Court Opinion

ID: 9530496
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:00:21.355268+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:28:08.053981
License: Public Domain

Mr. JUSTICE GEORGE J. MORAN, dissenting: In my opinion this court has no jurisdiction to review this appeal because there was no written contempt order and there were no final oral findings or order of contempt. People v. Tomashevsky (1971), 48 Ill. 2d 559. After the trial judge stated, “You’re in contempt of this court, sir,” the judge went on to say, “Until you purge yourself of contempt this trial will not continue.” The following then transpired: “Mr. Bernard: May I have a few moments to consider the situation? The Court; Yes, you can, sir. (Whereupon Mr. Richard [sic] [Dick] H. Mudge entered the Courtroom) The Court: Let the record show that counsel for the defendant who was found in Contempt of Court took a forty-five minute recess and obtained Attorney Richard [sic] [Dick] H. Mudge to represent him. His Attorney Richard [sic] [Dick] H. Mudge is present and wishes to make a motion. Mr. Mudge. Mr. Mudge: O.K., on behalf of Mr. Burton C. Bernard I move that the Court vacate its Order finding Mr. Bernard in Contempt of Court and, of course, rescinding the fine. The Court: That Motion will be denied. Mr. Mudge: Let me add this. The Court having denied the Motion we now move the Court for a statement of preserving this matter for appeal. The Court: The Court will preserve [sic] the matter of the Contempt finding and the fine until the close of this trial, and will also give the Defendant the opportunity to appeal this matter. Mr. Mudge: I would like to add this. At the conclusion of the trial we may want a hearing before the Court on the factual issues as to whether Burt was in contempt, to perhaps avoid necessity of appeal. Mr. Bernard: The close of the trial could be in two days. The Court: Just a second, gentlemen. Mr. Bernard, I don’t think you understand, your Attorney has asked for an opportunity to have a hearing on the matter after the trial is completed, that doesn’t mean that hour, as I take it. And the Court will grant that request and have a hearing on the matter of the Contempt after the case is concluded and the Court will accommodate counsel for Mr. Bernard, Mr. Mudge, in finding a date for that hearing. Mr. Mudge: Thank you, Your Honor. Mr. Bernard: Thank you, Your Honor.” The trial then continued and there were no further hearings on the contempt matter. No written order of contempt was ever entered. However, the appellant appealed from the oral order of the trial judge, even though further proceedings were contemplated before the contempt order became effective. Since there was no appealable order in this case, we have no jurisdiction to review this appeal.