IconoclasT wrote:
] A Rutherford County General Sessions judge fined himself
] during court Thursday when his cellular phone sounded off, a
] violation of court rules.
]
] Judge Christopher Coats was wrapping up court Thursday in
] Smyrna when his phone sounded off, according to Terry
] Davenport, the city's court clerk. Under court rules, cellular
] phones and pagers must be turned off in the courtroom. If they
] ring, their owners can be charged with contempt of court.
]
] ''He (Coats) looked very amazed and turned a little
] red-faced'' when the device sounded, Davenport said. ''He
] said, 'I should know better.' ''
] Coats found himself in contempt of court and doubled the $5
] fine the charge carries, the clerk said.
]
] On Friday, Davenport said the judge had already paid the $10
] fine. The offense wasn't serious enough to impact Coats'
] judgeship beyond the fine, Davenport said.

That is awesome. A judge who finds himself not to be above the law.