Man arrested for not taking his hat off in court

[Dave at the Movies]

sentinelsource.com/articles/2011/01/25/news/police_blotter/free/id_425612.txt#comment


Here is the video. LANGUAGE WARNING






Now there may be some political tones in this story but this is not meant to be political at all so don't get into the political side of it. I want to get into more of the human rights side of it.

Basically you have a guy who isn't willing to take his hat off and has not hurt anyone and he gets pushed to the ground and arrested for it. If you can get arrested for this what else can you get arrested for?

Would it have been easier to take his hat off? Sure, but it also would have been even easier if they hadn't bothered him with a silly little old time Victorian rule. How can someone get arrested for this?


BTW there is a still photo from the incident showing an off duty police officer in the court wearing a skull cap later on once the proceedings started. If that isn't a double standard I don't know what is.



I just want to say right off I have a lot of respect for police officers that stand up for what is right and use their digression. Don't make the argument that I am putting all police officers in one boat because I'm not. Although at the same time I think the bad ones should be held accountable considering they usually aren't.

[Orange]

Wow, you can arrest or fire anybody for anything you want to can't ya?

[B'Cup x]

you can take video recording equipment into court?

[hollywood]

I attend court on a regular basis. It's part of my job as a reporter.

While I don't think I support getting into a physical altercation over it, I still side with the court in this. The courtroom is one of the few remaining places that have maintained a strict code regarding authority and protocol. Judges and lawyers still appear in full suits and ties, and there's a strict decorum concerning who speaks and when.

The quick and easy villain here is the court for making a big deal of it, but let's not ignore this idiot for making a big ordeal of it on his end. In a courtroom, the judge is effectively God. He makes the rules. He decides whether or not to approve motions. He decides who speaks and when. If the judge tells you to take your hat off, take your f***ing hat off. It's not worth being cited for contempt over.

They also order everyone to turn off their cell phones beforehand. Is it a crime? No, but it can be disruptive, and anyone who fails to do so and their phone rings will have it confiscated.

I could go on and on about this, but I won't. Bottom line, I'm not going to say either side is totally innocent here. But the man who refused to take his hat off was an moron and gets zero sympathy from me.

[Dave at the Movies]

Jan 26, 2011 12:49:22 GMT -5 B'Cup x said:

you can take video recording equipment into court?

It's usually up to the court. If you aren't allowed to it usually becomes a free press issue and the courts don't like lawsuits over that because they usually can't win.


Here is another angle clearly showing a cop forcing his knee into the guys neck.

[Dave at the Movies]

Jan 26, 2011 12:51:31 GMT -5 hollywood said:

I attend court on a regular basis. It's part of my job as a reporter.

While I don't think I support getting into a physical altercation over it, I still side with the court in this. The courtroom is one of the few remaining places that have maintained a strict code regarding authority and protocol. Judges and lawyers still appear in full suits and ties, and there's a strict decorum concerning who speaks and when.

The quick and easy villain here is the court for making a big deal of it, but let's not ignore this idiot for making a big ordeal of it on his end. In a courtroom, the judge is effectively God. He makes the rules. He decides whether or not to approve motions. He decides who speaks and when. If the judge tells you to take your hat off, take your f***ing hat off. It's not worth being cited for contempt over.

They also order everyone to turn off their cell phones beforehand. Is it a crime? No, but it can be disruptive, and anyone who fails to do so and their phone rings will have it confiscated.

I could go on and on about this, but I won't. Bottom line, I'm not going to say either side is totally innocent here. But the man who refused to take his hat off was an moron and gets zero sympathy from me.

The judge wasn't even in the court yet. The bailiff told him to do it.

The guy was going to ask him under what law he had to take his hat off. They have done this in other courts and the bailiffs have left them alone because there really is no law. Also you have to remember that this rule is not the same for females(and obviously off duty police officers )

To get around it not being a law they charged him with the lame disorderly conduct catch all charge which is a bullcrap charge in my book. It gives them the authority to arrest anyone at just about anytime.


I can see and understand why you think the guy is an idiot but he did nothing wrong here. If he had been cussing or interrupting then yes I would agree with you but he was just sitting there quietly. From what I heard he wasn't even thinking about his hat.

Also another thing you have to know about this guy is that he went to school to be a police officer and just about joined the force. He knows the laws and doesn't feel he is obligated to show respect to a court that does stuff like this.

[forgottensinpwf]

Okay now this is just buffoonery.

[Deleted]

FREE HAT!

[YellowJacketY2J]

My hat's off to him!

;D

[Jobes]

Totally the guy's fault. Just take off the damned hat. What's the big deal?

[Vampiro138]

"but judgey wudgy, its not a hat its a doiby" - Curley

sorry, this reminded me of the 3 stooges short "disorder in the court"

[B'Cup x]

Jan 26, 2011 12:52:48 GMT -5 Dave at the Movies said:

Jan 26, 2011 12:49:22 GMT -5 B'Cup x said:

you can take video recording equipment into court?

It's usually up to the court. If you aren't allowed to it usually becomes a free press issue and the courts don't like lawsuits over that because they usually can't win.

not that im either for or against this, but its one of those things that is soo differnt between the US and UK that it seems really weird x

["Hollywood" Cactus Matt]

Jan 26, 2011 14:41:57 GMT -5 Jobes said:

Totally the guy's fault. Just take off the damned hat. What's the big deal?

Gotta go with this answer.

I'm as anti-corruption and brutality as anyone else, but don't be a moron. Take off your hat and show a little respect.

You know how they want everyone to stand up when the judge walks in? It's a respect thing, and you're expected to do it unless physically unable to do so. Same with the hat, I'd assume; if he were physically unable to remove his hat, i.e., it was holding in his brain or something, then he'd be ok to leave it on. Otherwise, take off the stupid hat, dude.

[Deleted]

Jan 26, 2011 14:51:34 GMT -5 Vampiro138 said:

"but judgey wudgy, its not a hat its a doiby" - Curley

sorry, this reminded me of the 3 stooges short "disorder in the court"

DROP THE VERNACULAR!!!!

*Curly lets go of hat*

[Kevin Hamilton]

Getting physical while arresting the dude- a bit much

Dude not just taking off the hat and making an issue of things in the first place- the bigger idiot.

No sympathy. Not everything is some sorta battle for individuality.

[sryans]

I can see and understand why you think the guy is an idiot but he did nothing wrong here.

What he did wrong was not listen when he was told to take off his hat.

[Zone Was Wrong]

There's a bunch of silly things that they make you do in court that I think is silly but can't discuss here. This is one though that I really think is stupid. There is no law against it and the fact we still adhere to archaic rituals in court bugs the hell out of me. Sure he could've taken it off but really its the principle that counts here. There no actual reason you can't wear a hat other than the fact a judge says you can't *rolls eyes* Totally siding with the dude here. Plus these guys used WAY to much force on someone who wasn't even breaking a law. All they should've done was swipe the hat away or something. Too many people have to feel like exerting their "superiority" over others I guess.

[Kevin Hamilton]

The principle of having something on your head not being against the law is trumped by having your ass arrested if you don't remove it. There are lots of things to get up in arms and make a personal statement about your liberties/facing arrest about. This ain't one of 'em.

[hollywood]

Jan 26, 2011 13:00:10 GMT -5 Dave at the Movies said:

Jan 26, 2011 12:51:31 GMT -5 hollywood said:

I attend court on a regular basis. It's part of my job as a reporter.

While I don't think I support getting into a physical altercation over it, I still side with the court in this. The courtroom is one of the few remaining places that have maintained a strict code regarding authority and protocol. Judges and lawyers still appear in full suits and ties, and there's a strict decorum concerning who speaks and when.

The quick and easy villain here is the court for making a big deal of it, but let's not ignore this idiot for making a big ordeal of it on his end. In a courtroom, the judge is effectively God. He makes the rules. He decides whether or not to approve motions. He decides who speaks and when. If the judge tells you to take your hat off, take your f***ing hat off. It's not worth being cited for contempt over.

They also order everyone to turn off their cell phones beforehand. Is it a crime? No, but it can be disruptive, and anyone who fails to do so and their phone rings will have it confiscated.

I could go on and on about this, but I won't. Bottom line, I'm not going to say either side is totally innocent here. But the man who refused to take his hat off was an moron and gets zero sympathy from me.

The judge wasn't even in the court yet. The bailiff told him to do it.

The guy was going to ask him under what law he had to take his hat off. They have done this in other courts and the bailiffs have left them alone because there really is no law. Also you have to remember that this rule is not the same for females(and obviously off duty police officers )

To get around it not being a law they charged him with the lame disorderly conduct catch all charge which is a bullcrap charge in my book. It gives them the authority to arrest anyone at just about anytime.


I can see and understand why you think the guy is an idiot but he did nothing wrong here. If he had been cussing or interrupting then yes I would agree with you but he was just sitting there quietly. From what I heard he wasn't even thinking about his hat.

Also another thing you have to know about this guy is that he went to school to be a police officer and just about joined the force. He knows the laws and doesn't feel he is obligated to show respect to a court that does stuff like this.

I stand by what I said. If the bailiff says take your hat off, then take it off. There's standing on principle, and then there's just being stupid. This would be the latter.

[Deleted]

Suspect is hatted, repeated suspect is hatted.

I hope they throw his hatted butt in jail.