Fox31 News Update:

"Woman jailed for disruption in theater shooting courtroom to undergo mental health exam."

latest mental health outrage in colorado

EXCERPTS FROM 9NEWS.COM

"Woman in court yells 'don't kill him' during theater sentencing during the theater trial Thursday afternoon.

"The outburst came as District Attorney George George Brauchler delivered his closing arguments for the second portion of the sentencing phase. The woman continued to yell for about 45 seconds as she was taken out of the courtroom.

"After the jury left the courtroom, Judge Carlos Samour addressed the interruption. He says deputies had already spoken to [the woman] regarding orders of the court last Friday and this Monday. She complied for several days, however, on Thursday, when there was a courtroom full of people, Samour said there was more exposure and he believes she willfully decided to disobey his order.

"She waited until the time when she wanted to disrupt the proceedings; she uttered her disagreement with his closing arguments," ... "I find that this was willful."

[The woman] stepped over three rows to make her way to the well of the courtroom, kicked and screamed and resisted arrest.

"More disruptable behavior I cannot possibly fathom," Samour said. "I find that she is in direct contempt of my orders."

He . . . and then sentenced her to three weeks in jail after holding her in contempt.

On-Air Reports were that the woman was Homeless and had Mental Illness.

Orchid's Take

          As much as we have been bashing the State (& goodness knows we have been) there are people with the State, certainly the Office of Behavioral Health and Dr. Patrick Fox, who may be able to assist the Colorado Court System in better dealing with people with mental illness.
          We know Fox has a training scheduled August 5 and 6.
           Nobody expects a judge to put up with major disruptions in the courtroom, AND as a society we CAN'T put up with jailing homeless people with mental illness who are just trying to express themselves.
           If a person is disruptive, there is no question he or she will need to be removed AND let's not be evil about it.  Jailing that homeless person with mental illness is a greater wrong than it is meant to correct.