internet rarely reveal the fullness or the totality of any given incident.

On the other hand, she may be, in reality, just an egotistic bitch. With great power comes great responsibility.

I think Voltaire said that. Or was it Spidey's Uncle Ben?

 

[Rhode Irish]

I think the ruling was a little strict, but who does that in a court of law? I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I think it shows lack of respect. Anyone else, or am I on my own?

It isn't like it was a Federal Court of Appeals. It was County Court. Those people take themselves too seriously. Being a County Court judge is to judging what being the manager of a supermarket is to managing.

 

[BobD]

It isn't like it was a Federal Court of Appeals. It was County Court. Those people take themselves too seriously. Being a County Court judge is to judging what being the manager of a supermarket is to managing.

I've never been to court. I guess I've just always thought of it as a very serious place. I was even surprised his shirt wasn't tucked in.

 

[tadman95]

I agree that it seems harsh. Apparently the Judge felt he has not taken the judicial process seriously in other appearances and as said above, this was the "Final Straw".

Still a bit over the top.

 

[magogian]

It isn't like it was a Federal Court of Appeals. It was County Court. Those people take themselves too seriously. Being a County Court judge is to judging what being the manager of a supermarket is to managing.

But I don't think supermarket managers have god complexes.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

What a joke. This judge is a laughing stock.

Apolitically, taxpayers should be pissed.

 

[dshans]

But I don't think supermarket managers have god complexes.

Do you know any supermarket managers? You might be surprised.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

So you guys wanted context?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Judge who wants to toss Chad Johnson in jail for slapping his attorney's *** is legally blind: <a href="http://t.co/kZoGa9L7bY" title="http://deadsp.in/eMCXNIP">deadsp.in/eMCXNIP</a></p>— Deadspin (@Deadspin) <a href="https://twitter.com/Deadspin/status/344286507361787904">June 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Rhode Irish]

If you watch the video, the woman gets upset because other people in the courtroom laughed. That, to me, is a leading sign of a terrible person. If you are the type of person who is offended by humor or the happiness of others, there is something seriously wrong with you. If people laugh, it was funny; if it was inappropriate they wouldn't laugh.

This woman takes herself so seriously that her thought is "how dare they laugh in MY court room!" These types of people need to be knocked down a peg. People laughed because it was funny. Funny is OK. You don't need to be upset about it.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Well, barring additional evidence and a more complete context, I'll keep my gavel quiet. For all I/we know this was "the straw that broke the (judicial) camel's back."

I'm neither a judge nor a lawyer (and have not played either on TV) but have spent a good deal of my life working within the legal system. I can easily imagine previous actions that led to the "bitch's" reaction. Brief snippets on the internet rarely reveal the fullness or the totality of any given incident.

On the other hand, she may be, in reality, just an egotistic bitch. With great power comes great responsibility.

I think Voltaire said that. Or was it Spidey's Uncle Ben?

I couldn't disagree more. Because had there have been previous actions, she would've mentioned it when she was ranting. I'm sorry, but she deserves to be suspended for that. Completely out of order and unacceptable on her part. This "bitch" is making people feel sympathy for Chad Johnson. Chad F*cking Johnson. If you make Chad Johnson look like the bad guy then you know you did something wrong and she certainly did. Total lack of composure and absolutely unacceptable.

 

[Calabrese's People]

This is 30 days in jail. Not increasing the size of a fine or tacking on extra community service. JAIL. This is the big-leagues as far, as I'm concerned, and the fact that she should so nonchalantly and frivolously mete out that level of punishment is astonishing to me.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

This is 30 days in jail. Not increasing the size of a fine or tacking on extra community service. JAIL. This is the big-leagues as far, as I'm concerned, and the fact that she should so nonchalantly and frivolously mete out that level of punishment is astonishing to me.

If Carlo's people say too much punishment has been given out... then too much punishment has been given out.

 

[RDU Irish]

Not surprising that a government official would overreach her authority with impunity.

In a just world that idiot judge would be fired and lose her pension.

 

[dublinirish]

Lol @ the Baliff, he's gonna become a meme for sure now