Judge Napolitano Criticizes Florida Judge for Sentencing Teen to 30 Days in Jail for Mouthing Off
Yesterday, we showed you video of a teen getting herself into trouble with a Miami judge when she talked back to him during a drug possession hearing.
During the exchange, the judge upped Penelope Soto’s bond after she laughed at him and said “adios.”
A shocked Soto asked, “Are you serious?”
The judge replied, “I am serious. Adios.” She then stormed off, flipped her middle finger at him and cursed. The judge quickly summoned her back, found her in contempt of court, and sentenced her to 30 days in jail.
Today, Fox’s own Judge Andrew Napolitano reacted to the exchange, and his response may surprise some of you.
“I think the judge grossly overreacted,” Napolitano told Stuart Varney.
He said that the girl is innocent until proven guilty, was charged with illegal possession of a prescription drug, and has no prior record. In such a case, she would ordinarily be released on her own recognizance. “Because he didn’t like her, he charged her with $5,000. Because she behaved rudely, he doubled that to $10,000,” Napolitano said.
“If someone misbehaves in your courtroom, you have to display some tolerance […] You cannot sentence or punish a person in anger because that’s not the right or fair mental framework.”
Do you agree that the judge overreacted?
