by Judge Paul Davis |
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2 In re Bell, 894 S.W. 2d 119 (Tex. Spec. Ct. Rev. 1995) 3 Ex parte Knable, 818 S.W.2d 811 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) 4 “An officer of a court who is held in contempt by a trial court shall, on proper motion filed in the offended court, be released on his own personal recognizance pending a determination of his guilt or innocence. The presiding judge of the administrative judicial region in which the alleged contempt occurred shall assign a judge who is subject to assignment by the presiding judge other than the judge of the offended court to determine the guilt or innocence of the officer of the court.” Tex. Gov’t Code § 21.002(d) 5 Ibid. 6 “In a case involving a lawyer's contemptuous conduct, a holding of contempt must be done in such a manner so to not prejudice the rights of the litigant who is represented by the contemptuous lawyer. If the trial judge decides to wait until the conclusion of the trial before making findings of contempt and assessing the punishment, he should note the offensive conduct at the time it occurs, and warn the lawyer in that respect.” Kilgarlin & Ozmun, Contempt of Court in Texas--What You Shouldn't Say to the Judge, 38 Baylor L. Rev. 291, 313-14 (1986) 7 Ex parte Norton, 191 S.W.2d 713 (Tex. 1946). 8 Cooke v. United States, 267 U.S. 517 (1925); In re Bell, 894 S.W.2d 119 (Tex. Spec. Ct. Rev. 1995). 9 In re Bell, 894 S.W. 2d 119 (Tex. Spec. Ct. Rev. 1995). 10 Id. 11 Ex parte Knable, 818 S.W.2d 811 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (If contemnor "could have been afforded due process protections without disrupting the orderly trial process . . . he should have been afforded these protections.") 12Ex parte Aldridge, 334 S.W.2d 161 (Tex. Crim. App. 1959). 13 Id. 14 See Cooke v. United States, 267 U.S. 517 (1925); In re Bell, 894 S.W.2d 119 (Tex. Spec. Ct. Rev. 1995). 15 Cooke v. United States, 267 U.S. 517 (1925) 16 In re Bell, 894 S.W.2d 119 (Tex. Spec. Ct. Rev. 1995) 17 Ex parte Soape, 347 S.W.2d 621 (Tex. Crim. App. 1961) 18 Ex parte Gibson, 811 S.W.2d 594 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991) (quoting Brown v. United States, 356 U.S. 148 (1958)); Ex parte Taylor, 807 S.W.2d 746 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); In re Bell, 894 S.W.2d 746 (Tex. Spec. Ct. Rev. 1995). 19 E.g., Ex parte Gibson, 811 S.W.2d 594 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991). 20 Ex parte Taylor, 807 S.W.2d 746 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991).
22 .Ex parte Howell, 488 S.W.2d 123 (Tex. Crim. App. 1972). 23 Tex. Gov’t Code § 82.061. 24 Ex parte Griffitts, 711 S.W.2d 225 (Tex. 1986). 25 Ex parte Sanchez, 703 S.W.2d 955 (Tex. 1986). 26 Kilgarlin & Ozmun, supra. 27 Ex parte Sentell, 266 S.W.2d 365 (Tex. 1954). 28 Ex parte Gibson, 811 S.W.2d 594 (Tex. Crim. App. 1991); Ex parte Pink, 746 S.W.2d 762 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988). 29 In Ex parte Reposa, 2009 Tex. Crim. App. Unpub. LEXIS 725, the Court of Criminal Appeals wrote: “Despite this focus, however, we have never rejected another category of conduct, disrespect for the court, and acts which bring the court into disrepute, as a legitimate basis for a finding of criminal contempt.” Reposa at p. 14 30 Ex parte Butler, 372 S.W.2d 686 (Tex. Crim. App. 1963). 31 Id. at 687. 32 Morgan v. State, 646 S.W.2d 603, 605 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 1983, no pet.). See also Ex parte Cooper, 657 S.W.2d 435 (Tex. Crim. App. 1983); In Re Shelnutt, 695 S.W.2d 622 (Tex. App.—Austin 1985, orig. proceeding). 33 In Ex parte Holmes, 754 S.W.2d 676 (Tex. Crim. App. 1988), the reviewing court upheld an order holding the Harris County District Attorney in contempt for refusing to proceed in the prosecution of a criminal case before a visiting judge. 34 Maness v. Meyers, 419 U.S. 449 (1975). But see Ex parte Knollenberg, 69 S.W.2d 37 (Tex. 1934) (attorney held in contempt for failing to produce, pursuant to court order, two letters he claimed were confidential communications between attorney and client, but which obviously were not). 35 Ex parte Pink, 645 S.W.2d 262, 265 (Tex. Crim. App. 1982). 36 Ex parte Jacobs, 664 S.W.2d 360, 364 (Tex. Crim. App. 1984). 37 Ex parte Fisher, 206 S.W.2d 1000 (Tex. 1948), aff'd, Fisher v. Pace, 336 U.S. 155 (1949). 38 McEntire v. Baygent, 229 S.W.2d 866 (Tex. Civ. App.—El Paso 1949, no writ). 39 Tex. Gov’t Code § 21.002 (d). 40 Ex parte Waters, 499 S.W.2d 309 (Tex. Crim. App. 1973).
42 Ex parte Reposa, 2009 Tex. Crim. App. Unpub. LEXIS 725, at p. 9, citing Taylor v. Hayes, 418 U.S. 488, 498-500, 94 S. Ct. 2697, 41 L. Ed. 2d 897 (1974); Ex parte Knable, 818 S.W.2d 811, 812-14 (Tex. Cr. App. 1991); Ex parte Pink, 645 S.W.2d, at 264.
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Spring 2010, Volume 37, #2
- The Contempt Series:
Direct Contempt Cases
(Concludes Series) - Addictions in Court (Part One)
- 5th Circuit Court Gets E-Filing, Texas Appeals Court to Follow
- Evidence Summit 2010: Conference Wrap-Up
