"Warned You"…Judge Tapes Defendant's Mouth Who Was Making Excuses

Debate Over Incident in US Court
Judge Says "Issued 60 Warnings in 54 Minutes"
Some Raise Concerns Over 'Freedom of Expression' Violation

In the United States, an incident occurred where a judge taped the mouth of a defendant who showed no signs of remorse during a court trial.

On the 14th (local time), US media such as Fox News released footage from a trial held in Ohio in July 2018. Although the video was recorded about five years ago, it has recently gained significant popularity among American netizens.

The defendant in the video, Franklin Williams (32 at the time), was charged with serious crimes but showed no remorse throughout the trial and even disrupted the court proceedings. He kept making excuses despite not having the opportunity to speak.

The defendant's mouth was sealed despite it not being their turn to speak, as they kept making excuses. [Image source=Fox News YouTube]

The judge warned once, saying, "Shut your mouth. You will have a chance to speak when it is your turn," but Williams did not stop. Even his attorney could not restrain him.

The judge continued to demand silence from Williams, but when Williams refused to comply, the judge eventually instructed the security officers, "Put tape on the defendant's mouth."

After the officers sealed Williams' mouth, the judge said, "I will tape his mouth for now," and added, "I will remove it when it is time for him to speak," then proceeded with the trial.

At the time of the trial, Williams was charged with multiple serious crimes including robbery, kidnapping, theft, illegal use of credit cards, and illegal use of weapons. The judge presiding over the case sentenced Williams to 24 years in prison.

However, the "taping measure" sparked controversy over whether it was appropriate. Williams also expressed dissatisfaction in an interview with a local media outlet after leaving the courtroom, stating, "My constitutional right to freedom of expression was violated."

The judge who handled Williams' trial issued a statement amid growing controversy, saying, "My decision at the time was made after all other attempts failed," and rebutted, "You (Williams) continuously disrupted the court's legal procedures despite more than 60 warnings over 54 minutes." However, as the controversy continued to grow, the judge eventually had to step down from the trial.

The video of the trial sparked heated debates among American netizens as well. Some defended the judge, saying, "The defendant caused chaos in the courtroom, so it is not the judge's fault," while others pointed out that since the defendant is Black, the measure could be considered racially discriminatory.

Meanwhile, in the US, if a defendant severely disrupts the trial, judges have the discretion to physically seal the defendant's mouth. In September 2009, a judge at the Stark County Canton Court in Ohio also taped the mouth of a defendant who kept grumbling in court. However, this authority has sparked controversy every time it has been used.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.