In the Matter of Shorter

The facts in this appeal, which arises from an adjudication of appellant for contempt, are not in conflict.

As attorney for the defendant in a criminal case, appellant was scheduled to appear with his client for sentencing before a trial judge in the Court of General Sessions on a Friday morning. When the case was called shortly after ten o’clock, appellant’s client had not yet appeared. The court, therefore, granted counsel’s request that he be excused to attend to other matters pending in the United States District Court, but with the specific understanding that he return at 11:30 - a. m.…