A United States juror got a rude awakening when an angry judge fined him $1 000 for letting out a loud yawn during an attempted murder trial, a media report said on Wednesday.
The juror’s ennui interrupted the selection of the panel ahead of opening arguments in a trial in Los Angeles, and prompted a furious reaction from Judge Craig Veals, The Los Angeles Times said.
“You yawned rather audibly there. As a matter of fact, it was to the point that it was contemptuous,” the judge told juror number 2 386.
“I’m sorry, but I’m really bored,” the juror replied to the judge, who dismissed the panellist’s attitude as “lousy”.
“Your boredom just cost you $1 000,” the judge told the jury in the proceedings on April 1. “I’m finding you in contempt. Are you quite so bored now?”
The judge later relented and slashed the fine to $100 after the juror balked at the hefty bill for his boredom, but not before he spent up to two hours detained in a jury assembly room, the Times said.
California law permits judges to fine anyone up to $1 500 to preserve and enforce order in the courtroom and to compel obedience to lawful orders. — AFP