State v. Harper

Per Curiam,:

The appellant, John R. Harper, II (Harper), was cited for six counts of criminal contempt in magistrate court and sentenced to pay a fine of one hundred twenty dollars or seventy-two hours imprisonment. On appeal, the circuit court affirmed appellant’s convictions. Harper now appeals to this Court. We reverse.

Harper, an attorney, represented a defendant on a charge of simple assault at a trial before Magistrate George W. Jefferson on August 29,1985. Harper made several pretrial motions, including a challenge to the composition of the jury. The magistrate proceeded with the trial…