‘ Why would you wear pants up here that have more holes in them than a golf course?’

‘ Why would you wear pants up here that have more holes in them than a golf course?’

Judge Thorne stresses the importance of courtroom dress etiquette

news@theeveningtimes.com “Did you check with the jail to see if they have any beds left for juveniles?” asked Judge Fred Thorne of West Memphis Municipal Court to his bailiff.

“Yes, sir. They have two beds left. One for a male and one for a female.”

“I told a juvenile in Jonesboro that he could have 30 days jail or he could get a buzz-cut for his crime. It turned out his mother was a hairdresser and she said ‘he will get a buzz cut.’ I got a picture in a text and he DID get his hair cut.”

Judge Thorne went on to give his speech about how to plead to charges. “Usually by the fifth person up, they forget what I said and don’t plead correctly.”

A man in jail with a driving on suspended charge, no insurance, no tags and bogus tags was called up. “What is your plea to these charges?”

“Well, your honor…..”

“Sit down! We didn’t even make it through the first one!” Another man in jail was charged with disorderly conduct.

“Sir, I got hit in the nose….”

“Make his plea not guilty.

Jail, his trial is set for November 15th. Now for the rest of you in jail, you better listen to me, tell me how you plead before you start talking about your case!”

A man in jail charged with disorderly conduct came forward. His sister, in the courtroom, came forward also.

“Why was he out naked in front of children?”

“He refuses to go to Mental Health,” said his sister.

“You were naked and telling the kids about bugs and snakes?”

“I’ll go to Mental Health,” said the man in jail.

“I want you back in front of me on October 24th. Bring proof with you that you have been to Mental Health.”

“Judge, can you send him to rehab?” asked the sister.

“Take him to Mental Health first and we’ll see what they recommend.”

A woman in jail was charged with careless driving, no proof of insurance, not showing up for her review and not paying her fines. She pled guilty to all charges.

“You are looking at 18 days jail time. How do I give you a break when you haven’t done what you were supposed to do? $500 or 18 days jail. Your traffic ticket will go on your record. That won’t help you when you try to get a job.”

A man in jail pled guilty to public intoxication.

“There isn’t a whole lot we can do about your drinking problem, is there?”

“No, sir.”

“$300 plus court costs.”

A man in jail was arrested at the bus stop at Petro.

“You were banned from Petro. Can’t you catch a bus at a bus stop somewhere else?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Jail, let him out at 5 o’clock today.”

Another man in jail was charged with disorderly conduct.

“How do you plead to disorderly conduct?” “Guilty.”

“Why did you get in an altercation with the police? You got in the middle of an arrest of some other people. How many were arrested besides you?”

“One.”

“Why didn’t you stay inside the building?”

“I did.”

“$400 plus court costs.”

Judge Fred Thorne A man in jail came forward with the aid of a chair in front of him.

“Where do you live?”

“I was trying to get to Texas.”

“You have to hold on to that chair just to get 30 feet. How long will it take you to get to Texas?”

“I am totally disabled. My mom and my sister are in Texas.”

“You can’t be out begging for money. Jail, let him out at noon.”

The man turned around and used the chair to get to the back of the jail. A comment in the courtroom because of what was showing was, “maybe they need to get him some underwear before he gets out.”

A man in jail was told by Judge Thorne, “You didn’t comply with the terms of your probation. Go talk to the public defender.”

A man in the courtroom was told to come back and bring proof he had insurance.

“His insurance was good,” said the bailiff. “We checked it out.”

“$50. Go pay.”

A man in the courtroom pled not guilty to his driving on suspended.

“How many driving on suspendeds have you got?”

“About five.”

“The first time I saw you, you were wearing a T-shirt.

Now you are dressed real good. We are making some progress.”

A woman in the courtroom was charged with driving on suspended and no insurance.

She pled guilty to both charges.

“You’ve been charged three or four times in Memphis.”

“I haven’t had any driving on suspendeds here.”

“Not here, in Memphis. I do have your records. You had a failure to prove you had insurance in September. $375 plus court costs on the driving on suspended and $375 plus court costs on the insurance.

Do you want two days jail or two days house arrest?”

The lady thought about the choices.

“Which do you want?”

“House arrest.”

Another man charged with driving on suspended pled guilty. To his charges of no insurance he pled not guilty.

“Do you have your license now?”

“Yes, sir, ‘cause I got a job and paid my fines.”

“Why would you wear pants up here that have more holes in them than a golf course?

You want me to be easy on you but did it dawn on you that it is a two way street?

$195 plus court costs on the driving on suspended and two days house arrest. Set a trial date for his insurance.”

A woman was asked, “How do you plead to driving on suspended?”

“Guilty.”

“Did he butcher your name?” “Yes.”

“In ‘09 you were hell on wheels! What fine did I give the other guy?”

“$600?”

“$195 plus court costs and two days house arrest. Would you rather have that or $600?” “$195.”

A young man was called up in the courtroom.

“Where is the other person you were involved with?”

“He’s here.”

“Come on up,” said Judge Thorne.

“How do you both plead to reckless driving?”

“No contest,” said both guys. “Okay. Tell me.”

“I was leaving at lunch and I pulled out. He pulled up beside me.” “In the wrong lane?”

“He was on my right. I revved up my motor. It would have looked like we were racing.”

“What kind of grades do you make in school?”

“A’s, B’s and C’s,” said one.

“B’s and C’s,” said the other.

“What good are C’s?” asked the Judge. “Who pays your insurance?”

“Both young men pointed to their mothers.

“Okay mother. You have two options. Option A is pay court costs and go to driver’s school or option B, four hours community service and driver’s school.”

“I’ll take option B,” said the first mother.

“And what do you want?”

asked the judge to the second mother.

“He can handle a shovel. I’ll take option B also.”

“If they do their community service I’ll take it off their records this time.”

By the Evening Times News Staff