Judge Raymond Voet has a policy sent to District Court of Ionia County 64 claiming that electronic devices that cause a disturbance during Court sessions will result in the owner being cited with contempt, the Sentinel-Standard of Ionia and MLive.com reported.
Friday afternoon, during the discussion of a Prosecutor as part of a jury trial, Voet's new smartphone began to emit sounds that requires voice commands. Voet said he thinks it has bumped up the phone, and the embarrassment probably left red-faced.
"I'm guessing that bumped. Started talking really loud, saying, ' you don't understand. Say something like MOM, ' "he said.
Voet has used a mobile phone Blackberry for years and said she was not familiar with the operation of the new touchscreen, Windows-based phone.
"That is an excuse, but I do not take those excuses from anyone else. Set the bar high, because cell phones are a distraction and there is very serious, "he said. "The House is a special place in the community, and needs more than that."
Over the years, the judge whose court is about 110 km northwest of Detroit took the phones away from police officers, lawyers, witnesses, spectators and friends. During a break in the trial, Voet itself held in contempt, fined himself and paid the fine.
"Judges are human beings," said Voet. "I'm not above the rules. I broke the rule, and I have to live by it. "
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