Judge Barred for Life After Ordering Defendant to Be Tasered

The defendant was in the court representing himself after being sentenced to probation for a gun charge. He was instantly shocked with 50,000 volts.
4/5/2016
Updated:
4/6/2016

The Circuit Court for Charles County, Maryland, has barred Judge Robert Nalley from ever serving again after ordering a defendant be tasered during a courtroom hearing.

72-year-old Nalley pleaded guilty earlier in 2016 to a misdemeanor charge, landing him one year of probation and a $5,000 fine—as well as ordering him to take anger management classes.

In a video, which was recently released by the federal prosecutor, Nalley is recorded instructing the court deputy to stun the defendant using a “stun-cuff” device attached to his ankle.

Federal Prosecutor Kristi O'Malley said King hadn’t yelled or even raised his voice, and spoke to the judge with regard.

Defendant Delvon King, who was in the court representing himself after being sentenced to probation on a gun charge, was instantly shocked with 50,000 volts, sending him to the floor, screaming.

After the judge was sentenced, King spoke outside the courthouse, saying: “It felt like fire went through my back.”

O'Malley said Nalley “very quickly grew impatient”—but said that King’s actions certainly didn’t warrant the use of the stun-cuff.

Outside of the courthouse, Nalley told reporters he regretted “that it ended this way,”—but made no formal apology during the sentencing.

Nalley has also had prior run-ins with the law. In 2010, he pleaded guilty after deflating the car tires of someone he claimed was in his courthouse parking spot. He was fined, wrote an apology and was suspended without pay for 5 days.