Federal Judge Orders Lawyer Jailed Over Scheduling Conflict
A criminal defense lawyer who didn’t show up on the trial date he specifically requested has raised the ire of a federal judge in Kansas City, Mo.
U.S. District Judge Gary Fenner held lawyer Daniel Ross in contempt of court and ordered him to serve three days in jail, the Kansas City Star reports.
Ross had requested a July 27 trial date for a crack cocaine defendant he was representing as standby counsel, although prosecutors preferred a week earlier. But on that date, Ross found himself in state court representing a defendant accused of murder.
Ross told associates he had expected the state court defendant to enter a guilty plea, which would have allowed him to make the federal court appearance, the story says. He has until Aug. 17 to surrender.
