Morrissey v. Commonwealth

Opinion

MOON, J.

Joseph D. Morrissey, Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond, contends the evidence was insufficient to sustain his contempt of court conviction for which he was sentenced to serve five days in the city jail. Because he sent a trial judge a letter containing a threat 4 ‘calculated to embarrass, hinder, or obstruct the court in the administration of justice,” we affirm the conviction.

I

On June 17, 1991, in a case styled Commonwealth v. Silva, Steven Buck, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney of the City of Richmond, presented a plea agreement to Judge John P. Driscoll,…