Canton judge orders silence in the court — with duct tape

[Emit]

Source: CantonRep.com

CANTON —

Municipal Court Judge Stephen F. Belden had an unconventional tool for silencing an argumentative defendant last week — duct tape.

(Click on the Audio Tab at left: Listen to Judge Belden's order to duct tape the defendant's mouth in court )

The unique confrontation played out in Municipal Court on Thursday and quickly became a topic of courthouse gossip. It was also recorded on the courtroom’s audio and video systems.

~snip~

Brown and Belden went back and forth for about four minutes, at times talking over each other, until Belden told his bailiff, Jeffrey Smith, to get the duct tape.

“I’m gonna get some duct tape. If you keep interrupting me, I’m gonna have Mr. Smith put it over your mouth, OK?”

~snip~

Brown kept talking.

“All right, duct tape. Duct tape the defendant,” Belden said.

~snip~

The duct tape covered his mouth, and when the bailiff peeled it off, it pulled out some of his mustache hairs, Brown said.


~snip~

Read more: http://www.cantonrep.com/communities/canton/x1886195990/Canton-judge-orders-silence-in-the-court-with-duct-tape

[Auggie]

1. Totally out-of-line... what an asshole judge

On edit to add:

“I hope to never have to do it again,” he said of using duct tape. “It’s not something I get any enjoyment out of.”

Bullshit. He loved every minute of it.

:mad:

[Laelth]

2. I beg to differ.

That's totally appropriate. The Court must demand respect. Direct defiance of a Judge in front of a Judge shows complete disrespect for the Judicial system. The Judge could have thrown the guy in jail for a month or more. The duct tape was preferable. The Court was busy and "we the people" shouldn't have to pay to keep this guy in jail for a month, but he did need to learn some respect for the Judicial system.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Auggie]

4. I call it bullying. And for a judge to do it is reprehensible.

[salguine]

8. True that. A judge has to maintain control of his courtroom, and apparently the

defendant was given numerous opportunities to shut the fuck up. I have no problem with it.

[TankLV]

11. I support the Judge, too...for the reasons you stated...

[BlooInBloo]

3. Wonder if he was a cop previously.

[Piewhacket]

5. the judge will be removed fro abuse of his authority. if I decided it,

the judge AND bailiff would do 1 year for assault
and battery.

[way_brilliant]

6. Will this article start another Anti-establishment authority bashing tirade?

Come on people, The judge just took the most immediate action to suppress what sounds like a jerk. The guy had two chances to be smart and after blowing the second one, got an extra thirty days. What would you want the judge to do? Award stupidity and rudeness? I think not. If you had a modicum of respect and civility (supposing you were raised that way) and were there when it happened, you'd be applauding the slap down.

Instead, some will see this as oppression by the system and its representatives. I see it as a representative of the system, using the tools available to control the situation.

[Veilex]

9. While I agree for the most part...

and have posted as much... Duct tape probably wasn't exactly the best choice on how to deal with this guy... still funny though :)

[jayfish]

10. "some will see this as oppression by the system and its representatives."

I wouldn't even elevate it to that level. What I see is a ham letting his pride get the best of him. He should have put the defendant in a cell for a day.

Jay

[Veilex]

7. Funny as heck....

I'm tired of people constantly riding rough-shod over anyone else who has something to say (can we say "town hall crashers"?). Frankly, it happens far too often.
Also, the Judge has earned his position and is afforded at the least common courtesy if not respect... as I would expect from anyone toward anyone
(Its that new invention they call civility).
Lastly, its always been a bad idea to get a judge upset... tends to eliminate any impartiality they may have.

The defendant was given, in my estimation, more than ample warning to cease interruptions.

[bluegrassfifthestate]

12. Deplorable

While certainly not the gravest abuse I have every heard of, the actions of this judge were completely out of line with the ethical practice of running a courtroom. The man had legitimate concerns that he was being railroaded after only speaking to his attorney for three minutes and rather than devote more than ten seconds to helping him understand why the judge simply had him duct taped. A lot of this discussion has focused on the man's lack of respect for the court, however, he was unable to voice fully his concerns when making the decision whether or not to keep appointed counsel. This judge publicly humiliated a man because he didn't want to be inconvenienced by actually doing his judge. This guy is not the first defendant to be combative or disruptive during an arraignment or PC hearing (if he can even be described as such) and yet other judges across the country have been able to deal with the situation more tact and class. I personally would like to see this judge at least censured, if not removed from the bench. The disrespect shown Mr. Brown is indefensible.

[jayfish]

13. Excellent First Post!

Welcome to DU! :hi::toast::hi:

Jay

[realisticphish]

14. "You're annoying me, so I'm not going to let you talk at your own trial"

yeeeah....

I know that the guy was being a dick, but that's a ridiculous thing for a judge to order. Stop the trial? Sure. Throw him in a cell for a while, if he really is significantly disrupting the proceedings. But the bottom line is that a trial is all about your chance before the judge. It's up to YOU how you present yourself, not the judge.

Even without the tape, the defendant certainly wasn't doing anything positive for his case, regardless of the validity of his points. In a perfect world, it wouldn't matter, but this is a world of humans, and pissing off a judge is a bad idea.

[original blue dott]

15. SOUNDS LIKE AN ATTORNEY NEEDED TO BE SPANKED FOR NOT BEING A PROFESSIONAL

One of the things that I found unbelievable in my experience in Ohio - the attorneys were incompetent. I can't name one that was worth minimum wage. I really can't blame anyone for being angry to find out that he was being represented by an incompetent attorney. But in Ohio, that is the norm. And the justice system has to "gag" anyone that might get upset about it.

The only solution I could suggest to the man who was duct taped - MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE.

I can predict that the judge will never be questioned for inappropriate behavior by the State of Ohio. In fact, the duct taped defendant is probably going to pay substantial consequences for his vocal reaction to an INCOMPETENT ATTORNEY and JUDGE.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. I want to give that judge a high-five.

Totally awesome.

Repeatedly interrupting a judge is probably not the best way to win yoru case.
The Judge was just doing him a favor.