Sagging Pants Makes Judge Jail Man for Three Days
A man in Alabama was sentenced to three days in jail after a judge found him in contempt of court for wearing sagging pants.
Lamarcus Ramsey, 20, from Autauga County went before the judge for a charge of receiving stolen property, but ended up in jail after the judge deemed his attire inappropriate for his courtroom, according to WSFA.
"It shows a general lack of respect for themselves, for others and the general institution of the court," said Judge John Bush of 19th Judicial Circuit Court.
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"These courtrooms belong to the people of this state. And the citizens of the 19th Circuit expect me to preserve dignity and respect in their courtroom."
There has been talk of the nature of young people's dress recently, but this is the first time that a person was put behind bars for having saggy pants.
"You are in contempt of court because you showed your butt in court," Bush told Ramsey.
The judge continued: "You can spend three days in jail. When you get out you can buy pants that fit, or at least get a belt to hold up your pants so your underwear doesn't show."
Whit Moncrief, the Autauga County Circuit Clerk, explained that there had been issues in the past with proper court attire.
"We've had some dress code problems before, but never anyone put in jail especially for the saggy pant issue," Moncrief told WFSA.
Court specialist Vicky Lackey said there was a quiet fell over the courtroom after the judge made his decision.
"They were talking amongst themselves, after he found them in contempt," Lackey said. "Nobody else scurried around."
Lackey explained that Ramsey was out on bond and was only scheduled for a plea hearing. She said that if he had pulled up his pants he could have walked out of court.
Judge Bush stated that he has found people in criminal contempt of court in the past and would do so again if the situation called for it.
