# Whatever happened to the electrocuting judge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 6, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-electrocuting-judge/180063 "2003-06-06T12:53:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-electrocuting-judge/180063/1 "2003-06-06T12:53:35Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-electrocuting-judge/180063/2 "2003-06-06T14:28:05Z")
That was Judge Judy. ---
**Author:** ![Inky\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Inky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inky_1)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-electrocuting-judge/180063/3 "2003-06-06T14:35:06Z")
Here’s a link to the [original story](http://ljr.net/latimes/stun/). Still googling for a result. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-electrocuting-judge/180063/4 "2003-06-06T17:20:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*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. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-electrocuting-judge/180063/5 "2003-06-06T17:31:34Z")
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](http://www.metnews.com/articles/claim112001.htm) > [@](#): > > \*\*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.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whatever-happened-to-the-electrocuting-judge/180063/6 "2003-06-07T01:09:14Z")
Thanks for the info!