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EXCLUSIVE: Attorney arrested after courtroom outburst

8 years 5 months 3 weeks ago Wednesday, September 30 2015 Sep 30, 2015 September 30, 2015 10:37 PM September 30, 2015 in News
Source: WBRZ

BATON ROUGE - An attorney found himself in a jail cell with defendants after mouthing off to a judge in a courtroom Tuesday.

But, Jeffry Sanford said he was only standing up for justice. He said he used a few choice words in his frustrated explanation to a judge after learning the jury seated for the criminal case he was a part of was possibly tainted.

"I was shocked," Sanford said in an exclusive interview with WBRZ reporter Brett Buffington for News 2 at 10:00 Wednesday. Sanford said he was trying to explain to the judge what he heard, and after objecting numerous times, he was arrested for contempt of court.

"My job is to make my objections," he said.

"I went to jail; I've been to jail before. Jesus went to jail and I've actually always wanted to go to jail with a client," Sanford said jokingly after he was released. But, in a serious tone, said he was frustrated at how the situation unfolded.

The case ended with a mistrial since the jury could not come to a decision about the guilt or innocence of the client Sanford was representing on a kidnapping charge. It was not clear Wednesday evening what will happen to the criminal case against the defendant.

Sanford said he'll return to court on behalf of his client if he is needed.

Especially since he and the client shared a ride to jail together.

"I begged them... 'please let me ride in the same car as my client to jail.'"

A clerk for the judge hearing the case said the judge would not comment.

The district attorney's office only said an attorney has not been taken into custody for outbursts in court in 15 years.

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Follow the publisher of this post on Twitter: @treyschmaltz

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