Is this quote true???

Question

"The penalty for laughing in a courtroom is 6 months in jail. If it were not for this law the jury would never hear the evidence"

~ Mencken , H.L.

Is the penalty for laughing in a courtroom really 6 months in jail? Just curious!

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

I don't know; I always laugh at HL Mencken, so it'll take a bit to answer.

I guess it could be classified as contempt of court. I had a friend who was an investigator who appeared many times before juries. The one thing he tried to impress upon anyone who appeared before a judge was unless the person on trial could also laugh (in other words he or she was not the butt of the joke), then levity was never permitted in a courtroom.

I don't know about the penalty.

Answer 2

Yeah its 100% true