Not a big fan of judges exerting pettiness,,,

[Varmintmist]

But this is funny. Love the pic, she is just stunned that her mouth got her in trouble.

http://www.galvestondailynews.com/news_ap/nation/article_e4a35ac9-52bb-57c1-9153-e5c90d284fc9.html

[PAVALKER]

He done good.   Unfortunately he had to do what her parents should have in the first place.... teach her respect, manners and just plain old right from wrong.   

[Serk]

Florida Teen Curses Out Judge | Penelope Soto Contempt of Court for saying F%CK YOU to Judge

^ If ya' wanna just see the video of the incident.

[Patrick]

I thought it was great when I first saw this. I would have had a hard time controlling myself as the Judge did. He 'done good'.
It is a big problem in this country today, lack of respect for anyone especially authority.

[old2soon]

I DID NOT see anybody standing on her neck and pressing a gun into her forehead demanding that she curse the Judge.  Her total lack of respect and her sorry assed excuse for a mouth is what brought the wrath of the Judge down on her.  She has no one but herself to blame!!  AND that potty mouth of hers would have gotten her a tad bit more than 30 days in my court.  RIDE SAFE.

[Daniel Meyer]

Can't fault the judge. He needed to do something.

Only thing is...the prison time isn't going to help. *Nobody* comes out better than they go in.

Some serious community service (requiring good reviews from the things she works on) would have been cool...

[PAVALKER]

Can't fault the judge. He needed to do something.

Only thing is...the prison time isn't going to help. *Nobody* comes out better than they go in.

Some serious community service (requiring good reviews from the things she works on) would have been cool...

I agree..... lock up with community service would have been better.  I think all criminals should perform some type of community service as part of their contribution to society, and with any luck it might even be beneficial for them.

[Hooter]

He done good.   Unfortunately he had to do what her parents should have in the first place.... teach her respect, manners and just plain old right from wrong.   

   Is that possible anymore?   

[FLAVALK]

A 30-day timeout ...love it 

[czuch]

I dont see where "Adios" would be worth $5K.
That notwithstanding, the insocient little girl needs some serious raising.
Looks like he was keeping score and she didnt get a trophy just for showing up.

[..]

She seemed stoned.

Community service is a better use of tax money than "banging her up" for 30 days.

[Oss]

thanks for posting the video

she was high, no doubt in my mind and the judge should have seen it

Adios was disrespectful but not another 5k worth imho

the f u was worth the 30 days and if it was me I would have put supervised community service, an evaluation to determine what drugs are indeed in her system and probation on top of it

[Serk]

Adios was disrespectful but not another 5k worth imho

I'm obviously not the judge, but IMHO the Adios was the straw that broke the camel's back... That on it's own wouldn't merit the higher bond, but that being the cherry on top of the giggling and just in general not taking the situation seriously, I think is what did it...

[Pappy!]

The whole "this is a joke" attitude sure didn't help. I too would have put community service in there.....on top of the 30 days!

[steve 3054]

I here ya on the community service...but being " out " and doing her thang while supervised, not so much...30 w/ no drugs in her system will be a living hell and maybe just maybe point her in the direction to get off them and if not she will be back...

[Jess from VA]

Coming to court stoned................ why didn't I think of that.   

In high school (of 600), I was paying a ticket at the District court counter when the school nut job (every school had one right?), who was obviously stoned, was also paying his.  He began swearing and railing at the court clerk.  Instead of leaving thru the correct door, he backed thru a door directly into the courtroom, which was in session, and the judge heard most of it, and he got a free weekend in the drunk tank.  The rest of us LOAO.   

I had people I defended come in stoned and/or drunk.  Took them to the rest room and got them as presentable as I could, and told them to keep their mouths shut, blood shot eyes down .... and please no giggling, weaving, humming, singing, or falling asleep.

Seen a hooker enter the courtroom for her case, after stripping naked in the ladies.   The judge got so mad, he recused himself (could not be impartial), and sent her to Maximum Bob who had no problem with contempt sentences.

I know many here would enjoy this....... I've seen fellow counsel get criminal contempt, not 30 days, but $1000 and all afternoon in the lockup followed by his meaningful apology (or back to the lockup).

There's advocacy and there's lunacy.................... try to keep them straight. 

[donaldcc]

  Not to be the "devil's advocate" here, but i have a different take on this video.  

 could this first time 18 yo offender in possesion of xanax without a prescription have shown more respect? yes.

 Was the judge appropriate? NO!  This was a bail hearing to set an amount to insure her return to court.  It seems a public defender offered to represent her and the judge refused setting the scene for escalation.  She obviously needed legal assistance.  The judge bantered with her and then raised her bail as a punitive response.  That is NOT the prupose of bail.  It is not to punish , but to insure return to court.

 Likewise the contempt charge was overboard.  She had no atty to represent her before the powerful judge who charged, judged and sentenced her to 30 days.  she now has public atty who has had the bail reduced back to $5000.  A crimiinal judge need not be so thin skiinned.  Very unlikely she will be in the slammer for 30 days with taxpayer paing bill.

 just my opinion. trample the rights of those you do not like and yours are sure to be trampled also.

[Clark]

I agree w Don.. he shoulda sentenced her to 30 days at the spa

[donaldcc]

I agree w Don.. he shoulda sentenced her to 30 days at the spa

  I guess i could live with that Clark, but only if she was not allowed to have massages. 

[Willow]

I agree with Donald (I think).

The accused's behavior is not defensible.  The final parting comment and gesture certainly meet the criteria for criminal contempt.

On the other hand the judge himself behaved very unprofessionally and, in my opinion, displayed his own contempt for the dignity of the court.

I don't think either of these two participants Will have either learned anything or benefited society as a result of this situation.  

I did think it was legitimately humorous when the judge said, "B-A-R-S?  I don't know what that means."      

[steve 3054]

Last Updated: Friday, February 08, 2013 Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on googleShare on emailMore Sharing Services1Video Stories
18-year-old apologizes for flipping off judge 
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Girl flips off judge in courtroom, gets 30 days in jail

.MIAMI -- 
A Miami-Dade woman apologized to the judge she gave the finger to earlier this week and was relieved of her $10,000 bond and remaining jail sentence.


Penelope Soto, 18, didn't like what Judge Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat had to say, so she flipped him off. The shocking gesture was caught on camera inside Miami-Dade Circuit Court earlier this week.

Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Jeffrey Rosinek also ordered Soto to attend drug addiction counseling.

The 18-year-old appeared in the bond court facing charges of possessing Xanax. During the hearing, Soto had giggled and stroked her hair when questioned by the judge.

After the judge initially set her bond at $5,000 and said goodbye to Soto, she replied with a laugh and an "adios."

Irritated, he reset her bond at $10,000, which is when Soto flipped him off and swore at him.

That time, Rodriguez-Chomat issued a 30-day sentence for contempt of court.

Soto wasn't laughing Friday when she apologized to the judge.

[tonyfan70]

I didn't see it mentioned...sorry if it has been.

But...

The little giggler has now apologized and the judge removed the sentence of 30 days.  Hmmm.  In my youth, I had many court appearances and I'll be cursed if saying "sorry" did squat for me.

[Jess from VA]

She only got by the contempt, she remains on the hook for the original charges.