OMG oh nooo
-Liz
Yes, judges usually fine you for any behaviour they don't care for, and sometimes the fine is hefty. In general they are tolerant of younger lawyers, but this guy was very angry and I think he just wanted to make an example of someone. Of course, calling a judge "idiot" is really very very wrong. I really shouldn't let my subtext come out as text. :)
I want to ammend the previous by saying that getting officially accused of contempt of court isn't common, even though snark, insults and other misbehaviour do qualify as contempt. Very often the judge will just reprimand the lawyer and move on, or will assess a small fine. Often they threaten but don't follow through. I remember once when a woman lawyer was dressed inappropriately for court, and the judge told her she had to go home and dress appropriately, and fined her $250. Sometimes there are small fines for being late, or failing to file something. But I have never seen a lawyer actually being formally accused of being in contempt, though I go to court exceedigly rarely these days. I do my work outside of court, which is just the way I like it. Court work never appealed to me.
