Former Pennsylvania bar chief is detained in courthouse scuffle; no charges filed
Clifford Haines/Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Updated: A former chair of the Pennsylvania Bar Association was taken into custody on Monday in connection with a courthouse scuffle with a sheriff’s deputy at Philadelphia’s Criminal Justice Center.
Clifford Haines, 72, was detained after allegedly hitting a sheriff’s deputy, PhillyNews.com reports.
Barbara Grant, spokeswoman for the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Department, told Philly.com that the incident followed a dispute between Haines and the deputy, and “it took a couple of officers to subdue” the lawyer. Haines’ shoulder was broken when he was taken to the floor, according to the article.
Grant told the Legal Intelligencer (sub. req.) that the incident began after a deputy told Haines he was leaving the building through an entrance, which was the wrong way. Grant said Haines became insistent and used aggressive language.
Haines left but returned a few minutes later and put his hands in the deputy’s face, according to Grant. The deputy told Haines to back away, but Haines’ hand hit the deputy’s arms and hands at some point, Grant said. A tussle followed.
Philly.com cites court records saying Haines failed to appear for the call of his case due to the sheriff’s confiscation of his phone in the lobby.
The District Attorney’s office reviewed video of the incident and declined to file charges against Haines, also a former chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Haines was not immediately available for comment.
Updated on Aug. 25 to add new information from Philly.com and to add information from the Legal Intelligencer.
