Hamilton County (Ohio) Judge Robert Ruehlman is fed up with swearing in his courtroom and he is doing something about it. 

On consecutive days, Judge Ruehlman sentenced two individuals to six months in jail for swearing in his courtroom.  Not the swearing in of a party or witness, but rather cuss words from an individual.

First, it was an accused gang member.  Unhappy with having to wait in jail for several more weeks until his trial, accused gang member Jamel Sechrest muttered “That’s (bleeping) bull (bleep).”  “You don’t say bull (bleep) in the courtroom,” Ruehlman told Sechrest before citing him for contempt and sentencing him to six months in jail.

The following day, attorney Michael Brautigam was before the court as his own attorney when he called his opposing counsel “a (bleeping) liar.”  After admitting to the judge what he said under his breath, Brautigam was cited for contempt and sent to jail for six months.  “I had to give him six months because I gave the other guy six months,” Ruehlman said.

“Judge Ruehlman absolutely did the right thing by attempting to maintain order, civility and decorum in his courtroom.  Attorney Brautigam has been discourteous and disrespectful to judges, lawyers and litigants in our community on more than one occasion,” said opposing counsel Peter Koenig.

—Source:  Cincinnati Enquirer