In a stunning display of violation of rights a judge ordered that not only could the defendant not change counsel he was to have his mouth duct taped shut and his public defender was ordered to sit in the audience.
At the start of the hearing, Brown told Belden that he
wasn’t happy with his public defender, who he claimed hadn’t done enough work on the case.
Belden said he wasn’t going to appoint a different attorney. If Brown didn’t want the public defender, he could represent himself, although he would be a fool to do so, the judge said.
Brown and Belden went back and forth for about four minutes, at times talking over each other, until Belden told his bailiff, Jeffrey Smith, to get the duct tape.
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Of course many in the comments section are cheering the judge, however, this is denying the same rights to change counsel that a more wealthy person would have [big surprise I know] and also goes against the supposed system of innocent until proved guilty.
"Belden said he felt taping Brown’s mouth was the best way to restore order.
“You have somebody who’s disruptive, you have to make a decision on the spot how to handle it,” he said."
I would think that the best way to keep him quiet would be to take his points seriously and then make a judgement rather than just stifle any opposition.