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LAS VEGAS (AP) — A Las Vegas judge is defending his decision to have a deputy public defender handcuffed in court when she wouldn't quit arguing to keep a client out of jail.
Justice of the Peace Conrad Hafen told the Las Vegas Review-Journal (http://bit.ly/1TJAxHT ) he wanted to teach Zohra Bakhtary about courtroom decorum and etiquette.
Hafen says once an argument is made, attorneys have to let the judge respond so there's a clear record.
A transcript showed Bakhtary kept talking and Hafen warned her several times Monday that she faced being held in contempt for interrupting while he tried to rule in a probation violation case.
After a few minutes handcuffed and seated with defendants in the courtroom, Bakhtary was uncuffed and the court day resumed.
The defendant got six months in jail.
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Information from: Las Vegas Review-Journal, http://www.lvrj.com
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