People v. Aleem

I. Summary

In this original proceeding, we review the trial court's holding of Petitioner Sharcef Aleem in criminal contempt and its sentence to forty-five days in county jail. Initially, the trial court held Aleem in contempt until he removed his Stanley Tookie Williams T-shirt. Thereafter, the court retracted its initial contempt by allowing Aleem to wear this T-shirt for the remainder of that day of trial. The court never warned that any of his other behavior at trial placed him in danger of being held in direct contempt. At the conclusion of the trial, the court ordered Aleem to show cause…