People v. Ravitz

This is a case of claimed criminal contempt committed in the court’s presence. It concerns the very fine line that separates the right of the trial judge to supervise all the aspects of any proceeding before him and to enforce this supervision by statutorily prescribed punishment and the right of an attorney to pursue with vigor and thoroughness the defense of a client charged with a very serious offense.

In this ease, the charge was armed robbery. It was a vicious crime. Two defenseless elderly ladies were beaten and robbed. One of them, mentally retarded, was raped.

Garland Jackson was one of…