Judge Rebuked in Case of Cellphone 'Madness'

Date: 11/28/07

The law, it's suppose to be focusing on the people rights and who should be put away. But instead a furious judge, Robert M. Restaino decided to sentence 70 people in the courtroom if their cellphone were not off. This was two hours of madness because somebody in the back row had their cellphone ringing. He was dealing with many domestic violence cases when that one phone interrupted his day. Judge Restaino had a security guard search for the ringing cell phone but failed with no results. I believe this judge has gone out of his mind to waste this much time to look for a ridiculous cellphone while there are other matters that should be settle. This was ignorant of the judge and certainly not ethical in his position.

All defendants in the courtroom were part of a program for domestic violence offenders who agreed to take a drug and alcohol test. One defendant, Reginald Jones was one of the first one out of 46 other defendants to be in custody because of the ringing cellphone. This is outraged and unfair to everyone that was in that courtroom. Another defendant told the judge this was not fair and the judge simply said, "You're right, it ain't right. Ain't right at all".

This happened in Niagara Falls, NY. There courtroom system should be the same as the other five boroughs in New York. I deal with the courts and law system all the time. I have heard a few stories from my co-workers that securities inside the courthouse have made an issue with bringing in cell phones before seeing a judge or clerk. Before you enter to see the judge, you must leave your cellphone outside. They are extremely strict with cellphones for security purposes. I understand if we checked in our personal things for security but Judge Restaino has gone overboard and his lawyer that represents him said, "he would exercise his rights to appeal the decision" after sentencing the defendants and waiting for it to be over.