You're All Going To Jail!

[faceless]

Judge jails everybody, gets fired
Wednesday, November 28, 2007

A judge in America was removed from the bench on Tuesday for jailing 46 people after none of them would admit to having a cell phone that began ringing during his court session. Judge Robert Restaino, of Niagara Falls, New York, 'snapped' and 'engaged in what can only be described as two hours of inexplicable madness' during the 2005 session, Raoul Felder, chairman of the state Commission on Judicial Conduct, wrote in the decision to remove the judge.

Restaino, who became a full-time judge in 2002, was hearing domestic violence cases when a phone rang. 'Every single person is gong to jail in this courtroom unless I get that instrument now. If anybody believes I'm kidding, ask some of the folks that have been here for a while. You are all going.'

When no one came forward, the judge ordered the group into custody and they were taken by police to the city jail, where they were searched and packed into crowded cells. Fourteen people who could not post bail were shackled and bused to the Niagara County Jail, a 30-minute drive away. Later in the afternoon, after being told reporters were calling, the judge ordered the defendants released.

The judge told the state panel he was under stress in his personal life.

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It's pretty mad that nobody challenged this before they all ended up in jail!

[Skylace]

That is so shocking. I know I wouldn't have gone. I would have shown my cell phone and said "Look, no incoming calls!"

As for saying he's having problems in his personal life, well maybe he should take some time off to sort it out if he can't handle a high stress job like that.

[eefanincan]

I heard this on the news today....... just another idiot abusing his power. I think you're right Sky... he needs to take some time off to sort himself out.

[11antoniacourt]

How come the ahole who owned the phone didn't step up?

[Skylace]

[major.tom]

"Coward" might be a bit harsh. If the culprit knew the judge in question, s/he may have remained mum for good reason.

If *I* were a judge, I would consider it a perk of the job to throw folks in jail en masse just because I was having a bad day. I mean, being a judge is hard work! You have to look good in silk, stay awake for hours on end and bang that gavel with authority at all the right places. I feel for the guy.

/sarcasm

[pirtybirdy]

Don't forget those two hour lunches.......Poor things.... :-(

[major.tom]

[Marcella-FL]