The US Marshals Service Gets Involved In A Benchslap
The court called in backup...
We’ve all heard tales of lawyers behaving badly, heck that’s this website’s bread and butter, but it is rare that behavior is so over the top that a court has to call in the United States Marshals Service. That’s what happened at a bankruptcy proceeding, the First Meeting of Creditors, on May 13th in the Southern District of Indiana when attorney B. Scott Skillman’s behavior became distressing.
Chief Judge Richard Young issued an order that described the incident in the courtroom. As the Indiana Reporter reports:
“After several instances of misbehavior, including refusing to sit in his designated seat in the hearing room and attempting to intimidate those present, including Chapter 7 Trustee Lou Ann Marocco, it was necessary for the United States Marshals Service to respond to a duress alarm regarding respondent Skillman’s conduct,” Young wrote in In the Matter of: B. Scott Skillman, 1:15-MC-00040.
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Though Judge Young did not issue any disciplinary actions be taken against Skillman, the possibility remains.
Skillman was ordered to conduct himself professionally. “If any of his conduct is determined to be unprofessional, he shall be called to answer to these actions and show cause why he should not be held in contempt of court and subject to sanctions,” Young wrote. Those “may include, but are not limited to, being barred from federal courthouses within the Southern District of Indiana, a referral being made to the Indiana Disciplinary Commission, and a finding of civil or criminal contempt.”
Good luck to Skillman in trying to keep it together during the remainder of the proceedings, sounds like he may need it.
Bankruptcy lawyer’s unruly conduct draws warning [Indiana Lawyer]
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