Court Opinion

ID: 9944341
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2024-02-26 16:43:12.959839+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:57:37.348679
License: Public Domain

I dissent. I do not read the opinion In re Little, 404 U.S. 553,30 L.Ed.2d 708, 92 S.Ct. 659, to hold that statements embarrassing to the court * * and derogating from its dignity * * *" if made in a quiet tone of voice are, as a matter of law, not contemptuous. Defendant had conducted himself in a loud and boisterous manner during the hearing and there is nothing to show that the court's order was not predicated upon defendant's entire course of conduct during the hearing. Neither do I believe thatLittle stands for the proposition that one may be loud and boisterous, but reduce the decibels during one statement which directly offends the dignity of the court (as contrasted to the dignity of the judge) and tends to bring the entire process into disrepute, and consequently avoid being brought to book. I would affirm.