Judge Reprimanded for Jailing Man After Confrontation in Courthouse Restroom
A Texas judge has received a private reprimand for sentencing a man to 30 days in jail for a confrontation in a courthouse restroom.
The judge, Jack Robison of Caldwell County, did not hold a hearing before sentencing Don Bandelman to jail, according to news reports at the time. Bandelman was arrested outside the courthouse after following Robison into the restroom and calling the judge a fool because of his ruling in a child custody case. Bandelman was released two days later when an appeals court asked Robison to explain the contempt ruling.
Robison wasn’t identified in the private reprimand, but its mention of a confrontation in a public restroom was a clear reference to the judge, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The newspaper also talked to Bandelman, who received a letter about the reprimand.
According to the American-Statesman, judges are required to give notice and hold hearings before sentencing defendants for contempt that occurs outside the courtroom.
