Burradell v. State

BRADLEY D. Jesson, Chief Justice.

The issue in this case is whether we will prevent a trial judge from exercising his or her contempt authority when a defendant appears in court under the influence of alcohol. The appellant, Richard Burradell, appeared in Rogers Municipal Court for a plea hearing. He had been drinking to such an extent that he smelled of alcohol and registered .13 on a portable breathalyzer test. Municipal Judge R. Douglas Schrantz cited Burradell for contempt and sentenced him to two days in jail. Burradell appealed to Benton County Circuit Court and, after a de novo bench…