Yawner jailed for contempt is released

[n2doc]

August 13, 2009 10:42 AM | 2 Comments

The Will County judge who sentenced a Richton Park man to six months in jail for "making a loud yawning sound" set the 33-year-old man free today without asking for an apology.

Judge Daniel Rozak, who according to court records has in the past typically accepted an apology before releasing people jailed on contempt charges, instead delivered a short lecture to Clifton Williams, who stood before the bench in shackles.

"I just first of all want to make it clear - you were never in custody for yawning - you never were," Rozak said. "It was a sound...that was offensive to the court."

Rozak asked Williams if he understood, then ordered him released. Williams spent three weeks behind bars.


more:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/08/yawner-jailed-for-contempt-is-released.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. It sounds like the judge is a very short man.

[zbdent]

2. how do you sound short?

Do I sound six feet tall?

[BlooInBloo]

3. Heh. Disambiguated my post.

[unblock]

5. you mean short-tempered? or short-when-horizontal?

or, my guess, both?

[Canuckistanian]

8. Compensating n/t

[PA Democrat]

4. Taxpayers of Will County residents should consider if jailing a person for yawning in court

is a wise use of their tax dollars. Average cost of jailing someone for a year is about $25,000.

That judge is one of 30 in the circuit and is responsible for one third of all contempt of court charges. I would think there are less expensive ways of maintaining control of a courtroom than putting people in jail.

[unblock]

6. at some someone should consider putting a JUDGE in prison for abusing the contempt power.

it's a courtroom, not a personal fiefdom.

[Soylent Brice]

7. yeah, i guess maybe it's too much for THE JUDGE to apologize for

overreacting.

ridiculous. at least dude is out of the slammer.

[bermudat]

9. How much did three weeks in jail cost the county?

They should take it out of the judge's salary.

[Strong Atheist]

10. Abuse of power. Judge should be jailed. nt.

[Lorien]

11. That's what the for profit prison system will do for you! nt