Opinion ID: 1680396
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: circuit judge's role

Text: ¶ 25. Hampton maintains the circuit court judge should not have acted as the trier of fact in the case at bar. However, as previously determined, this case involves acts of direct criminal contempt, and [t]his Court has held that direct criminal contempt may be handled by the sitting judge instantly. Terry v. State, 718 So.2d 1097, 1104 (Miss.1998). Therefore, it was proper for the judge to summarily punish Hampton after determining that her absence was willful and not for good cause. Thus, this issue is without merit. ¶ 26. Additionally, Hampton did not object to the circuit judge hearing the contempt charge, and further she did not move for his recusal in this matter. This Court has consistently held that failing to object to a trial judge's appearance in a case will result in a waiver. Tubwell v. Grant, 760 So.2d 687, 689 (Miss.2000). Hence, Hampton's failure to object results in a waiver.