Member-only story
The Judge That Presided Over A Case From His Jail Cell After Being Arrested For Drunkeness
In the 1940s, a judge who was in his own legal trouble, didn’t let some jail time prevent him from doing his job
Whether or not you agree with their opinions and decisions, judges are expected to be treated respectfully when in their presence. That may have been difficult for those involved in a 1941 lawsuit after the trial was conducted from the jail cell of the magistrate, who was behind bars after being arrested for drunkeness.
The unusual venue for court proceedings took place in Elizabethtown, Illinois when Police Magistrate E. R. Creason decided that his recent arrest shouldn’t be a reason for him not to do his job. After his arrest for intoxication, Creason remained behind bars because he hadn’t paid the fine and court costs of $20.60 that he was levied.
The judge had a big case coming up where he refused to let his unusual circumstances delay matters. Two employees of a fluorspar mining company had sued their employer for unpaid wages, and while circumstances meant that an appearance in court wasn’t possible, they must have been relieved to know that their suit would proceed as planned.
