ARTICLE - First he saw "Austin 3:16" on the front of the shirt. Next he saw what was on the back of the shirt. Then Hickman County (TN) circuit Judge Timothy Easter saw red. The take-no-prisoners approach of wrestling heroes like Stone Cold Steve Austin may be popular in some places but not in the courtroom.
Easter sentenced Jane Doe to 10 days in jail in Centerville on Tuesday for wearing to court a T-shirt with Austin's message of" The 11th Commandment: Thou Shalt Whoop A.."
The legal hammerlock took Doe by surprise her attorney said. She was absolutely shocked said Mike Jones her Hickman county public defender representing her on three DUI charges. Jones may have narrowly escaped the judges wrath himself when Jones was asked by Easter if he had seen the shirt. "The fact is, I didn't see the back of the shirt" Jones said.
An appeal filed yesterday states that whatever the provocation Easter oversteped his authority and the law by sentencing Doe to 10 days in the slammer. State law outlines what is consideredbehavior that can be held in contempt and a Steve Austin T-shirt is not on the list, the appeal argues. The wearing of an article of clothing personally offensive to a trial court judge is not among any of those statutory provisions, Jones said in his appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeals. Easter was overseeing a trial yesterday and could not be reached for comment. In addition to holding Doe in contempt Easter revoked her bond on the DUI charges and would not accept the plea agreement that had been reached. Jones said he hopes appeals court will act quickly, prehaps today to overturn the contempt charge and release Doe who still faces lengthy jail time. The plea bargin called for her to serve 120 days.
Just to show how many people in high places can over react to something just because they may not like it. I don't know whether or not this would be considered negative press or not. It is really hard to determine this between negative press and just plain stupidity.
P.S. Ray, I changed the names of the client(obviously) and the lawyer just in case this situation is in any way embarassing to them.
Thanks,
TJ
The Unwrapped Undertaker
