Thank you for your interesting perspective and your opinion that courtroom cameras are a good idea. Others think as I do that the antics/theatrics that occurred in the O.J. Simpson trial tarnished the ideal of courtroom cameras. However, you have a good point and if cameras were not in Judge Flores’ court we would have never learned of this very curious incident.

Perhaps other attorneys can/will weigh-in here regarding whether there should there be courtroom cameras or not.

My ‘bastion of honorable and protective realms’ statement seems quite ‘Pollyannaish’ if there are others who have experienced similar court antics as you have observed.

Jurisdictions which ban cameras from the court often allege that attorneys will show boat in front of cameras or that it might pose a security threat. This is all nonsense. The ban on cameras is to protect the unethical conduct that often takes place in court.

There was a particularly racist judge I used to appear before when I first got out of law school (he’s now dead) who used to get mad at spanish speakers in the DUI courtroom he presided over. He used to yell at them about there lack of language skills. I actually heard him say, “What? No speaky English?” I a particulary sarcastic tone once. The attorneys in his room, including myself, where afraid to say anything about it. The State’s attorneys thought it was hilarious.

2 weeks ago I was infront of a judge who took my cleint’s uncle into custody for direct criminal contempt (for 6 months) because he made a loud audible gasp at the reading of the verdict. The co-defendant had been found guilty, and I believe he was overcome when his nephew/my client was found not guitly (avoiding a life sentence). There was absolutely no disrepect meant towards the court and he appologized in tears as he was dragged to the lock-up. I firmly believe that the judge was just pissed off about the not guilty verdict.

About 5years ago I saw a judge (who I’m actually friendly with) go on the record explaining how a defendant had slipped and fallen against a wall in the lock up behind the court room, when all the attorneys in the room could hear the guy yelling as he was getting his ass kicked by the deputys because he had insulted the judge.

I could go on and on. This video didn’t surprise me at all. It just made me jealous of the court room recording devices they have in Pheonix. Thank God for technology from the early 1980′s.

From link “Superior Court Judge Gary Donahoe said in the hearing last week that he had reviewed the documents and determined they posed no security threat. ”

It’s also disturbing that the judge closed the court during the Deputy’s testimony to “protect the interests of one or more of the parties involved.”

I felt like I was reading a report on the trial process of the dissidents in Iran. Is what is going on in that courtroom the best the American justice system can offer? If it is we are in deep, deep trouble.

This is a very entertaining video, I have watched it twice, and it is a real keeper. As a kid I watched Perry Mason and this is much mo’ better.

I must confess to being taken aback by the judge’s near complete passivity — if not tranquility–on display on the tape. I have never heard of anything like this let alone seen it.

I dare say that your courtroom experiences ‘patently’ swamp my scant appearances in court.

Thanks for the reply and welcome aboard.

You’re funny. Since when?

The courtroom exemplifies one of the last bastions of honorable and protective realms that we have left in our declining system of “justice.”

Contemnor Stoddard must receive severe punishment for his actions; furthermore, I do not think that he has the good character to remain an officer of the court.

If the Judge insists that the Defendant waive A/C privilege then what contemptible act has the deputy then committed in her presence?

Yeah…

What happened with the Defendants ability to assist counsel? What about Larceny, simple theft, interference with a contract? Is the deputy subject to disciplinary actions? He probably is not and will most likely be promoted because of his braveness in the line of duty.

The Judge has other issues, is it fairness in all proceedings that they are responsible for? Did she have an oath that she swore to uphold? Is she really a prosecutor in a robe?