Reposa takes witness stand as he fights contempt charge
Facing up to 180 days in jail, Austin defense attorney Adam Reposa took the witness stand Monday on the first day of his contempt of court trial and pleaded for lenience.
“Got a little hot, shouldn’t have done it,” Reposa testified, admitting he was out of line when he questioned a judge’s authority during a March 27 drunken driving trial. “I just want to go home to my kids, man.
“I don’t think I should go to jail for this.”
His fate rests with Judge Paul Davis, who probably will make a decision at some point Tuesday after closing arguments. There is no jury in this case.
And that could be problematic for Reposa, whose courtroom behavior has irritated the judge. About five minutes into the proceedings, Reposa stood to leave after Davis sided against him in a motion to dismiss the charges. Reposa, who in June skipped a trial appearance in Davis’ court for a doctor’s appointment, made it only a few steps.
“Mr. Reposa, sit down!” the judge yelled.
Reposa asked if he was under arrest. Davis replied, “You will be momentarily if you leave this room.”
Reposa informed his attorneys he no longer needed them. Then he rehired one of them, Steven Brand, about an hour later. The judge appeared relieved by Brand’s re-entry.
Reposa, whom Davis found in contempt in 2008 for making a lewd gesture in court, is accused this time of questioning the integrity of Travis County Judge Nancy Hohengarten and continuing to question potential jurors after