Comments on: Living By the Ruehls: Ohio Judge Sentences Attorney to Six Months for Swearing in Court http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/ Res ipsa loquitur ("The thing itself speaks") Tue, 24 Nov 2009 07:51:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: MSNBC Producer Allegedly Goes Live — And Livid « JONATHAN TURLEY http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30626 MSNBC Producer Allegedly Goes Live — And Livid « JONATHAN TURLEY Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:44:20 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30626 [...] reporters, lawyers, witnesses, homeowners, and television figures have recently gotten into trouble over such language [...] [...] reporters, lawyers, witnesses, homeowners, and television figures have recently gotten into trouble over such language [...]

]]> By: Henry http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30419 Henry Sun, 07 Dec 2008 04:21:52 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30419 Ryan, Cohen v. California is not a precedent for this situation. In Cohen v. California, the Supreme Court found a First Amendment right to wear a jacket that said "Fuck the draft" in a courthouse corridor. The decision does not confer any rights inside a courtroom while a trial is taking place. Also, the First Amendment generally applies equally to written and spoken words. Ryan, Cohen v. California is not a precedent for this situation. In Cohen v. California, the Supreme Court found a First Amendment right to wear a jacket that said “Fuck the draft” in a courthouse corridor. The decision does not confer any rights inside a courtroom while a trial is taking place. Also, the First Amendment generally applies equally to written and spoken words.

]]> By: Henry http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30413 Henry Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:28:42 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30413 I think that the excessiveness of these sentences demonstrate that Ruehlman is unfit to be a judge. But I do not think that his repeating the swear words is paradoxical or is evidence of hypocrisy or even of inconsistency. He objects to swear words presumably in an effort to keep the discourse in his courtroom civil; i.e., he wants to prevent swearing. And he did not swear; he used the words to refer to them -- he quoted them. Suppose that a witness testified that the defendant had called his victim a "fucking asshole" before he shot him. Surely Ruehlman would not have punished the witness for repeating the words that he'd heard. I think that the excessiveness of these sentences demonstrate that Ruehlman is unfit to be a judge. But I do not think that his repeating the swear words is paradoxical or is evidence of hypocrisy or even of inconsistency. He objects to swear words presumably in an effort to keep the discourse in his courtroom civil; i.e., he wants to prevent swearing. And he did not swear; he used the words to refer to them — he quoted them. Suppose that a witness testified that the defendant had called his victim a “fucking asshole” before he shot him. Surely Ruehlman would not have punished the witness for repeating the words that he’d heard.

]]> By: seamus http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30407 seamus Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:55:40 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30407 What a fucking asshole. What a fucking asshole.

]]> By: Ryan http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30386 Ryan Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:20:13 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30386 I'd be willing to bet that neither of these two will see the inside of a cell for much longer. cohen v california has some pretty clear precedent for this type of situation. Of course that case was concerning the display of a vulgarity, not a verbalization. Given how close I live to this courtroom, I might just have to make a visit during winter break to catch some of his antics. I’d be willing to bet that neither of these two will see the inside of a cell for much longer. cohen v california has some pretty clear precedent for this type of situation. Of course that case was concerning the display of a vulgarity, not a verbalization.

Given how close I live to this courtroom, I might just have to make a visit during winter break to catch some of his antics.

]]> By: WAYNEBRO http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30385 WAYNEBRO Sat, 06 Dec 2008 19:20:05 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30385 This reminds me of a case several years ago where a Jesuit priest was put in prison for 5 years for contempt of court, merely for comparing the court to nazi's. These contempt laws give the judge an omnipotence above and beyond due process and essentially grant the judge totalitarian authority over anyone entering their courtroom. I think it's time to reign in the contempt of court power of judges so that decent citizens are not thrown into cages like animals. This reminds me of a case several years ago where a Jesuit priest was put in prison for 5 years for contempt of court, merely for comparing the court to nazi’s.

These contempt laws give the judge an omnipotence above and beyond due process and essentially grant the judge totalitarian authority over anyone entering their courtroom.

I think it’s time to reign in the contempt of court power of judges so that decent citizens are not thrown into cages like animals.

]]> By: Former Federal LEO http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30379 Former Federal LEO Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:00:47 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30379 Goshdarnit, Judge Ruehlman's contempt for the lawyer reminds me of the Jerry Reed song "When You're Hot, You're Hot" "He let my friend go free and he *throwed* the book at me..." Goshdarnit, Judge Ruehlman’s contempt for the lawyer reminds me of the Jerry Reed song “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot”

“He let my friend go free and he *throwed* the book at me…”

]]> By: jonathanturley http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30377 jonathanturley Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:52:06 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30377 Doggoneit is an offensive objectification of canines that will not be tolerated in any court of law. However, dagnabbit is perfectly permissible. Thank you for asking. Doggoneit is an offensive objectification of canines that will not be tolerated in any court of law. However, dagnabbit is perfectly permissible. Thank you for asking.

]]> By: Former Federal LEO http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30374 Former Federal LEO Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:05:54 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30374 Legally speaking, are doggoneit, dagnabbit, SOB, and other euphemisms considered cussin' in a court of law? If so, Geewillikers! My high regard for the criminal justice (?) system keeps fallin'. I think Prof T's blogspot has jaded my view of lawyers, judges et al. and I was one of the few who still respected lawyers...well some attorneys here are still okay, even the PI's. Legally speaking, are doggoneit, dagnabbit, SOB, and other euphemisms considered cussin’ in a court of law?

If so, Geewillikers!

My high regard for the criminal justice (?) system keeps fallin’.

I think Prof T’s blogspot has jaded my view of lawyers, judges et al. and I was one of the few who still respected lawyers…well some attorneys here are still okay, even the PI’s.

]]> By: mespo727272 http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30360 mespo727272 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 14:13:41 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30360 I'll tolerate no cursing in my courtroom, damnit! LOL I’ll tolerate no cursing in my courtroom, damnit! LOL

]]> By: Buddha Is Laughing http://jonathanturley.org/2008/12/06/living-by-the-ruehls-ohio-judge-sentences-attorney-to-six-months-for-swearing-in-court/#comment-30349 Buddha Is Laughing Sat, 06 Dec 2008 12:56:10 +0000 http://jonathanturley.org/?p=6116#comment-30349 As I said before . . . malformed ego. As I said before . . . malformed ego.

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