My father was irritated because a Federal Judge had ordered him to produce before him his client, an Italian American businessman then vacationing out of the continental limits (and, coincidentally, the extraditional reach) of the United States.

This moved my father to share with the judge his opinion that his obligation of vigorous representation of his client was incompatible with hauling him into court, and if the judge wanted him here, the judge could undertake to bring him.

When their colloquy reached the point of the judge's suggestion that my father's noncompliance might merit the cited penalty, my father (perhaps unwisely) unburdened himself as above.

I understand that he was then given the opportunity to reflect at greater length-a "time out" as it were- in the little room just behind the bailiff.

I forget how it turned out for the businessman, but the criminal contempt beef which carried a three day incarceration was ultimately reversed on appeal.

I am put in mind of this story by a recent interchange reported by *Bill O'Reilly.

It seems that a defendant unburdened herself to the judge, in an anatomically frank vein.

The details are available in the link, but for me the salient fact is how O'Reilly invites us to pivot from the misfortune of Ms. Soto to a general indictment of (of all things!) public education!



Yes, intones Lord Pompous, public schools, tolerant as they are reported to be of obscenities hurled at teachers, will produce young adults unable to restrain their foul mouthed rejoinders when appearing in court.



The remedy, saith O'Reilly: Parochial School.



Now I confess to a contempt for authority in general, and judges in particular, but I never got so confused that I would let fly "the f-bomb" at a guy who has in his employ a large man or woman packing heat.



And I say this as a product of the NYC public schools. YMMV.

*trouble with HTML.  Link is here:

http://video.foxnews.com/v/2147304216001/the-lack-of-respect-epidemic-in...