Could Judge Joe Brown Be Headed to Jail? Ex-CBS Star Loses Appeal After Being Held in Contempt

Looks like one of America's favorite TV judges, Judge Joe Brown, could be headed to jail. According to Baller Alert, the ex-CBS star may be serving some time behind bars after losing his appeal in a Memphis, Tennessee, court this week. MStars News previously reported that Brown was arrested and held in contempt after having a major outburst in a Memphis juvenile court on a child support case last March. Now it seems that the past incident has Brown in trouble with the law, and as a result he may have to do some time for his wild tantrum.

Gotham City, Esq explained the situation below.

"Although Joe Brown characterized his post-ruling debate with the bench as zealous representation of a pro bono client or, at worst, indirect contempt of court, neither the magistrate nor the Memphis-based Tennessee Court of Appeals agreed. The magistrate had authority to summarily punish Brown for direct criminal contempt of court for his "willful misbehavior," which is treated more seriously when committed by an attorney than by a layperson, the court explained in a Monday[, March 23,] written opinion (PDF).

It includes a transcript of the portion of the child-support hearing at issue, which had earlier that day been continued for a month because the opposing party had not been notified of it. Brown then stepped in for the woman, who had previously represented herself pro se in the case, and argued that the case should be decided immediately.

After Brown threatens to file a habeas corpus petition and "close this place down" if the woman has to return for another hearing, Shelby County Juvenile Court Magistrate Harold Horne warns him that he is "very close" to being held in contempt.

Brown again argues the court's claimed lack of jurisdiction and gets five days. At that point, the bailiffs remove him from the courtroom.

Although he spent only hours in jail before being released on his own recognizance later that day, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reported at the time, that was because lawyers for Brown filed a criminal-court habeas petition.

Hence, it appears that by upholding the original five-day sentence and remanding the case to juvenile court for "further proceedings," including the taxation of costs, the appeals court may be setting the stage for Brown to serve the remainder of his five-day jail term."

MStars News wants to know how much time the judge who used to punish people who cussed him out will get! If his temper is like the video below, he might have pissed the judge in his case off!

Brown's show was canceled in 2013 by CBS. The judge's show was the second highest-rated court show in television syndication after Judge Judy, which is still airing.

“We would like to thank Joe for 15 great years,” CBS Television Distribution said, “as well as executive producer John Terenzio and the entire staff for all their hard work and dedication to the show."

Brown's show was canceled after negotiations on a new contract turned into drama over the judge's salary. According to The Hollywood Reporter Brown was earning up to $20 million a year, but CBS wanted to cut his pay down after ratings started to decrease.