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New York Judge Tossed From Bench After 'Inexplicable Madness'; Booked
Courtroom After Cell Phone Rang
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
NIAGRA FALLS, N.Y - A judge who jailed 46 people who were in his courtroom
when a cell phone call interrupted proceedings was removed from the bench
Tuesday by a state commission.
Niagara Falls City Court Judge Robert Restaino "snapped" and "engaged in
what can only be described as two hours of inexplicable madness" during the
March 2005 session, Raoul Felder, chairman of the state Commission on
Judicial Conduct, wrote in the decision to remove Restaino from the
$113,900-per-year post.
A phone rang while Restaino was hearing the cases of domestic violence
offenders who had been ordered to appear weekly to update the judge on the
progress of their counseling. A sign in the courthouse warns that cell
phones and pagers must be turned off.
"Everyone is going to jail," Restaino said. "Every single person is going to
jail in this courtroom unless I get that instrument now. If anybody believes
I'm kidding, ask some of the folks that have been here for a while. You are
all going."
When no one came forward, Restaino ordered the group into custody, and they
were taken to jail, where they were searched and packed into crowded cells.
Fourteen people who could not post bail were shackled and bused to another
jail.
Restaino ordered them released later that afternoon.
Restaino told the state panel he had been under stress in his personal life.
His attorney, Terrence Connors, said Restaino would appeal.
New York Judge Tossed From Bench After 'Inexplicable Madness'; Booked
Courtroom After Cell Phone Rang
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
NIAGRA FALLS, N.Y - A judge who jailed 46 people who were in his courtroom
when a cell phone call interrupted proceedings was removed from the bench
Tuesday by a state commission.
Niagara Falls City Court Judge Robert Restaino "snapped" and "engaged in
what can only be described as two hours of inexplicable madness" during the
March 2005 session, Raoul Felder, chairman of the state Commission on
Judicial Conduct, wrote in the decision to remove Restaino from the
$113,900-per-year post.
A phone rang while Restaino was hearing the cases of domestic violence
offenders who had been ordered to appear weekly to update the judge on the
progress of their counseling. A sign in the courthouse warns that cell
phones and pagers must be turned off.
"Everyone is going to jail," Restaino said. "Every single person is going to
jail in this courtroom unless I get that instrument now. If anybody believes
I'm kidding, ask some of the folks that have been here for a while. You are
all going."
When no one came forward, Restaino ordered the group into custody, and they
were taken to jail, where they were searched and packed into crowded cells.
Fourteen people who could not post bail were shackled and bused to another
jail.
Restaino ordered them released later that afternoon.
Restaino told the state panel he had been under stress in his personal life.
His attorney, Terrence Connors, said Restaino would appeal.