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Jennifer LaPenta, 20, was jailed this week by Lake County Associate Judge Helen Rozenberg who held her in contempt for wearing a T-shirt in her courtroom with the words: "I have the (slang for female body part) so I make the rules." Here is the story as reported by the American Bar Association Journal and the Chicago Tribune.
Some of my issues with this are as follows:
1. While the term used for vagina may have been "offensive" to some, I completely support the idea behind the phrase - that women totally have power to set their own rules sexually.
2. LaPenta offered to take the shirt off but the judge just said it was "too late" and threw her in jail. LaPenta contends that she was incarcerated without being told why, taken to bond court or given an opportunity to call her mother.
3. In both articles this "slang" word for vagina is not explicitly stated and only referenced. This feels very odd and juvenile to me.
What logical objective did the judge think she would accomplish by throwing a young woman in jail for such a minor "offense"? I can't think of one and imagine this was simply an issue of the judge on a power trip and the justice system gone awry once more. It would be interesting to learn what the racial/ethnic backgrounds are of the defendant and the judge and look into how race may have played a role in the situation.
What are your thoughts?
Defending family values = incredibly stupid use of my tax dollars.
Yes, it was unprofessional of her to wear a shirt like that to court, but as long as she offered to change I don't see why she had to be arrested.
If you are going to court for an offense, you ought to have enough sense to recognize you are in trouble and ought to be on your best behavior and clean yourself up.
I have no problem with the young women being thrown in jail for her lack of common sense, respect for authorities and herself.
Big deal that she has a vagina and she thinks sh can make the rules. In this case her vagina got trumped by the Court of Law. Obviously she doesn't understand the hierarchy of power and the laws of the land. I hope her 2 days cooling her heels knocked some sense into her head and the next time she gets picked up by the authorities and has to appear in court, she dresses up for the occassion, otherwise she might be wearing an orange jumpsuit.
I’m utterly and completely appalled by this story. It’s the first time I hear about it.
MySistah Eileen, I completely stand by you in your issues with this.
Yes, I’m interested what else is the case with this judge. About two months ago she allowed a man once named Under God change his name to In God We Trust. He’s deal? – anti-abortionist. I’m also sure she allowed the name change under the 1st amendment. Hypocrisy?
I know time has lapse since this first happened but it is repulsive to think that young women's' bodies are still being locked up for merely existing.
Sisterhood.
Struggle.
Paz.
-MySistah Mimi
I am from lake county, and I heard abut this elsewhere. I agree that it was not a shirt that should even be considered to be worn to court but the jailing may have been a bit extreme.