Lawyer punished for cellphone ringing in court

Punishment for having your cellphone turned on in court? A morning tea shout for the staff. Photo / Thinkstock

A lawyer received an unusual sentence in the Ashburton District Court yesterday.

He was ordered by Judge Joanna Maze to provide morning or afternoon tea for court staff after his cellphone went off while the court was in session.

The lawyer was not in the court room when the phone went off - it was in the pocket of his jacket, which he'd left on the back of a chair.

When the phone went off, Judge Maze took an adjournment. She had already issued a warning about turning cellphones off in the court room after two in the public gallery went off during the morning session, so was less than impressed.

When court recommenced and the lawyer who owned the phone returned to the court house, Judge Maze handed down the punishment.

"I would have thought that the penance could be paid by way of morning or afternoon tea for the court staff," she said.

But, she said, she would not participate in the feast, as it would not be proper for a judge to do so.