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| Judge Raymond Voet |
(Scroll down for video) Here is something we never heard before. A judge held himself in contempt of court for interrupting court proceedings.
Judge Raymond Voet from Ionia, Michigan showed everyone that he practiced what he preached and that he held himself to the same standard that he expects from everyone in the courtroom.
Judge Voet had a policy published in his Ionia County 64A District Courtroom. It states that electronic devices that cause a disturbance during court sessions will result in the owner being cited with contempt.
The judge got a new smartphone, which he is still learning how to use. On Friday, during a jury trial, while the prosecutor was giving his closing argument, Voet's new smartphone began to emit sounds, requesting phone voice commands.
Judge Voet said he might have bumped the phone causing the touchscreen phone to turn on and talk loudly.
The Judge then imposed a $25 fine for contempt of court on himself after his phone made a noise during closing arguments of trial by jury. "If I cannot live by my rules, then I have no business to enforce these rules on others," Voet said.
“Judge Raymond Voet is a respected judge who is known to be fair. Many people are very impressed by his actions,” Kevin Rasmussen, 62, from Ionia, Michigan told YourJewishNews.com.