For 15 years, Judge Joe Brown held court on his arbitration-based reality TV show, serving up justice during his prime time slot on CBS.  Before his cable television premier, Brown earned a Bachelor’s degree at UCLA before going on to attend law school, eventually earning his Juris Doctor.

Joe Brown opened his own law firm shortly after finishing law school, and in his quest for justice in the eyes of the law, he also succeeded in breaking down a few social barriers.  By practicing law in Shelby County, Brown became the first ever black prosecutor in Memphis, Tennessee.  A decade and a half after earning his JD, Judge Joe Brown took his career to cable television.  And a decade and a half after that, his show was cancelled.

A year after his long-running show came to an end, Judge Joe Brown abruptly found himself on the wrong side of the law.  His “raucous” behavior at the Shelby County Courthouse landed him in jail for five days on five counts of contempt of court.  Brown reportedly challenged the authority and judgement of the attending magistrate, and after ruffling some of the wrong feathers that day, he had to answer to the gavel.

While this bit of celebrity news might seem absurd or even silly, these events are not as rare as you might think.  The lines of justice can often seem blurred, and in the blink of an eye you can land yourself with charges you didn’t know were possible – even if you’re a justice of the law like Joe Brown.  If you find yourself in a tight spot with the law, it is best not to say much or admit to anything before consulting with a lawyer.

If you are facing criminal charges, don’t say anything that will make your situation worse.  At Gilbert & Smallman, we urge you to please avoid talking to the police or any other authorities regarding your guilt, innocence, or facts of the case.  The police are not your friends, and they’ll resort to many tactics in order to get you to admit guilt.  Your attorneys have your best interests in mind, let us do the talking for you.