Woman jailed for wearing shorts »
Posted By JamesMarcus 1 year, 2 months ago in NewsA 28-year-old Kentucky woman was ordered to serve three days in jail after a judge found her in contempt of court for inappropriate dress. Kirstie Arnold of Lancaster, Kentucky, was sent to the Boyle County Jail after wearing short shorts during a court appearance Monday before Garrard District Judge Janet Booth.
Booth had warned Arnold about her clothes in two previous court appearances, and in the last appearance had fined Arnold $50 for her attire. A court videotape of Monday’s proceeding contains the following exchange: "Why shouldn't I put you in jail for contempt today?" Booth asked. "I told you twice." Arnold replied: "I'm sorry." "No, you're not," said Booth. "I told you twice. I even fined you for being in contempt. Why shouldn't I throw you in jail today?" To which Arnold responded: "I forgot." To hear Arnold talk about the judge's ruling, take a look at the video below.
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JamesMarcus
James Marcus is a writer, translator, critic, and editor. He is the author of Amazonia: Five Years at the Epicenter of the Dot-Com Juggernaut and ...
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PsychoHosebeastComment removed: Spammer, Abusive3 Replies
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Engnr1 year, 2 months ago
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When I was in college and in court for going a little to fast on my motorcycle, I watched a judge throw a kid (fellow college student) in jail for 2 day for laughing and not taking the proceedings seriously (he was also there for going a little to fast).
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Moral of the story: Don't Mess with the Judge.
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Endoscopy1 year, 2 months ago
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What really makes no sense is what is in the news story. She did not get out of jail in 3 days. She had brought a drug to the courtroom. She was caught taking it from her purse and putting it in her pocket. She ended up having several more charges against her. What kind of fool brings drugs to a court and wears cloths that they have been ordered not to wear and been fined already for wearing. This woman is brain dead.
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csunbean1 year, 2 months ago
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Moral of the story: Judges, like Police Officers often stomp on civil rights and become more like dictators who let that the power go to their inflated heads. The stupidest characters in these cases are the judges who should show that they are unbiased in all cases. NOT. ACLU case for sure.
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hyperbola1 year, 2 months ago
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Let's see. The Bush administration has started three new wars in the last month and this is what we are talking about?
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Pakistan orders Army to kill US invaders
KEY corps commanders of Pakistan's 600,000-strong army issued orders last night to retaliate against "invading" US forces that enter the country to attack militant targets.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197... -
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slidesoffthemoon1 year, 2 months ago
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I totally agree with the bull that people get thrown in jail for these days. With all the molester and kidnappers and murders this dumb *&^%$ threw in jail over clothes!! EVERYDAY they are taking more and more rights from us. And were fighting Iraq why? For the same things, people messing in others backyards and have no business when we got the same bs here Cough for you!!
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bellabluetooComment removed: Spam
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jillybean14251 year, 2 months ago
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I was a witness and had to go to Hamilton Co. Courthouse multiple times and was appauled at what people were wearing. Belly shirts, hats, baggy pants and sweatshirts, and much worse. Some people have mentioned age on here and I just want to say I'm 23 and would never consider wearing anything less than suit pants and dress shirt. I think it shows lack of respect for themselves, the judge, and the law when people show up looking like they don't care.
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lender19981 year, 2 months ago
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type your comment here
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I'm almost 60 years old and have never been arrested and in court. This is a young girl who has already been arrested and in court numerous times. Obviously she has other problems of which at least two are that she has never been taught repsect or accountability. All she did was blame someone else. I've heard it a million times. -
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mama7464s1 year, 2 months ago
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Oh, I agree! We got caught in this mortgage crunch and had to declare bankruptcy in order to stop them foreclosing on our home. When we got to court, I saw people who looked as if they ought to be on a street corner either as pimps or hookers. One woman had on a tight-fitting t-shirt, and WAY too much tummy to wear anything tight, and it had one long sleeve on the right while her left shoulder and arm were bare. When she turned around I expected to see a totally glammed up face, but she had no makeup on at all and did she EVER need at least a little bit -- plainer than a mud fence. Not only was the blouse totally inappropriate, but the whole look was entirely off the hook. If you like dressing that way, that's your business, but when you're going to court, TRY to look business like and respectable! One gal and her man not only looked like they belonged on a street corner, but they had on all KINDS of EXPENSIVE looking jewelry, and there they were in bankruptcy court! ????????????????
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kpressler33651 year, 2 months ago
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I live in Hamilton Ohio and have been to court. I almost fell over when I saw what people wear to court. Do they not look in the mirror before they leave the house? Its pretty gross. I wonder if they think the Judge will think they are Hot and will get a lighter sentence? Probably, that seems to be the mentality around here. Also you should see what some of the employees wear at the court house, they look like hookers and Im not the first person to say this either. I have heard many other people say this. They wear what appear to be the big platform stripper shoes, mini skirts and you see many bare bellies. EWWWWWWWWWWWW. No class at all
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unjust1 year, 2 months ago
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granted she should get time for her actual crimes, but for her dress..... this is the judge overusing her power. she was in court and dressed, whats the problem, so many other things that are more important than this unjust.........
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sarahwantsbeer1 year, 2 months ago
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First of all, it's spelled "speech" and second, manner of dress is not freedom of speech. This woman is obviously an idiot and she deserved to go to jail for contempt. She contempuously disreguarded the judge's orders about how she was to present herself in court. That means jail time. She gets no sympathy from me, and she shouldn't from anyone else either. She needs to take responsibility for her own actions, maybe then she wouldn't be in court at all.
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Dearmouse1 year, 2 months ago
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Are you that dense? Okay, so never mind that this girl has multiple charges just let her go because the judge wants some respectability in her court room? What planet are you on? This is not a civil rights issue it is a common sense issue. And this girl has none! Have you ever been to court in Kentucky? Obviously not--it states on court room doors that dress needs to appropriate, no hats and no cell phones. I can't ever remember it not saying that . Respect is something that has gone out the window with the younger generation. She wasn't there for a fashion show. She was there to answer to charges for crimes she committed. Bravo to the judge for correcting her behavior--obviously her parents didn't.
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mkdcrb1 year, 2 months ago
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OutlawButch1 year, 2 months ago
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Actually, the first amendment right to Freedom of Speech does cover your freedom of expression, which in turn covers her manner of dress.
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I agree that she was wrong and should have appeared in court dressed to make a good impression. The judge did tell her twice.
However, I am afraid she will get a lawyer and go after the judge....
The part of the video clip that truly makes me angry is the tears and the little whiney voice saying that the judge was "picking on her." The woman needs to grow up and stop blaming everyone else for her own decisions, like inappropriate clothing, drinking and driving and knocking over headstones. -
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jfsinc19291 year, 2 months ago
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You don't even know that the freedom of speech thingy in the 1st Amendment means freedom of the press to speak out against the government. Not freedom for idiots like this dumb blonde to act out in court. She deserves what she got, maybe more. In fact, after all of these court appearances, I can't believe that people are questioning the contempt charge and not asking HER why she's in there in the first place. She's being arrested by cops, not the Judge.
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Jennifro1 year, 2 months ago
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That woman was one of the dumbest people I have ever seen. Clearly by her comments she plans on being an ass and commiting more crimes and being in front of judges again. Totally pathetic and self absorbed. That judge earned her courtroom and can uphold any rules she deems reasonable and appropriate in it. That woman needs to understand that she does not call the shots when she's on someone else's turf. There's a time and a place for everything and revealing clothes in court 3 days in a row after being asked not to just doesn't cut it. Get a clue.
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lookaternie1 year, 2 months ago
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seriously... people, dress nice for court. i've seen people do time in jail for contempt in court for several things. if you have been told several times before, and this little stripper hoe has been in court several times before??? she is a repeat offender. make her do the time. whine whine whine... i dont want to hear her pity party crap, dress nice, repect others, or do the time!
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beminnesota1 year, 2 months ago
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God, what a pathetic loser. She's talking about how "cute" she thought she looked. That's not quite what a court appearance should be about. And the laughable part is she's such a moron that she's going to ask for a change of venue "from now on". How about she just stop doing illegal acts, then she wouldn't need a change of venue and she can dress however she wants.
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trimalccio1 year, 2 months ago
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Court is a different world. When the issues are whether or not people go to jail, and how we value our own laws, "dressing cute" is just not appropriate. Dippy-do had demonstrated either her contempt for the law or her complete and utter cluelessness. Either way, the judge was within the scope of her authority. And what's this about wanting a different judge "next time"? Shouldn't she be more concerned with not having to go back to court?
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jaIssheablonde1 year, 2 months ago
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Oh, please...She was warned twice about her lack of clothing...And then, she disrespected the Judge a third time because all she cared about was looking "cute."
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And what's that crap she is spewing that the Judge was picking on her...She had to go in front of this Judge for a criminal act she committed. ..She put herself in this position...There is no one to blame but herself. -
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charlikoi1 year, 2 months ago
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As a 50 year old who is totally able to wear those "type" of clothes, let me say this...I'm an older woman, and a professional, no one of us is jealous of a little twit that is too self absorbed to do what she was told twice, and fined once for. You apparently are either just as much of a twit of some bozo who thinks this twit is cute. A court of law is not made up of a bunch of jealous old putzes. It a place of that deserves much respect. Members of the judiciary don't really care what you look like; whether or not you are "cute". They care that you have enough respect for yourself to respect the court. And, btw, the court means the judge. She does have the right to determine appropriate attire and speech and how you act. Freedom of expression is not an inalienable right...that what wearing little to no clothing is, not freedom of speech. Oh, and just so that you are sure to know that I could care less what the twit looks like...she is cute. Just dumb as a brick, and a mind is much more interesting than a blond. No attorney is going to fight a decision of contempt, he or she would find themselves in the next cell.
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mimiru20051 year, 2 months ago
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I just find it funny that no one bothers to mention that the judge herself could be jealous because she can't wear something like Ms. Arnold was wearing. Most professional women or older women feel that if they can't wear stuff like that, no one should be able to. As far as her being a stripper, so what if she is. That is still abuse of power. Stripping is legal. I am not one but I still know abuse of power when I see it. I could understand the distraction had someone shown up in lingerie or fully nude, but daisy dukes and a tank top? Come on. It has been 90 degrees for months now. If anyone thinks it is anything other than the judge being jealous and abusing her power, then they are insane. I think she needs to get a great attorney and fight this charge.
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smartmoralsexy1 year, 2 months ago
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It's not surprising that noone jumped to that ludicrous assumption, except someone with a small brain and a stripper mentality. The judge gets up and dresses appropriately everyday for her job why shouldn't someone coming into court who has been warned twice before. That is what is wrong with many people today, anythin goes. Live and let live right? Wrong! In society we have certain rules and if you cannot comply you deserve to be hit hard. I would not expect my son's teachers to come to school with short shorts and tube tops nor my daughter's teacher to wear tight shorts with their package showing no matter how great a teacher they are. Respect is the minimum that we should exhibit in court and in public for that matter.
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mimiru20051 year, 2 months ago
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I am not saying that she should not do the time for her crimes, just not contempt of court for something as stupid as clothing. There are more important things at hand right now like the Hurricane. And to be nit picking about clothing is just ignorant.
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mthep1 year, 2 months ago
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And the hurricanes have anything to do with Kentucky? Why should a judge in a state court have any worries about what is happening elsewhere when her job has to do with what is going on in that courtroom. The girl was the ignorant one for thinking looking "cute" was more important than being presentable in court. She was told twice before. Obviously she shouldn't get any pity since she's already expecting to be in court again. She needs some sort of help. She's obviously a grown person and should know right from wrong and to listen when someone of legal authority tells you to do something. My 2 year old knows better than this idiot.
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Aryun1 year, 2 months ago
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When one goes to court, one should look in the mirror and say 'Will I make a good impression?' As my boss once said, if I look like I'd get a cat-call, don't wear it. Proper attire used to be the standard for court, and people see you totally diffrent depending on your attire. How you look is what you sell. It sadly doesn't shock me that after being told TWICE (once for a lack of a bra/support no less! Tacky!) she chose to flaunt herself in front of the judge and not listen to how that court was run. She got what she deserved, and that is that.
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zipbobrobert1 year, 2 months ago
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Now our judges are in the fashion business judging the styles of the people they judge? That shows what a mockery the US Judicial System is. What more can we do to entertain our judges. I guess they get board on the golf course once in a while and have to stir up some excitement in their courts!
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mstiggsy1 year, 2 months ago
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It is about dressing appropriately and showing respect for the court, which is certainly lacking in society today. I had to appear for a custody hearing recently, and there was another family there in dirty t-shirts, ripped jeans, and the child they were trying to get full custody of was wearing a Budweiser t-shirt. A ten year old in a beer shirt at court sure says to the judge "these people are a good influence on me." There is even a sign posted reminding people of appropriate dress, but I guess that doesn't pertain to certain people.
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sonofstar1 year, 2 months ago
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It would appear that this woman doesn't understand proper attire for a court appearance. Shorts and a babydoll are NOT proper attire (particularly if you're also not wearing a bra). Business casual at the very least is appropriate attire. In fact, the pants and top she wore during the interview were more appropriate attire. The problem here is NOT with the judge. The problem here is with that woman not having any clue what is appropriate to where in different circumstances. Too bad she had to learn the really hard way.
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kpressler33651 year, 2 months ago
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Mimiru has no class. You have a junior high mind to think the judge may be jealous. Trust me judges are not jealous of trash like that. Infact everyone makes fun of people dressed like that in court. You are funny and i feel sorry for you
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skeptic2711 year, 2 months ago
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What are the limits of a judge's power? Instead of three days, could he have said 30 days or 3 months? Should the outcome of a case be influenced by anything but the merits of the case? A judge's power should be strictly limited to matters of law. I understand however that when one sees how much power he or she has over people's lives it is tempting to abuse that power.
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