Whoa, my bad friend, I misread your comment, I agree with what you said just didn't understand the "cuffs are not a punishing device" part. They def. hurt, especially for someone with cancer like the OP. But now reading it again I think I get it ha

As posted earlier:

You all should be mad at the bailiff as he/she is the one responsible for the cuffs being left on.

I seriously doubt the judge ordered the bailiff to leave the cuffs on for the entire time, though I could be wrong.


God Bless,
David B.

Cuffed and held against your will sounds like kidnapping to me!

Gotcha - I probably could have spent more time wording my post more clearly. I was just pissed off and fired from the hip.

Sounds like you were found to be in direct contempt but there has to be more to the story. I know Bob Wilters and I'm not in his fan club but I have a hard time believing you just had on a t-shirt in court and he locked you up for direct contempt. I have only exercised my direct contempt powers twice. Once I was holding a preliminary hearing in a capital murder case and some of the victims family members tried to attack the defendant in open court. I gave them 24 hours. The other time was during an eviction, the defendant did attack the plaintiff and a fight erupted in court. I gave him 5 days. I don't get too worked up about courtroom attire. My pet peeve is people making comments when they walk away from the bench. I've had a few people try to talk themselves into contempt for that.

I wonder how the judge would react if he treated someone like that only to find out the reason their shirt is untucked is to cover a colostomy bag or something along those lines. I know when my dad had to have surgery last year, his kidneys wouldn't function properly for a while. He didn't wear a colostomy bag but it was something similar so he kept his shirt untucked (which is something he NEVER does) to keep people from seeing it. It was none of their business.

Let's just hope he never has to go to court in Baldwin County....you may never see him again....

He is probably our next D.A.
And yes, he has some temper issues.

I had on a colored pull over shirt with a pocket and yes he saw this and said I just earned 5 days in the County Jail. He orderd me to sit with the prisoners and a short time later was placed in cuffs until 3 thet evening. I never spoke a word to him during the entire court. The entire court witnessed this. I was more embarresed than anything.

I have Stage 4 Melanoma Cancer that has progressed to my back, groin, and chest. I am blssed to still be alive. I been through alot of stuff in my life. One thing I dont do is lie. He took this to far and I will not stop putting this anywhere and everywhere I can, so people can see what a fine upstanding judge we have here in Baldwin County.

nope, didn't say if it was ok or not. who am i to "judge" and i'm no attorney or law enforcement official. i do know that this is the south and there are places to show respect: Sunday Service, funerals, weddings and court. i also know that government was required in high school (25+ plus years ago) in baldwin county and one of the things we did was take a field trip to "circus court". we were told to "dress up" - boys in khakis/dockers and a dress shirt and tie; and girls in a dress or skirt/blouse combination.

maybe the court clerk failed to mention the rules of this particular judge's courtroom before the judge entered.

i only mentioned facts for folks not familiar with our local area.

I went to court a few months ago for a traffic ticket and there was a sign outside with some rules on it and one of the rules was shirt tails have to be tucked in, I guess so you couldn't hide a weapon (just a guess) anyway the bottom of sign said failure to follow these rules could result in a contempt of court charge.

If the facts are correct the judge is a man with a serious power trip. If he ever runs for anything outside of Baldwin county I hope his actions like this come out so everyone knows what we are dealing with. If theses sort of actions is what makes you an outstanding member of the community and loved by many then Houston we have a problem......

A lot of judges are guys and gals that couldn't hack it as attorneys. Fact

Same reason I hate to be called for jury duty, last few times I felt like I was on trial.

Well I have jury duty in a few weeks so I guess I had better not wear my jeans and button down shirts.

Sorry to hear this happened to you.

I knew this was Judge Wilters after the first post. I watched him place a girl in cuffs like that once. Her crime? She was late. Probably 3-5 minutes after court had started.

He starts all his courts with a speech. 30 seconds or so later, someone wanders in. He gives them a thunderous look as they find their seat, the a minute later another one does it. He flips out and calls them on it and chastised them pretty hard. THEN a minute or two later Unlucky Lucy made her entrance.

Same as you, she was forced to sit through court with the prisoners in the jury box, though I don't remember if she was cuffed. She wasn't due in court or even a witness. She was simply there (as you were, and I was on the day of this story), in support of someone else.

Fwiw and I am NOT defending him, he deals MOSTLY with drug court and for the most part is trying to influence the behavior of many people who will NEVER do better. I am sure that can be frustrating. What he did was over the line but was likely intended more for his regulars than an innocent visitor like you.

I have seen one funny incident in his court but this isn't the thread to relate that one. Good luck with whatever you decide to do, just understand the deck is stacked against you in any sort of hope for a reprisal. I would contact the Lagniappe newspaper in Mobile. They don't seem scared of local politicians like the Mobile Press is.

Why would it be a problem for people to come and go during court, or be late as long as they are not actively involved with the case? I have seen it in Mobile with people coming and going, reporters coming and going, lawyers coming in late, and no one throws a fit. If you are a defendant I could see placing you in contempt for being late or your clothing but just a spectator seems way over the top.

Well, crap...the one time i was on a jury...the state trooper involved in the case was late. He wasn't placed in cuffs? I didn't know one couldn't "come and go" during court either?

jmack, if you were seated how did he see your untucked shirt?




If you're not in a courtroom and not cited for contempt, maybe.