They just threw me in jail'

Round Lake Park woman protests penalty for T-shirt

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May 5, 2010

By BETH KRAMER ekramer@stmedianetwork.com

A Round Lake Park woman was held in contempt and jailed for two days for the message on her T-shirt.

The message was: "I own the (female body part), so I make the rules."
» Click to enlarge image
Jennifer LaPenta, 19, of Round Lake Park, was cited for contempt of court and sentenced to two days in jail for wearing an inappropriate T-shirt in the Lake County Courthouse.
(Thomas Delany Jr. / News-Sun)

Jennifer LaPenta, 19, was released from the Lake County Jail Tuesday.

"They should be out looking for people who are breaking the law, not arresting someone wearing a T-shirt," LaPenta said.

Associate Judge Helen Rozenburg charged LaPenta with contempt of court for wearing the garment in her courtroom Monday. LaPenta was sitting in the gallery waiting for a friend's case to be called when the judge called her forward.

Rozenburg asked LaPenta if she thought her shirt was appropriate.

LaPenta said she told the judge that it would have been inaprorpriate had she been the defendant.

Rozenburg immediately sentenced her to 48 hours in jail and had her cuffed, LaPenta said.

LaPenta contends that she never went to bond court or got to call her mother.

"They just threw me in jail. They never told me what I was going to jail for," LaPenta said.

LaPenta said that she had been at a gym Monday when her friend asked her for a ride to the courthouse. She was wearing sweat pants and that T-shirt when she was cuffed and jailed.

"All the officers thought it was hilarious -- it was humiliating," LaPenta said.

LaPenta said she bought the shirt in the gay section of Spencer's. She said she is openly homosexual and said the judge was a "homophobe" for putting her in custody for wearing the shirt.

"I'm shocked that the judge took the actions she did. She could have asked her to remove her shirt or leave the courtroom," said Peter Kalagis, LaPenta's attorney. "To me, that was an extreme action."

LaPenta said the judge did not give her an opportunity to turn her shirt inside out or exit the courtroom.

Rozenburg said she could not comment on this case.

Chief Judge Victoria Rossetti confirmed that it was at the discretion of the court to determine what behavior constitutes contempt. She also said she could not comment on the case.

Kalagis said it was too early to determine if a civil suit would be filed. He did say that they planned to sit down with the judge and discuss the matter to ensure this did not happen to anyone else.

"Her merely wearing the shirt didn't inferfere with the administration of justice," Kalagis said.

very bizarre. I'd love to hear a constitutional scholar here but I can't imagine what she did (the judge obv.) was constitutional.

not surprised, judges have alot of power. a couple years ago we were doin some electrical work in the courthouse in downtown mpls and we had to drill holes from floor to floor for wires. anyways i was workin and drillin away when some dude came frantically into closet where i was workin and said stop that now, the judge said whoever is doin that drilling if it dont stop im throwin em in contempt of court and hes going to jail. so i stopped.

If this is indeed the standard, then it seems judges can throw anyone in jail they want to for contempt during a court hearing. T-shirt profanity today. Crazy hair colors tomorrow? Tattoos? Interesting story imo.

its interesting but sometimes i do think it should be a crime to be retarded enough to wear that type of t-shirt into a courtroom. I wish we'd be deporting people like this dumb cunt long before we deported a bunch of hardworking illegal immigrants.

"Rozenburg asked LaPenta if she thought her shirt was appropriate.
LaPenta said she told the judge that it would have been inaprorpriate had she been the defendant."

Pretty sure she outright insulted the judge. Qualifies as contempt of court if ya ask me.

Seems a little extreme. That being said, if I'm wearing a shirt that says "I own the cock, so I make the rules." , and my friend asks me for a ride to court, I either say no or I change my shirt along the way.

implying that since she is likely old, she could never pull off the shirt.

ldo.

Most courts will have a set of rules outside..."no inappropriate clothing, shorts, sandals, cell phones, etc. etc." You break these, the judge can hold you in contempt. Sucks, but don't be an idiot and wear that shirt to a courtroom.

A court of law is not a forum for free speech. Judge is perfectly within her rights to set the standard for proper decorum. If you are lacking excitement in your life, take your personal cell phone into court and let it ring. Watch the fun and have bail money handy.

I would bet that she was a little bitch to the Judge when he asked her about it. We are not getting the whole story.

THIS ^^

I am amazed at the disrespect so many show when they appear in court with how they are dressed. No, I don't expect everyone to necessarily own a suite or such but some really just don't "get it" at all.

fucking pig.

Yep - I'm sure she went all 'whateva - I do what I want' on the judge.

i dont think she should have been jailed. but seriously, fuck that dumbass for wearing that shit to court.

This is the problem I have with it.

"LaPenta said she told the judge that it would have been inappropriate had she been the defendant.

Rozenburg immediately sentenced her to 48 hours in jail and had her cuffed, LaPenta said.

LaPenta said the judge did not give her an opportunity to turn her shirt inside out or exit the courtroom."

It's a fucking stupid ass thing to wear to court and she probably deserved it, but does freedom of speech not apply in court rooms? I honestly don't know shit.

yeah but she didnt necessarily have to respond the way she did - she was talking to a judge, she coulda said yeah your right its inappropriate instead of "only if i was the defendant"

If I were in the courtroom, I would have preferred that she be allowed to turn in inside out. Cause I want to see her boobies.

This is the problem I have with it

LaPenta said she bought the shirt in the gay section of Spencer's. She said she is openly homosexual and said the judge was a "homophobe" for putting her in custody for wearing the shirt.

WTF! Why do gay people have to think everyone is a homophobe when they have something that expresses their opinions but get punished for it? You're in a court of law, don't wear something fucking stupid like that. Jeans and a plain blouse is all it takes to get by in a court.

I bet you anything if I wore a shit that says "I dislike gay rights" she'd be more then happy if I got tossed in jail without a hearing or a phone call.

EDIT: I'm not for or against gay rights, don't care either way

IMO its more disrespectful to say, "Yes it is inappropriate" and by doing so directly imply that you dont give a shit because you wore it anyway.

To answer your questions hateflops, go to a court house and tell the judge that you THINK she is doing a terrible job. I personally don't believe you'll be allowed to stay in that court room.

I would never be that dumb, I was just curious about the law.

I know, it's just a formal place that requires a minimal dress code. Almost like a restaurant that can refuse service for someone not meeting a dress code (even though that's a private company).

understandable but who knows maybe she didnt realize she was wearing it since apparently she came straight from the gym? idk im not defending her shes a fucking idiot but i can see the situation being like "oh sorry your honor i didnt realize i had it on ill go change" or w.e.

Right, but refusing service would like being asked to leave the courtroom in this case. Which would probably be more appropriate than jailing her for 2 days... in my view from the cheap seats.

loooool @ wearing that shirt in a courtroom and being shocked at being in contempt. first time...on planet earth? good luck with that civil suit! hahaha

Power Tripping Judge<<<>>>Improperly Dressed Lesbo

Since the "laws" for contempt vary from courtroom to courtroom dont you think there should be a warning given out first for clarification purposes?