Alabama Man Jailed for Saggy Pants

[longnecker]

An Alabama circuit judge gave a man a three-day jail sentence after his blue jeans were sagging too low during a court appearance. (AP)

An Alabama man was given a three-day jail sentence on Tuesday after a judge took offense with his saggy blue jeans.
LaMarcus D. Ramsey, a 20-year-old man from Pratville, Alabama, was in Autauga County Circuit Court on Tuesday to enter a plea for charges of receiving stolen property when Circuit Judge John Bush ordered him to serve a three-day jail sentence for wearing his blue jeans too low.
“You are in contempt of court because you showed your butt in court,” Bush told Ramsey on Tuesday. “You can spend three days in jail. When you get out you can buy pants that fit, or at least get a belt to hold up your pants so your underwear doesn’t show.”
A call to the Autauga County Circuit Court clerk’s office was not immediately returned. It wasn't known Wednesday morning whether Ramsey has an attorney.
[See pictures of protesters seeking hustice for Trayvon Martin.]
Contempt of court laws are murky and vary from state to state. In general, the contempt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and a person may be held in contempt of court for unacceptable behavior in the presence of a judge. Punishments vary from warnings to imprisonment, but are immediately and unconditionally imposed. In some places, actions like yawning are considered contempt of court.
Saggy pants, hooded sweatshirts, and untied shoes have recently become a flash point of sorts. Some have suggested that the fashion of wearing baggy, sagging pants started because guards take away belts and shoelaces in jails.
In August 2011, after a series of flash mobs in Philadelphia, Mayor Michael A. Nutter lectured the city’s youths, saying “Take those God-darn hoodies down, especially in the summer. Pull your pants up and buy a belt ‘cause no one wants to see your underwear or the crack of your butt.”
Most recently, the imbroglio over the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida has garnered international attention, specifically because Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt on the night of his death.

• http://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/a...-sagging-pants

[Tracy]

I'm torn over this....

If you're going to court, at least wear a nice pair of khakis and a dress shirt if you can't afford a suit. Jeans are not appropriate attire for court...geez.

However, do we really need to take up space in a jail cell for something as silly as someone wore ill fitting clothing to court?

Silly defendant....silly judge....the whole thing is just...


silly

[EpicWin]

[Tracy]

can't see at work...have a feeling I wouldn't want to see anyway

[max1]

No warning?
Look, I understand there is a right way to dress for court and a wrong way, and it's sad that it comes to a point where we have to tell people how to dress. This is just another failing of the parents as far as I'm concerned. There are so many teachable moments there is no excuse for this or many of what we call societal ills.

All that being said, and I would never do it but who gives a fuck how someone dresses or looks unless it has some impact on safety.

[EpicWin]

can't see at work...have a feeling I wouldn't want to see anyway

Your work must block youtube streams then? It was just a clip from Brother where are thou. Soggy Bottom Boys.

[cracker]

I've been in court a few times for jury duty, etc. and some people just amaze me. They would show up in ripped up jeans and sneakers that didn't even have the laces tied. Judges have a huge amount of power to screw people over so whenever I have to be in front of one I do my best to look presentable.

[max1]

I've been in court a few times for jury duty, etc. and some people just amaze me. They would show up in ripped up jeans and sneakers that didn't even have the laces tied. Judges have a huge amount of power to screw people over so whenever I have to be in front of one I do my best to look presentable.

Perhaps it had something to do with words of wisdom from your parents?
"Little Cracker, someday you might end up in court, and if you do dress nice and wear clean underwear"

[cracker]

Perhaps it had something to do with words of wisdom from your parents?
"Little Cracker, someday you might end up in court, and if you do dress nice and wear clean underwear"

Lol, my Mom was a social worker and my Dad was a PO so they were in court all the time. It went like this: "Boy, Judges can really F you over and there's not a whole lot you can do about it. Wear the best clothes you have and do your best not to piss them off." IMHO that's great advice.



And for another random musing I'll be at Stanley's Tavern tonight. Based on past experience though I don't expect to see any of you guys there. You're all a bunch of bums.

[Crabby]

Would I want to meet up with someone who just called me a bum? The jury's still out on that one.

[motherof3]

Sorry Cracker, they don't let me out of the house very often

[Jessica]

I think that this was a case where a judge was clearly trying to prove a point - come to court looking presentable, show some respect for the process, or you'll pay a price.

That being said, I agree with Tracy - is it worth it? Is it worth the jail time and the paperwork and the hassle? I don't know. Clearly there is a right and wrong way to dress for court, especially when you're the one defending yourself and facing charges. Maybe it was a roundabout way of solving a bigger problem - bias based on personal appearance. It's a no-brainer to me that even when a jury is impartial, they're still human beings. They still view a person in a suit differently than a person who walks in looking like they slept in last night's clothing and wore it to court. That's why defense teams spend a lot of time grooming their clients to portray a certain image through clothing, hair styles, etc. Maybe this will put the message out to other defendants that the way you present yourself in court is more than a sign of decorum, it could make a world of difference for you.