Jailed 14 years for contempt

Judges can put people in jail for contempt of court. Reporter Judith Plame was jailed for refusing to reveal a source to a grand jury. People are usually jailed or threatened with jail for less noble causes than she.

H. Beatty Chadwick was put in jail for contempt because his wife (who was suing him for divorce) claimed that he had hidden $2.5 million while he claimed he had lost the money in a business deal. The judge didn’t believe him and he’s sat behind bars for 14 years.

He hasn’t been charged with a crime, and yet he sits in jail. For longer than many convicted murderers. He’s now 72. This is a life sentence.

Judges tend to be pretty smart. I’m guessing he did hide the money. But shouldn’t he be charged with a crime and tried by a jury of his peers? There appears to be a gaping hole in American justice system, and H. Beatty Chadwick has fallen in.

Update: he has finally been freed.

Posted by Jeremy on January 12, 2009. 3 Comments.