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Judge Joe Brown released--Opponent says publicity stunt
by Joseph Earnest March 25, 2014
Newscast Media MEMPHIS—Famous TV Judge Joe Brown found himself in handcuffs after what appears to be a disagreement between him and a magistrate of a lesser rank in a Memphis, Tennessee courtroom.
According to Judge Brown, who was the first Black judge to serve in Memphis early in his career, he was there to represent a client on a child support case in a Juvenile Court on Monday. Judge Brown says he was doing it pro bono, and was upset when they postponed his case for the afternoon hearing.
Judge Brown then asked Juvenile Court Magistrate Harold Horne to "just dismiss the case" which the magistrate refused to do.
It was then that Judge Brown questioned the magistrate's credentials and authority to preside over cases.
"On what authority do you sit by the way? As a former judge here, we have a rule in the 30th judicial district that says every single magistrate, referee has to be unanimously approved by every circuit, chancery, and criminal court judge. I don't recall that your name's ever been submitted sir!" Brown said.
The magistrate told Judge Brown to calm down, but Brown refused. He was then reminded that he could be held in contempt, to which Judge Brown said, "You've got ten dollars. Here, I'll give you twenty."
The magistrate warned Judge Brown that he would be sentenced to 24 hours, but Brown kept scolding the judge. Judge Brown was then removed from the courtroom and sent to the Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar. He was released in less than four hours. Watch:
It should be noted that Judge Brown is running for Shelby County District Attorney against Amy Weirich. When his opponent heard that Judge Brown had been thrown in jail, she cried foul.
District Attorney Amy Weirich believes the whole arrest and the courtroom brouhaha was staged. She believes that Judge Brown wanted maximum publicity for the upcoming election, and somehow was able to manipulate the court proceedings so that the magistrate could put him in jail.
She questioned why Judge Brown had his attorney with him, before he went into court, and asked how Judge Brown knew the defendant would be at the hearing.
Brown says it was just a coincidence that he was in that area of town, and decided to pop into a courtroom to represent a client for free.
When residents started comparing Judge Brown to Martin Luther King because he was fighting for them, the jail staff quickly released him because it was having a positive effect on the constituents.
Weirich's campaign manager released a statement following the arrest, saying, "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."
People who set themselves up for arrest are referred to as "arrestables".
Brown insists the arrest was genuine, and that he did serve time in jail even though it was only four hours.
Observers believe that since Brown has now earned "street cred" and stood up to the justice system, he has a high possibility of winning the election, due to all the publicity he is receiving. Brown is running as a Democrat. Add Comments>>
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