Court: Woman's phone annoying, but not contempt

[April 20, 2010]  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- A Florida appeal court has overturned a ruling in which a woman was held in contempt and her cell phone ordered destroyed after it rang in a courtroom.

The Fifth District Court of Appeal in Daytona Beach concluded that, while annoying, 28-year-old Michelle McRoy's actions did not meet the necessary legal standards for contempt.

McRoy was in an Orange County Circuit courtroom when her phone began to ring loudly. McRoy admitted she hadn't checked to see that it was turned off after her sister used it outside the courtroom.

McRoy said the judge stopped proceedings and tossed her phone into a garbage can.

The appeal court ruling found McRoy did not embarrass the judge or obstruct justice.

McRoy said she hopes to get the phone back.

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Information from: Orlando Sentinel, http://www.orlandosentinel.com/

[Associated Press]

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