The state Supreme Court found suspended attorney Victor Marshall in contempt of court Wednesday and fined him $2,000 for his “outrageous” conduct during a hearing on whether he had violated the terms of his suspension and was continuing to practice law.
Marshall, who was indefinitely suspended for at least a year in January, said he wanted to address the court in his defense. But Chief Justice Shannon Bacon said since he is not currently a licensed attorney, Marshall would have to be placed under oath first.
Marshall balked. He cited the First Amendment, claimed a violation of his due process rights and said he wanted to “seek redress in federal court.”
Marshall, a former state legislator from Albuquerque, repeatedly interrupted Bacon until she finally halted the hearing and the justices walked out of the courtroom.
When they returned minutes later, Bacon announced she had spoken with the court’s “IT folks” to mute Marshall, who was appearing at the hearing remotely.