Judge Sanctions Lawyer for Dramatic "Lord..."

After clashing with him several times, a North Carolina judge sentenced a defense attorney to 2 days in jail, 70 hours of community service, and temporary loss of his license to practice and ordered him to submit to a psychological examination. N.C. Lawyer Ordered to Take Psych Exam After Courtroom UtteranceAP, Law.com, Oct. 23, 2006.

The outburst reported in the AP story: After the judge stopped the attorney's questioning, the attorney "said 'Lord,' reared back in his chair with outstretched arms, cast his eyes upward and turned to the audience.'" The attorney, who is also a minister, "said the remark was the beginning of a prayer. He apologized to [the judge] and said he did not intend to be disrespectful or for his remark to be heard by others."

A little more about the incident is in Man gets 75 days for assaulting officer; His attorney also faces hearing for possible contempt during trial, Winston-Salem J., Oct. 11, 2006.

Filed in: sanctions, judges, contempt