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Chicago, IL - Yom Kippur Observance Nearly Lands Lawyer In Jail |
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Attorney Moria Bernstein was nearly arrested and sent to prison for contempt of court after failing to arrive at a hearing due to the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur.
Chicago, IL - There was a different sort of battle in a Chicago courtroom Friday. A Cook County judge threatened to lock up a Jewish attorney who didn't come to court on Yom Kippur.
When attorney Moria Bernstein came to court Friday, she was facing possible arrest. She had notified Cook County Judge Veronica Mathein that she could not be on hand for an emergency hearing on a divorce property settlement matter because she was observing Yom Kippur.
The judge responded with a written order finding Bernstein in contempt of court and ordering her arrest.
"It's still hanging in the balance," Bernstein said earlier Friday. "I have two other court cases this morning which I have to put on hold until I can vacate this order clearing my name and also making sure that no sheriffs arrest me."
"The rights of Ms. Bernstein on the holiest day of the year for the Jewish faith should be acknowledged and respected," said attorney Burton Grant.
A contentious hearing followed, that hinged not on religious rights but whether the hearing on Yom Kippur was, in fact, an emergency. After Judge Mathein impatiently told Bernstein twice to "please stop talking," she decided to vacate the contempt and arrest order.
"I'm happy that the motion was vacated and rightfully so. I'm upset that nothing was addressed or there was no apology made," Bernstein said.
Grand added, "She's an up and coming rising star in the profession and something like this isn't going to help her reputation. It would more likely impugn her reputation."
Just before the Bernstein hearing, Judge Mathein proved that she was ready and willing to act on a contempt finding. During a divorce hearing, a man refused to answer her question: do you have a second job? After his second refusal, she ordered him to spend the weekend in the county jail. The cuffs went on and away he went.
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Read Comments (17) — Post Yours »
1
Oct 11, 2008 at 08:04 PM Anonymous Says:
The judge should probably be put in prison before anyone else gets locked up unjustifiably.
2
Oct 11, 2008 at 08:48 PM mommy Says:
the judge is an ANTI-SEMITE and he should be hung!
3
Oct 11, 2008 at 08:38 PM KLOTZ from Monsey Says:
This Judge is just plain stupid. this is USA not....................
4
Oct 11, 2008 at 09:23 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ the judge is an ANTI-SEMITE and he should be hung! ”
Mommy. Just like you are a SHE, the judge is a SHE! SHE (not commenting on "Origin", "Veronica" a hint...!) has NO HEART [and soul]!!! And no [common] sense! If she would [at least] apologize. (for what?!. For being dumb?!) Try getting a hearing set on ---- --- ----- day!!! You would be in contempt if you DO appear for the hearing!!!
5
Oct 11, 2008 at 09:51 PM Anonymous Says:
I don't understand bigwheel's rant, apart from correcting the Judge's gender. All these parentheses, brackets, & whathaveyous make your post incomprehensible.
As for the Judge's ruling...if Ms. Bernstein had informed the Court as indicated that she wouldn't be in court on YK, sanctions or at least complaints should be leveled against this anti-Semite. EVERYONE understands the significance of YK, even the Arab who pumped gas in NJ wished us an easy fast (not that I didn't wonder about checking to make sure he hadn't planted a bomb, but you get my drift.) This is America, land of religious freedom. What are Ms. Bernstein's options re disciplinary measures agains a superior?
6
Oct 11, 2008 at 11:53 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ I don't understand bigwheel's rant, apart from correcting the Judge's gender. All these parentheses, brackets, & whathaveyous make your post incomprehensible.
As for the Judge's ruling...if Ms. Bernstein had informed the Court as indicated that she wouldn't be in court on YK, sanctions or at least complaints should be leveled against this anti-Semite. EVERYONE understands the significance of YK, even the Arab who pumped gas in NJ wished us an easy fast (not that I didn't wonder about checking to make sure he hadn't planted a bomb, but you get my drift.) This is America, land of religious freedom. What are Ms. Bernstein's options re disciplinary measures agains a superior? ”
The "rant" is about a person, being representative of a "Group" that's very sensitive about their national feelings. That's fine! But why, at the same time are you INsensitive to someone else's Religious or National feelings?! As far as the "parentheses, brackets and whathaveyous" , they're used to indicate "Peripheral Thoughts or notes. Which some people put at the bottom of the page. My habit. (right or wrong) (see an example of "streaming thought". As I'm writing, these "thoughts" and "words" pop in my mind) is to put them in as part of a "regular" sentence!!!
7
Oct 12, 2008 at 12:46 AM Chicago Says:
I googles this judge's name. She is really a piece of work! Another lousy Chicago judge. ^sigh^
8
Oct 12, 2008 at 01:28 AM Anonymous Says:
this is the state that Mr. Obama is senator from....How ironic....what does this say??
9
Oct 12, 2008 at 08:27 AM robroy560 Says:
If this woman was a Muslim, this would nver happen.
10
Oct 12, 2008 at 09:29 AM Anonymous Says:
“ this is the state that Mr. Obama is senator from....How ironic....what does this say?? ”
It's also the same state where Abraham Lincoln grew up (he was born in Kentucky) & started his career. Also Alan Keyes ran for a Senate seat in Illinois. I think that proves the Republicans are in on this too. Or maybe it just proves that Illinois is a big state which you don't know much about.
11
Oct 12, 2008 at 09:42 AM yike Says:
Here is more info showing how corrupt this judge is
http://www.clr.org/mathein0.html
12
Oct 12, 2008 at 09:32 AM muslim Says:
on target a muslim lawyer would be respected .
this judge should be removed from serving the public and all cases she presided over should be overturn.
13
Oct 12, 2008 at 11:01 AM Conservative One Says:
Is this judge a drinking buddy of Barack Obama? That's what happens when you put brain-dead liberals on the courts.
14
Oct 12, 2008 at 04:16 PM Vote4USA Says:
What ever happened to the separation of church and state? Seeing as she is a lawyer, wait another couple days to hear about a lawsuit against the judge. Disbarred anyone?
15
Oct 12, 2008 at 05:02 PM Litvak Says:
I agree with the judge. If this lawyer keeps mitzvos, then she should keep ALL mitzvos. Why should she be allowed to pick and choose which mitzvos she is willing to keep and which one's she wishes to throw away? If you aren't committed then you don't get a ticket to the show. Powerful message!
16
Oct 13, 2008 at 02:49 AM Anonymous Says:
Ms Bernstein,
I would respectfully suggest that close at least two of the top three buttons on your shirt. It will make your yom kippur defense more plausible.
17
Oct 15, 2008 at 07:28 PM Anonymous Says:
How do you know what mitvohs she keeps and does not keep. Aren't you making assumptions?