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Judge Defends Handcuffing Public Defender

A Las Vegas judge is defending his decision to have a deputy public defender handcuffed in court when she wouldn't quit arguing to keep a client out of jail.

Justice of the Peace Conrad Hafen told the Las Vegas Review-Journal he wanted to teach Zohra Bakhtary about courtroom decorum and etiquette.

Hafen says once an argument is made, attorneys have to let the judge respond so there's a clear record.

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A transcript showed Bakhtary kept talking and Hafen warned her several times Monday that she faced being held in contempt for interrupting while he tried to rule in a probation violation case.

After a few minutes handcuffed and seated with defendants in the courtroom, Bakhtary was uncuffed and the court day resumed.

The defendant got six months in jail.