KINGSTON, Jamaica – A 27-year-old woman who was accompanied by a friend to a case being heard at the Kingston St. Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday found herself in trouble after an exchange between her and court officials became rowdy.
Senior District Judge Sancha Burell had to suspend normal court proceedings because they were frequently interrupted by loud arguments outside the courtroom.
Authorities say Mikayla Sims was sitting in a waiting room with a friend when she was told to adjust her blouse because it was exposing her midriff. The woman refused and began yelling abuse, authorities said.
The woman then attempted to leave the premises alone and officers were called in to escort her away. In their attempts to apprehend her, she reportedly became more disruptive. Following this, Judge Burrell ordered that she be taken to court.
Upon entering, Judge Burrell was astonished by the woman’s petite appearance and said, “Oh my goodness, this nice lady outside is going to behave like that.” However, the judge quickly became annoyed when he heard about the “drama” that had unfolded outside the courtroom. Judge Burrell called the woman a “silly rabbit” and said people should know that it cannot be “business as usual” once they step into the courtroom.
“There’s something deeply wrong with anyone coming into this place and thinking it’s business as usual,” she said. “Stupid bunny, you thought it was reasonable to confront the police?”
Sims, defending, said she felt the officers had treated her with a lack of respect – “everyone has feelings,” she told the judge – but Judge Burrell reprimanded the young woman and warned her to treat the courtroom like a “cathedral” before handing her over to police for prosecution.
-Shereita Grizzle
