The Canberra Times has the disturbing news that Canberra’s Magistrates are only now taking action against people who swear at them in court:
Streams of invective levelled at magistrates and judges are all too common in the legal profession, but contempt of court charges are rarely laid as a result. Under the Magistrates Court Act, a defendant can be held in contempt for insulting a magistrate, registrar, bailiff or other court officer.
After Ms Doogan refused the man bail yesterday, he shouted obscenities before being escorted out of the courtroom by corrective services officers.
”You’re a racist f—ing white piece of shit,” the man shouted.
He continued to shout at the court staff who removed him from the hearing room.
”I’m going to have him charged with contempt,” Ms Doogan said. ”I am sick of being abused by people in this court.”
One has to wonder if it would do society a world of good to enforce some impulse control on those who are coming before the courts.