Judge Joe Brown Arrested, Held in Contempt for Yelling at Court Judge
TV's Judge Joe Brown found himself on the opposite side of the judicial system after being arrested and charged with inciting a riot inside the courtroom. Brown reportedly showed up to represent a client in a child support case, and when Juvenile Court Magistrate Harold Horne denied Brown's request to dismiss the case, Brown allegedly exploded.
"He all but had that courtroom in a riot," Juvenile Court Chief Magistrate Dan Michael told Daily Mail. "He then began a diatribe against Mr. Horne and the authority of the court."
"You want to get into this, let's get into this! This sorry operation needs to stop!" Brown yells at the Magistrate in audio recorded in the courtroom.
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Horne had Brown removed from the courtroom and held for 24 hours for contempt of court but increased the time to five days as Brown continued to yell while he was being removed from the courtroom. He was later released from jail and spoke to the press.
"I'm a little hot under the collar," Brown told WREG. "In 40 years, I've never seen such a circus as they've got down there."
He is currently running for Shelby County District Attorney and feels that the arrest was not appropriate and may have been politically motivated. His opponent in the race, Amy Weirich, also released a statement saying that Brown "should be ashamed of himself."
"That sort of disrespectful circus stunt may get Hollywood ratings, but this is real life and real people, and Joe Brown knows better. He should be ashamed of himself," Weirich's campaign manager said.
"Anyone who comes before the Juvenile Court of Memphis and Shelby County will be treated fairly, with dignity and with respect," Juvenile Court Judge Curtis Person said in a separate statement. "Anyone who acts in a contemptuous manner toward this Court, toward any member of this Court, toward any employee of this Court or toward any visitor of this Court will be dealt with appropriately according to the laws of the State of Tennessee."
