Summary
reversing a contempt judgment entered for "disrespecting the court" because it did not contain a more detailed recital of the facts upon which the contempt was based
Summary of this case from Jones v. StateOpinion
Case No. 97-1138
Opinion filed June 18, 1997.
An appeal from the Circuit Court for Dade County, Alex E. Ferrer, Judge.
Bennett H. Brummer, Public Defender and Marti Rothenberg, Assistant Public Defender, for appellant.
Robert A. Butterworth, Attorney General and Keith S. Kromash, Assistant Attorney General, for appellee.
Before NESBITT, GREEN, and SORONDO, JJ.
Appellant appeals his conviction and sentence for direct criminal contempt of court. We reverse where the judgment merely provides that appellant was held in contempt for "disrespecting the court" and does not contain a recital of those facts upon which the contempt is based pursuant to Rule 3.830, Fla. R. Crim. P. A contempt judgment which does not contain a recital of those facts upon which it is based is invalid and requires reversal. See Morris v. State, 667 So.2d 982, 997-98 (Fla. 4th DCA), rev. dismissed, 673 So.2d 29 (Fla. 1996); Cook v. State, 636 So.2d 895, 896 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994); Johnson v. State, 584 So.2d 95, 96 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).
Rule 3.830 provides that:
A criminal contempt may be punished summarily if the court saw or heard the conduct constituting the contempt committed in the actual presence of the court. The judgment of guilt of contempt shall include a recital of those facts on which the adjudication of guilt is based. (emphasis added).
Accordingly, we remand for the trial court to enter its judgment pursuant to Rule 3.830. In light of this, we do not reach the merits of the contempt charge at this time.
Reversed and remanded with instructions.