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The word contempt has various meanings. But in this case contempt means the offense of being disobedient to or being disrespectful of a court of law or its officers.
Dominick Sonny Carisi Jr was found in contempt in open court while cross examining a rebuttal witness to his wife’s testimony. Sonny had been tipped off by an anonymous source that not only the witness wasn’t whom they said they were, but also that this new judge had been taking bribes. Unbeknownst to Amanda he intentionally made sure to get held in contempt of court with Ms. Maxwells blessing to see just how far this corruption ran.
Sonny paced in the holding cell and knew it wouldn’t be long before he’d be released. 5 hours later he was still inside the cell, then 10 hours later.
Amanda was doing her own pacing at home with a fussy Dominick who just wouldn’t stay down and missed his daddy as did she. Typically Sonny was the baby whisperer and could get him down so quickly, but tonight she was obviously all alone.
Sonny laid on the bench with his jacket as a pillow and waited another 6 hours before anyone even came near the cell to release him. 21 hours sitting in a cell without any interaction with even a guard, no phone call, no meals, nothing for crossing the judge. He immediately headed home and opened the front door to a screaming baby and quickly went to get him and soothed him as Amanda sat on the edge of the bed tears streaming down her face after hours of trying to console him she had finally broken down herself. She was exhausted and needed to get ready for work and the girls ready for school but no one that night slept and from the looks of it neither did her husband. After getting Dominick down to sleep he wrapped Amanda in his arms and quietly whispered into her ear, “ It’s alright, I’m sorry I wasn’t here. I got stuck in the holding cell much longer than anticipated. I do need to check in with Ms. Maxwell and then we can go get some rest.”
Amanda began to object but nodded as she settled up into the bed,” I don’t understand what got into you today- questioning that witness like that today. Arguing with the judge in open court… That’s not like you. Maybe the lack of sleep with him teething is getting to us.”
Sonny shook his head,” No.. no I was fine. I did that on purpose. To expose that judge… he’s corrupt and has been bought off on this case. Me getting sent to contempt and the treatment after was the only way to begin exposing this so we can have the judge removed from the bench. Let me call Ms. Maxwell and I’ll be right back.”
Amanda’s jaw dropped that her husband ran this covert operation and didn’t even loop her in. Her partner, he always told her everything or at least he used to… She shook her head shaking it off and knowing the lack of sleep was getting to her. She shot a quick text to Liv letting her know she wouldn’t be in today and apologized for the short notice and told her she’d explain later but that Sonny had just gotten home from his contempt.
Liv responded to her text and told Amanda she knew he’d been released and understood she’d check in later.
Sonny came back after the call to Ms. Maxwell and explained everything in detail to Amanda and apologized for not having told her earlier but that he only found out shortly before court began so he didn’t really have the time to inform her.
Amanda snuggled into bed with him and told him he wasn’t out of the dog house yet but that she would forgive him for now for keeping the secret from her. She drifted off into a restful sleep and didn’t wake back up until almost dinner time to find Sonny playing with the girls and getting Dominick settled in.
Days passed then the Judge was removed from the bench finally and the contempt was removed from Sonny’s record. The ring of corruption thwarted for the moment in their Manhattan area. Contempt was such a short word but for the days leading up to the Judges removal it felt so big.