Judge orders chronically late lawyer jailed in Compton

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge John J. Cheroske was so frustrated with Hollingsworth arriving at court late -- or sometimes not at all -- that he threw him in jail as a way of ensuring that the attorney would show up for court on time.

The judge allowed Hollingsworth out briefly to defend his client at a hearing on a murder charge, marking what court officials say could be the first time that one jail inmate had been represented by another.

Once the hearing was over, the defendant and his attorney were led back to the cells.

Hollingsworth spent Monday and Tuesday in jail until Cheroske ordered his release Wednesday morning after a court hearing in which the attorney appeared wearing handcuffs and a yellow jailhouse uniform.

The events have sparked outrage among those involved and created a stir in the busy Compton courthouse.

Court officials say the judge's actions marked the sixth time Hollingsworth had been cited for lateness, failure to appear in court and other strange courtroom behavior. The mother of Hollingsworth's client complains that her son wasn't adequately represented at his hearing. And Hollingsworth contends he was illegally jailed and manhandled by other inmates before he was housed on his own.

"It was a false imprisonment," said his lawyer, Manuel Eli Gonzalez. "He may have been late, but I don't believe that deserves a three-day hold in the County Jail with a bunch of known felons."

Gonzalez said Hollingsworth told the judge he was late because of knee and shoulder problems. Gonzalez said Hollingsworth, 41, has explained that the injuries happened in the last two years while he was practicing taekwondo. He was training for the Olympics, Gonzalez said.

But court officials and prosecutors said they have grown tired of Hollingsworth's excuses.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Christopher Frisco said Hollingsworth frequently appeared late for court, or not at all on two cases he handled. On one occasion, he said, the defense attorney walked in with a limp, leaning on a cane, and blamed his being late on a knee injury.

"Then someone called him from the audience and he walked up to them, forgetting his crutches and his limp," Frisco said. Frisco said the judge told Hollingsworth he would notify the State Bar of California about possible disciplinary action.