Looks like Mr. Sizemore signed the tax forms that led to his contempt jailing yesterday. That proved to be his get-out-of-jail card. Mr. Sizemore called his jailing “political” and his wife referred to him as a “political prisoner.” She also referred to Portland as a “communist” town.

Mr. Sizemore and his family and friends seem to ignore a few important facts. Most notably, Mr. Sizemore was simply failing to comply with an order of the court. Oregon judges have the power to hold a party in contempt when the party fails to comply with the judge’s order. There are statutes and rules that govern the contempt process.  Judge Wilson apparently held Mr. Sizemore in remedial contempt. The process of remedial contempt ends once the party complies with the court order. You want out of jail? Follow the court’s order, and you’ll get out of jail.

Remedial contempt is certainly at odds with “political prisoners” and “communist” regimes, as people wind up in jail without proceedings and without any end. I suppose it’s something akin to a parent using the time-out method of gaining compliance from a wayward child. No one doubts the parent’s authority to do so and the importance of the role.

Judge Wilson did more than any parent, of course, as she stood for the integrity of the judicial system. In that way, she demanded of Mr. Sizemore what all of us demand, and that is that he follow Oregon law.

I don’t imagine we’ve heard the last from Mr. Sizemore. Bother.

David Sugerman

Tags: contemp, Judge Wilson, Sizemore