ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, December 17, 1996             TAG: 9612170081
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE

JUDGE FINES SELF FOR CONTEMPT

Attorneys know not to be late for court when Chief U.S. District Judge Jackson Kiser is presiding. Lawyers who are even a few minutes late have been found in contempt of court and fined $50.

Earlier this month, Kiser did the same thing to a court official late for a sentencing - himself. The judge, who normally sits in Danville but travels to Roanoke frequently for court, drove to Roanoke Dec. 2, a Monday morning, and arrived promptly at 9 a.m. Problem was, he had court in Danville that day.

He called his secretary, Pat Howell, to let the attorneys know he'd be late and turned around and drove back to Danville.

After convening court at 11 a.m., his first order of the day was to find himself in contempt of court and fined $50. He instructed Howell to deduct the fine from his pay.

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