NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi has apologized to the Norfolk Circuit Court for remarks during a Feb. 27 hearing that “openly insulted and resisted the powers of the court.”
“Respondent has approached the Court outside of the courtroom and offered his apology for the words that he used on February 27, 2024,” according to a court order issued Tuesday from Judge Mary Jane Hall. “The Court has accepted his apology and considers further proceedings to punish the contempt to be unnecessary.”
Fatehi had been scheduled for a March 15 hearing to discuss why he should not be found in contempt of court.
10 On Your Side had previously reached out to Fatehi about the incident, but at that time, he declined comment.
Thursday, Fatehi sent a statement to 10 On Your Side.
“In my time as Commonwealth’s Attorney I have always committed to being transparent,” Fatehi said. “In that spirit, I am releasing the transcript of the hearings that prompted a recent show-cause of me.
“I have apologized to Judge Hall for the words I used. As I have for seventeen years, I will continue to advocate for victims, for equitable justice, and for a safer and fairer Norfolk.”
In the transcript of a Feb. 27 hearing before Judge Mary Jane Hall, in which Fatehi was not the counsel of record for the case, said that “Your Honor, I apologize for cutting in. Mr. Traylor is a member of the Bar. If he has something to say, I’d encourage the Court to swear him, put him under oath under penalty of perjury so he can say it.”
Hall responds that “Mr. Fatehi, I’m running this courtroom, and you’re not counsel of record in this case.”
Later in the proceeding, Fatehi indicates that he has taken over being the counsel of record, and then, before it concluded, added this:
“MR. FATEHI: Your Honor, prior to the Court’s acceptance of a plea agreement, I want to
make sure that the Court complies with the Victims’ Rights Statute. That was one of the
purposes of my stepping in. Does Mr. Traylor have anything further to add? I think it is an important question to ask.
“THE COURT: I’m not going to ask it, Mr. Fatehi. I have severe reservations about your jumping in when you’ve not entered an appearance in the case and evicting the lawyer
who’s been handling the case.
“MR. FATEHI: Your Honor, that is your second error of law. The —
“THE COURT: Okay. Mr. Fatehi, I’ve heard enough.”
Tuesday’s court filing stated that “members of the bar have a responsibility to set an example for the community that serves to uphold public faith in our judicial system. Whether a court commits its second or its twenty-second error of law, counsel’s response to a ruling must not erode the public’s confidence in the justice that they may receive from the courts. Advocacy and zeal must never cross into insolence and disrespect.”
The transcript of the proceedings is below: