First Amendment activist Lane Myers was arrested for contempt of court on Thursday when he interrupted a Judge during a motions hearing who was explaining the rules of the court before the hearing.
The hearing was being audio streamed on Myers’ YouTube channel and his assembled fans heard the judge indicate that profanity would not be allowed in the courtroom.
Addressing Myers’ previous claim that the Supreme Court’s Cohen vs. California ruling allowed the use of profanity in the courtroom, the Judge was in the process of correcting Myers by stating that even defendant Cohen left the jacket containing profanity outside the courtroom as the courtroom has the right to uphold dignity when Myers stood up and began to gather his things.
Myers inquired why there was no Zoom meeting set up for his family in Michigan to watch the proceedings. The Judge explained that it was an in-person hearing to hear Myers motion and no outside presence was required.
Inexplicably, Myers said he had another court hearing to get to and began to walk out of the courtroom. The Judge then held him in direct contempt of court, appointed a public defender to represent him and then stated that another Judge would preside over the contempt of court case.
Myers was taken into custody immediately and his audio livestream continued for a few minutes as Myers’ wife and supporters talked about what they had just witnessed.
YouTuber Tuc. Police Suck went live from inside the courthouse a few minutes later and explained that Myers was indeed was “kidnapped” by Bandon Kimmel, the head of Security, for contempt of court.
The YouTuber claimed it was a “setup”, and the arrest was pre-planned. He did not know what was going to happen to Myers’ next scheduled hearing in another case, which had been scheduled for 10AM local time.
Tuc. Police Suck was asked to leave the courthouse for filming within the lobby. He told the police officer on scene that he had every right to record. Police backup arrived soon after and he was escorted out of the building.
Myers can be held for up to 30 days on contempt charges in Arizona.
