State v. Verbal

MARTIN (Robert M.), Judge.

Defendant, an attorney, was cited by the trial judge for direct contempt and sentenced after a summary proceeding to two days’ imprisonment for being eighteen (18) minutes late in returning to court after a luncheon recess, while a trial in which defendant was appearing was in progress. The defendant has strongly contended that his behavior, if contemptuous, was not direct, but rather, indirect contempt in that the action constituting the contempt was not committed in the court’s presence. He cites substantial authority in support of this contention. The State, on…