In Re Butterfield

Miller, Judge.

A trial court held attorney Torris Butterfield in direct criminal contempt for failing to reorganize his cross-examination of the State’s key witness and for failing to complete his cross-examination of the witness within a specified time limit. Butterfield appeals, arguing that he ended the cross-examination when the court indicated the time had expired and that the order to reorganize his cross-examination questions was unenforceably vague. We agree and reverse.

“The appropriate standard of appellate review for a criminal contempt conviction is whether, after viewing the…