Michael Jackson's courtroom saga was another example of 'celebrity justice'

June 26, 5:40 PMNorfolk Crime ExaminerDave Gibson

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In addition to beating multiple counts of child molestation (This from a man who freely admitted on national television to regularly sleeping with other people’s children.), he did so in such an arrogant way that most of us would have been placed in jail for contempt of court.

During his 2005 trial, Jackson was habitually late for court. He often used the tired excuse of phony medical emergencies as the reason for his tardiness.

Once in mid-March, Jackson was not only late, he came to court wearing his Spongebob pajamas! He would often arrive wearing flip-flops or bedroom slippers. All of this outrageous behavior simply demonstrated Jackson's lack of respect for the court, as he believed that he was above the law.

The story here was not Jackson's apparent disdain for our legal system, nor even his bizarre behavior. That is seemingly quite among celebrities. No, the only behavior worthy of further examination was that of the judge. Judge Rodney Melville previously warned Jackson of the consequences for showing up late.

Jackson even failed to arrive on time for his arraignment in January 2004. After pleading not guilty on seven counts of child molestation, he made his infamous appearance atop his SUV, where he danced and celebrated with the large crowd just outside the courthouse. When asked by reporters if he thought the judge would be angered by the ridiculous display, Jackson defense lawyer Benjamin Brafman arrogantly said: "He's Michael Jackson. He's an entertainer. He's not by profession a defendant in a criminal case. There is no rule book for how Michael Jackson, an entertainer, performs."

Of course, there is a “rule book” for how the rest of us behave on courthouse property, and had he been one of us instead of Michael Jackson, at the very least, deputies would have yanked him down and charged him with disturbing the peace.

At one point, Jackson was late again to court and Judge Melville gave Jackson's lawyers a deadline. If Jackson did not make it, he would be arrested and forfeit his $3 million bail. Of course, the “deadline” came and went…with no appearance from the famous defendant. Jackson, eventually did show up but in violation of the judge’s order. However, he was not taken into custody and remained free.

It is little wonder that celebrities seem to have no respect for the law, they simply are not subject to the same penalties which the rest of us would face.

I have been in many courtrooms and observed several different judges. I have witnessed all of them berate defendants for wearing inappropriate clothing to court. I have also seen judges order defendants be taken into custody for many types of disrespectful behavior (including tardiness). Court is a serious place and at times certain people must have that point made to them in a harsh manner.

Usually, if a defendant fails to show within about one minute of the case being called, the deputy enters the hallway and calls out the defendant's name. If there is no answer, the judge immediately issues a bench warrant for their arrest. Phony medical excuses never work. Unless the defendant is hooked up to a respirator--he is about to spend some time in the gray-bar motel.

Of course, criminal defendants are usually poor, rather anonymous dregs. They do not have high-priced defense lawyers, nor do they ever garner any special privileges.

There exists in this country, two distinctly different justice systems. There is the one under which the majority of Americans live. Then there is the one for the rich and famous. Despite what the Constitution claims, all men are apparently not created equal.

Judge Melville should have immediately ordered Jackson's arrest, when he failed to show at 9:00 a.m. He then could have sat through the day's proceedings. Since he was already in his pajamas, he should have then been taken into a holding cell for the weekend. That is exactly the treatment that you or I would have received for such absurd behavior. Of course, Jackson was not you or I. His mega- celebrity status afforded him a more lenient brand of justice.

I love this country. However, there are a few things about it which make me ill. The vast inequity which exists inside our criminal justice system is right at the top of the list. Do you think that if it had been Michael Jackson the cab driver instead of the “King of Pop” facing child molestation charges, he would have received the same treatment from the judge?

When one has no respect for our laws, they really have no respect for the people who live under those laws. They cannot imagine living as the rest of us do.

Unfortunately, we have a justice system which places some among us above the law.