Trial Court Series No. 3             Published on December 2, 2017

    I was held in contempt by two different judges during my illustrious career as a Defense Attorney. 

Laughing While Being Held for Contempt

    I laughed when one of my favorite judges lifted the citation, and I was able to practice in front of him for many years after. Judge James Lineberger was his name. A former prosecutor, defense lawyer, and a battlefield commissioned captain in the army.

    I was representing a Mafia-wannabe from South Philly who was held in contempt for his antics at a jury trial in another courtroom. He didn’t like his court-appointed lawyer. The attorney had accidentally broke his glasses and the client had to buy him a new pair of frames; he then came to court with white tape holding them together.

    What got him the contempt ruling was when the defendant upended the defense table in full view of the jury when he saw his lawyer had ripped the seat of his pants, and his white undies were in clear view of the jury.

Gorgeous Blonde Got Me Raising My Voice to the Judge

     The defendant didn’t have a leg to stand on when I interviewed him in the lock-up. But I was then approached by his drop-dead gorgeous blonde — a gun moll? — Who wanted me to help her loser boyfriend.

    I argued vigorously and actually raised my voice to the judge with whom she was making goo-goo eyes at. He ordered the sheriffs to take me away stating “Take this short lawyer out of here!”

(See my story of dying for a smoke!)

     I was never more humiliated in my life. I barely reached 5 feet and six inches and had to look up to too many people in my lifetime. The name Contos also means “Short” in some language while my father who was 5-fit-10 inches was named Contoveros, which means “Singer of Truth.’” until Ellis Island changed it.

    A supervisor from my office, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, brought me to the bar of the court, and when I saw the judge smile at me, I quipped, “I don’t want no Public Defender, I want a Real Lawyer.”

     The judge smiled and lifted the contempt citation, and we worked smoothly ever after.

———–

     My other contempt still haunts me years after the judge’s ruling, and that will be revealed next.