Judge Holds Attorney For 'Straight Pride' Protester In Contempt

BOSTON — Municipal Judge Richard Sinnott on Wednesday ordered a defense attorney who represents one of the 36 protesters arrested at a "Straight Pride" rally this weekend taken into custody and held in contempt. Defense attorney Susan Church was reading case law, arguing the judge had no authority to reject the prosecution's decision to dismiss charges against a number of the protesters, WGBH first reported. After the judge asked the attorney to stop reading, Sinnott declared Church in contempt and ordered a court official to take her into custody.

During Church's contempt hearing later the same day, the judge said he made the decision because she kept talking over him, a witness posted to Twitter.

The drama happened a day after the Sinnott rejected motions by Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins to drop charges against some of the protester. Rollins asked Sinnott to dismiss charges against seven people but Sinnott only did so for two.

"The judge punished the exercise of individuals' First Amendment right to protest," Rollins said in a statement later, adding she planned to use the legal process to "remedy the judge's overstepping of his role."

The group Super Happy Fun America organized the parade and walked through downtown Boston and gathered at City Hall, where there were speeches and displayed the group's flag, which is blue and purple and features entwined man and woman gender symbols.

About 300 marchers participated in the Straight Pride parade, well below the 2,000 the group's head John Hugo said he expected would show up. The parade and the small group's months-long fight to obtain a permit drew national attention.

Related:

• 4 Boston Residents Arrested At Boston Straight Pride Parade

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).