Pori v. Super. Ct.
Tim A. Pori (Pori) is a criminal defense attorney representing Andrew Wong in People v. Wong (Super. Ct. Alameda County, 2009, No. 163657) (People v. Wong), presently pending retrial in respondent, the Superior Court of Alameda County.[2] By Order and Judgment of Contempt filed April 16, 2012, Pori was found in contempt of court (Code Civ. Proc., §§ 1211, 1218),[3] and sentenced to spend five days in the county jail and to pay a fine of $1,000. In addition, sanctions in the amount of $1,500 were imposed. (§ 177.5.)
Pori sought immediate relief from this court.[4] We stayed the Order and Judgment of Contempt. As will be seen, although we do not condone Pori’s conduct where he improvidently overscheduled himself and then tried to pick and choose which cases he would try, the contempt judgment is void due to technical procedural noncompliance, and the imposition of sanctions pursuant to section 177.5 is not supported by the record. Accordingly, we will direct issuance of a peremptory writ in the first instance.
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