Superior Court Upholds Contempt Conviction of No-Show Lawyer
The Superior Court has upheld an adjudication of direct criminal contempt against a lawyer who had not withdrawn his appearance as counsel, but refused to appear at a custody mediation on a client's behalf, although court officials had called him and advised him he was expected to attend. While the court was informed that the lawyer had reasons to withdraw, he had not followed the proper procedure to do so, and the court held that his refusal to appear under the circumstances constituted direct criminal contempt. Himes v. Himes, No. 4 WDA 2003 (Pa. Super.Ct., 9/30/2003).