Opinion ID: 1711033
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Fred Ferguson

Text: ¶ 25. In Count I, it is alleged that Judge Sanders violated the constitutional and procedural due process rights of Fred Ferguson, Circuit Clerk of Adams County, when she had Ferguson arrested, interrogated, and jailed on a $500,000 cash appeal bond on contempt charges. This incident stemmed from Ferguson's removal of an order posted by Judge Sanders entering the terms of court for the Sixth Circuit Court District. ¶ 26. On the order in question, Judge Sanders identified herself as the Senior Circuit Court Judge. Ferguson, after reviewing an Attorney General's opinion that identified Circuit Court Judge Forrest Johnson as Senior Circuit Court Judge and talking with Senior Circuit Court Judge Johnson, posted Judge Johnson's order setting the terms of court. Discrepancies existed between Judge Sanders' order and Judge Johnson's order. ¶ 27. When Judge Sanders learned that her order had been taken down and Judge Johnson's order posted in its place, she telephoned Ferguson inquiring as to the reason for his action. Ferguson explained that there were discrepancies between Judge Johnson's order and Judge Sanders' order. He also explained that he had reviewed the Attorney General opinion that placed Judge Johnson as the senior circuit judge and talked with Judge Johnson before removing Judge Sanders' order. Judge Sanders became irate, insinuating that she would jail Ferguson if he did not post her order. As the conversation became more heated, Ferguson told Judge Sanders that the conversation was over and hung up the phone. ¶ 28. Shortly thereafter, Judge Sanders issued a warrant for Ferguson's arrest on a civil contempt charge. Ferguson was arrested and brought before Judge Sanders for a hearing. At no time was Ferguson advised of his right to counsel or allowed to obtain counsel. Judge Sanders proceeded to interrogate Ferguson who, under oath, explained again why he had taken down Judge Sanders' order. Ferguson then refused to answer any more questions and, arguably, turned away from the judge. Judge Sanders had Ferguson taken to jail and ordered that he be released only on posting a $500,000 cash appeal bond. ¶ 29. At the hearing before the Commission, Judge Sanders stated that Ferguson was charged with civil contempt because he refused to post her order and that he was actually arrested because of his direct contempt in hanging up the phone on her. Judge Sanders then testified that she held Ferguson in direct criminal contempt of court when he turned his back to the court and that the final conviction of Ferguson was for direct criminal contempt. ¶ 30. Initially Judge Sanders arrested Ferguson for direct contempt in hanging up the telephone during their heated conversation. However, according to Judge Sanders, the final contempt conviction was for Ferguson's act of turning his back to the court during the hearing being held regarding the constructive contempt. Ferguson's act of turning his back to the court was characterized by Judge Sanders as direct criminal contempt. After finding Ferguson guilty of direct criminal contempt, Judge Sanders placed Ferguson in jail and required a $500,000 cash appeal bond. She informed Ferguson that he would be released upon either his posting bond or upon his posting her order setting the terms of court. ¶ 31. This Court stated that [c]riminal contempt penalties are designed to punish for past offenses and they do not end when the contemnor has complied with the court order. Purvis v. Purvis, 657 So.2d 794, 797 (Miss.1994)(citing Common Cause v. Smith, 548 So.2d 412, 415-16 (Miss.1989)). If one is guilty of civil contempt, the contemnor must be relieved of the penalty when he performs the required act. Purvis, 657 So.2d at 796-97 (citing Hinds County Bd. of Supervisors v. Common Cause, 551 So.2d 107, 120 (Miss.1989)). Notwithstanding her own testimony, Judge Sanders treated Ferguson's actions in court as direct criminal contempt but imposed punishment for civil contempt: release upon the posting of her order with no fine imposed. ¶ 32. This Court is troubled that Judge Sanders is unclear as to the appropriate sanctions for each category of contempt. This Court has repeatedly stated that ignorance of the law is no defense for justice court judges. Mississippi Comm'n on Judicial Performance v. Chinn, 611 So.2d 849, 853 (Miss.1992) (citing In Re Bailey, 541 So.2d 1036, 1039 (Miss.1989)). This statement is equally applicable to circuit court judges. Whether Judge Sanders' failure to apply Purvis was intentional or not, the results were the same. ¶ 33. It could be argued that, whenever a judge is acting in his or her judicial capacity and has firsthand knowledge of a contemptuous act, such act is in the presence of the court. It is clear Judge Sanders had firsthand knowledge of the telephone conversation. It is also clear Judge Sanders was in her judicial capacity, i.e. she called Ferguson in regard to an order she issued. Thus, in this view, there was an act of direct contempt here. ¶ 34. Regardless, however, Judge Sanders mishandled the situation. She did not impose a sanction for the direct contempt arising out of the telephone or the back turning incidents. She eventually ordered coercive detention for the constructive contempt of failing to post her order. Ferguson was arrested and brought to court to answer a contempt charge. Ferguson was never Mirandized nor was he allowed to obtain a lawyer. When Ferguson refused to answer any questions asked by the judge, he was held in contempt of court. However, it was Ferguson's right to refuse to answer questions in the absence of his attorney. Ferguson was then placed in jail on a $500,000 cash appeal bond in direct contravention to the statutes governing appeal bonds for criminal and civil contempt that allow a maximum bond of $2,000. Miss Code Ann. §§ 11-51-11, -12 (Supp.1999). ¶ 35. Still, Ferguson, who had hung up on the judge and turned his back to her in open court, had the key to relief from detention. He could have done as he was later advised to do by Judge Johnson, and what he should have done from the beginning. He ultimately did post the order as directed. ¶ 36. It cannot be denied however, that Judge Sanders acted inappropriately in proceeding with a constructive contempt hearing without affording Ferguson adequate notice and that the imposition of $500,000 bail was greatly excessive. There are a number of cases in our history where we have found an error in the use of the contempt power. Terry v. State, 718 So.2d 1097 (Miss.1998); Setser v. Piazza, 644 So.2d 1211 (Miss.1994); Mississippi Comm'n on Judicial Performance v. Chinn, 611 So.2d 849 (Miss.1993); Mabry v. Howington, 569 So.2d 1165 (Miss.1990); Cook v. State, 483 So.2d 371 (Miss.1986). We have not always, however, imposed sanctions for such error. Terry v. State, 718 So.2d 1097 (Miss.1998); Setser v. Piazza, 644 So.2d 1211 (Miss.1994); Mabry v. Howington, 569 So.2d 1165 (Miss.1990); Cook v. State, 483 So.2d 371 (Miss.1986). On the other hand, we have held that misuse of the contempt power is prejudicial to the administration of justice and that ignorance of the law of contempt is no excuse for a judicial officer. Mississippi Comm'n on Judicial Performance v. Chinn, 611 So.2d 849 (Miss.1993); Mississippi Judicial Performance Comm'n v. Walker, 565 So.2d 1117 (Miss.1990). ¶ 37. Despite the provocation, we conclude that Judge Sanders' misuse of the contempt power of the court was misconduct for which a sanction should ensue.