Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Anyone seen the video, have an opinion?

I think that Judge overreacted related to the reaction of the courtroom. I don't think CJ was disrespectful or had any intention of being "funny", I think he had an "athlete" reaction to a question/situation he was put in and made a stupid but slap.

It was not until a bit of reaction from the courtroom, that the Judge decided to take action and then kind of rolled with it. Even when she was addressing him about the slap, he seemed appropriate.....

Anyway, my opinion is related to a snip of tape....who knows the interaction of this case for the past X months....

I do question his choice of shirtsleeve shirt and thus, no tie... Looks pretty relaxed for a court appearance.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

I think he smacked a woman around and deserved to do time no matter who he is. That, though, is just my opinion.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Head-butted his wife(now ex-wife).... But that is not the point....

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

On the field, in a locker room, yeah, normal and OK.

That said, Being a person who is often in court as result of what I do for a living, I and everyone for that matter, should understand a courtroom and anything that happens in it, on or off the record, is taken very seriously by judges.
What he did is to that judge or most judges, the equivalent of joking about weapons to TSA. You just don't do that.

Now, add the fact the issue for which he was there was for domestic violence, a butt slap to his attorney and in the manner he did it (smiling and clearly jokingly) was certain to elicit the response it did from folks observing. No doubt that infuriated the judge. He should have waited to be outside the courtroom.

Again, that was not the proper place and frankly, he was an idiot for not knowing better. The judge simply sent a message that all proceedings in front of her, specially for criminal charges, are to be taken seriously.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

In a courtroom environment...the "good game" slap on the a$$ is inappropriate. :2

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Yea, I spend a fair bit of time in a court room as well..... Not saying the slap was appropriate or okay, but she seemed to react to the courtroom reaction, not the action.

Defendants are going to do stupid stuff from time to time, it is a given, but he is not responsible for the reaction of the courtroom or bailiffs....

Guess the point is.... Did she overreact or was her reaction to the action(not courtroom response) appropriate?

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I am not a Chad Johsnon apologist, but she is on a power trip and overreacted. I can see maybe a day or 3 in jail, but not 30. What a waste of taxpayer dollars.

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R.E.S.P.E.C.T

Let's take it from your perspective. His actions led directly to the reaction and outright disrespect of the Court. He was celebrating being convicted and receiving a light sentence. It would have been different if he was celebrating being found innocent, but his actions basically showed him "laughing" at the judge and her ruling. :2

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

His action was related to her questioning if he was satisfied with his counsel. He responded that he was, she then took it further….saying you should be, he is a very good attorney. He then looked at said atty, sort of appeared to not know what to do, so slapped him on his ash…. If she didn’t say that one unneeded piece of commentary during the plea, it would have been done and over.

Yes, inappropriate, but he didn’t appear to be disrespecting the court…he just had a dumb action/reaction to his situation.

I don't think for a second he was laughing at the ruling. I think if the Judge thought the courtroom was being disrespectful, she should have cleared it. But it appears she wanted to make a point....

Slow day I guess..... Not sure why I even care what this Judge did or if CJ does 30 days for head-butting his ex-wife....

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I completely agree. If the judge didn't want a reaction, she should have just accepted the plea.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Huh?

It's literally HER courtroom.
She can stand on her head if she wishes but everyone else beware.

I am sorry but in a courtroom, there is decorum. It is the only place I know you stand up and sit down when told it is OK to sit down as a judge or a jury enters or leaves. That alone sets the tone for the respect that should be maintained at all times.

There was a recent case in South Florida where a young girl made a disrespectful comment and rather than being released, she too got 30 days. 30 days is clearly for purposes of a message. Bet he will never do that again nor will anyone who has seen the tape or heard of the incident. Hence message will be effective.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Bingo.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Just in case for those that haven't seen it and read thread.
Here is the video.
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/t/video/oc...loses-19372038

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Just because a Judge can act like God in their courtroom, doesn't mean it's okay.

He didn't have an outburst, mumble under his breath or turn around and start talking with family, he harmlessly tapped his attorney on the ash....in what looks like an act of "What do I do now?" He didn't do this to spite the Judge, as some act of questioning her authority or make a joke in her courtroom. Just a reaction to the position he was in. Though I am not denying it was inappropriate.

Apparently it is her first year on the bench and she is legally blind, so maybe she didn't even see what happened......which may back up my original comments that it appears that she was responding to the courtroom, not his actions. Interesting.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

I agree with Carlos 100%.
A courtroom is no place for high-fiving, ass-slapping, laughing or giggling.
Some judges are a bit more light-hearted and will take things less seriously to a degree, but if a person isn't acquainted with that degree, they'd best be severely serious.
Chad Johnson was in trouble because of his lack of self control, not knowing what appropriate reactions were, and for acting improperly and irresponsibly.
Had the judge NOT given him 30 days for slapping his lawyer on the ass, which simply highlighted the fact he's learned nothing from this experience, it would have been wrong.

Don't forget that this same problem pissed away an NFL career. Specifically this same problem. He was let go from the Dolphins this past Spring for using language with reporters after he and the entire team had been told numerous times that the team was to put forth a completely professional persona and to never use inappropriate language in front of the cameras. His head was already chopped when he got around to whatever happened with his crazy girlfriend, which was another domestic abuse deal if I remember correctly.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Exactly. What the judge did was not right. Going to jail is a serious thing and really puts him in a dangerous position for nothing due to his celebrity. If he is harmed in jail, it is her fault.

Think of all the scums and social predators that don't serve time. We need term limits on judges...

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

I think Ocho meets your definition of scummy social predators. He head-butted a beautiful little woman and sent her to the hospital for multiple stitches.
He didn't think he deserved to be punished, so he violated his probation numerous times which is why he stood in court.
He's also on the hook for being a deadbeat Dad to one of his baby-mamas.
All of these things should have him in jail, yet he's escaped because he can afford good lawyers.
30 days in County isn't going to cause him any harm. He's not going up State. All he's going to do is play cards, sleep on a really awful bed, and wish time would pass much, much faster.
He's getting off very easy.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

This is true

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He didn't get 30 days for slapping the lawyer on the ass, he got 30 days for assaulting his ex, the Judge rejected the plea deal because of his actions in the courtroom.

I guess I think assaulting a woman is more serious than some people who seem to think this is more about the a judge thinking they are God in their courtroom, simple fact is they are God in their courtroom, hence "contempt of court" which gives them power to lock you up for exactly this type of thing.

If you are in court, you are on trial, you are suppose to at least pretend to take things seriously, not laughing and joking around.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

The original question doesn't have ANYTHING to do with the original charge, it has to do with the agreed on plea, the action and then reaction of the Judge.

This is about an ash slap. pure and simple....the plea was agreed on and because of the action, the Judge changed her mind. It was not contempt of court, she didn't accept the plea.

Thanks for explaining what a courtroom is all about, I appreciate you giving me some outline, that will come in handy.....and I am positive you think assaulting woman is more serious that I do....:rolleyes:

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

In the vid Carlos put up she says that she saw him, so I don't think that was it. Also, I have no problem with what the judge did. Chad Johnson should have known better than to do it in the courtroom, plain and simple. IMHO.

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I think that could easily be contempt of court. Here, you can get 180 days for that, no questions asked. He should consider himself lucky.

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I understood what you were asking.
Thing is, the reason he was there was for the judge to contemplate his original charge and the probation violation attached to it, so it's hard to ignore.

I get why he would do what he did, and personally thought it was perfectly harmless and appropriate, or at least okay. It's not though, doesn't matter who you are or what the reason, and I know that.
Johnson even seemed baited. He looked like he thought she was expecting a response to show his lawyer he did a good job, which is why he slapped his butt. I think she was expecting him to thank his lawyer and shake his hand, but Johnson was nervous. He certainly didn't understand why people were laughing, and thought it was something else, and that made him more nervous.

The judge did seem to be showing off a bit. I didn't feel like her voice or body language matched what she was doing. Thing is, I don't know her past that snippet. That may be her usual demeanor.
Had there not been a courtroom laughing, maybe she wouldn't have had the reaction because she wouldn't have felt she was being made fool of or disrespected. I'd even give you that one. But I don't know her and the courtroom wasn't empty, so we don't get that chance.
Which leads back to "he got what he paid for".

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Yea Scott, I understand that thinking. I don't disagree that him getting 30 days for assaulting his wife, let alone the failure to comply with probation(which was given with no previous jail time, maybe a gift in itself), seems more than reasonable. He could have been sentenced to 60-90 days(assuming that is relatively standard in that area), fine.... He committed a crime, was sentenced to probation and blew it... Personal responsibility, take it or face the consequences.

But it appeared that was past us. His attorney had met with the ADA(assume with input from his probation agent), struck a deal that seemed to be okay with the Judge....then the ash slap. I am just trying to take this from point F to point H.....discounting anything prior.

Though obviously in the minority, I see this as a Judge punishing him for the ash slap....nothing more. Well, actually the courtroom reaction to the ash slap. Maybe that would even be okay, if she would have said, we'll enter the new plea agreement, Mr. Johnson….bla..bla..bla… Now, I am going to address your contempt in my courtroom. At least then he is not being sentenced to 30 days on a domestic, related to his telling his attorney "good job" with an ash slap.

This doesn't appear to resonate with anyone, including the insinuation that I don’t think assaulting women is serious.....;)

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Let's look at if from another perspective. The judge knows that this will hit the airwaves no matter what her decision. Could she be positioning herself to be the next Judge Judy?

Not that I condone his actions. His actions were NOT acceptable behavior in a courtroom. He knows better than that.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Have fun in jail, he deserves it. His antics were barely tolerable on the football field, and certainly don't fly in the court of law. This guy thinks he is untouchable and celebrity will get him out of just about anything. To be fair, society and the justice system give 'celebrities' more leeway than your average person, which is probably why some people find the 30 days to be excessive. :2

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

I can see your point about accepting the plea deal and then hitting him with contempt, but he isn't being sentenced for 30 days on the domestic, he is sentenced to 30 days for violating his probation. He pleaded no contest to the domestic after it happened, this hearing was for a probation violation for not keeping in touch with his probation officer. I'm not sure what the difference would be for his criminal record if he serves 30 days for a probation violation or for contempt, but I still am alright with the judges decision.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

I was at a trial in Maryland earlier in the year.
During the trial, someone made a comment that elicited a chuckle from an attorney. I too found it amusing but fortunarely, I chuckled mentally and not physically. The judge went ballistic and nearly sent him to jail. In a very angry tone, demanded to know what was so funny. Warned him that anything further she deemed even remotely inappropriate, he would be sent to jail for 30 days in contempt.

Point of that story is there is no doubt in the general world, what Chad did is acceptable and common.
No doubt he did not mean any harm by his action and no doubt he did not intend it to ridicule the court.
No doubt he ever expected for it to be taken as an insult of any kind.
All that said, doesn't matter in court. Fact is he did it. Like sexual harassment, where it doesn't matter what the offender thought as what only counts is how the offended interpreted it, the same here and in this case, the offended has the power to sentence him to jail and exercised it.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

He disrespected the judge and the court with his behavior. He was there dealing with a very serious charge and was going to get off with a slap on the wrist of some community service. But in typical Chad Johnson fashion he had to do something stupid like he always does. It's why he's no longer in the NFL his antics are not worth the trouble.

He's had this coming for a long time, he needs to learn to take things seriously sometimes. He got what he deserved as far as I am concerned, the probation he got was too light for headbutting your wife in the face anyways.

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I just don't get why he wasen't wearing a suit in the court room. Everyone has made good points or stated theri opinons. It's not like he doesn't have a few in his closet??

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Maybe Ray Lewis got rid of them? :=:

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Jay, it's Florida.
Better yet, it's South Florida.
I'll never forget how shocked I was that folks I was interviewing for a professional job would show up without suits, one after the other.
Although not for me, in South Florida, he was actually over dressed.

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

Looks like an apology to the Judge and he's out after 7 days.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/93...logizing-judge

Re: Chad Johnson Courtroom Stuff
 

EJ, I found out why McHugh went nuts on Johnson. He's pissed her off for courtroom misconduct in the past...

"McHugh noted that in a previous hearing, Johnson put his arm around a female prosecutor's shoulders, prompting her to tell him twice not to touch her..."
Linky

That pretty much answers your OP, and answers why she pulled her verdict. I think she was very calm and handled it real well, considering this part of the story. (Why it was never mentioned until now is just one of the many reasons why the media sucks so bad. Had they told the whole story up front, there's no drama. Heck, this discussion wouldn't have even taken place.)

It's real easy to see that he was mocking her. If he wasn't, then he's clearly just the stupidest person on earth.