Opinion ID: 2298886
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: baldasarre contempt (v-80-163e)

Text: In March of 1980 the respondent was acting as counsel for the defendant in the case of Baldasarre v. Baldasarre, a matrimonial matter. On March 7th, the respondent was held in contempt by the trial judge and fined $250 for conduct which bears a strong resemblance to respondent's conduct delineated above. In Baldasarre, the respondent's belligerent attitude toward the Court led the Judge to advise that he was leaving the bench and would return when respondent had had    an opportunity to collect himself. Respondent replied: I don't need to collect myself, Judge, you are simply ridiculous, you know. Respondent appealed the finding of contempt. In affirming the court's action, the Appellate Division found that respondent's conduct interfered with the in-court proceedings and was insulting. The Committee found that respondent's conduct demonstrate(d) a pattern of abuse consistent with that exhibited in the D.K. matter. Therefore, the Committee concluded that respondent had violated DR 1-102(A)(5) and (6) and DR 7-106(C)(6).