Whatever happened to the electrocuting judge?

[Turek]

A couple of years ago, there was a violent defendant in court wearing some sort of stun-gun belt, the idea being that if he got violent and attacked someone in court, he could be shocked into submission from a distance. During the trial, he kept talking out loud. I’m not sure of the details, but I always got the impression he was being quite obnoxious. The judge told him to be quiet. He kept talking. So, the judge activates the belt and stuns him.

I don’t want to get into whether or not the judge should have taken such drastic measures just to quiet an unruly defendant (save that for IMHO), but I remember there was talk of some action being taken against her. Does any remember this and if so, was anything ever done?

[Crafter_Man]

That was Judge Judy.

[Inky_1]

Here’s a link to the original story. Still googling for a result.

[Turek]

*Originally posted by Inky- *
Here’s a link to the original story

Thanks, Inky. I’d forgotten the little tidbit about him acting as his own attorney.

[Fear_Itself]

I don’t think you will see that happen any more:

Panel Recommends County Pay More Than $250,000 To Settle Case Over Courtroom Jolt With Stun Belt

**In a 3-0 decision earlier this year, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Comparet-Cassani violated Hawkins’ rights when she ordered the jolt.

The panel found the district judge to be correct in ruling that the use of the stun belt to subdue a defendant who is merely being verbally disruptive inhibits the ability to present a defense and thus violates the Sixth Amendment right to counsel.**

[Turek]

Thanks for the info!