Atalig appears in court

Suspended lawyer Antonio M. Atalig appeared yesterday before Superior Court Associate Judge David A. Wiseman to explain why he should not be held in contempt for failing to report to the Department of Corrections on Feb. 15, 2014, as required.
Atalig represented himself at the show-cause hearing. Assistant attorney general Margo Brown-Badawy represented the government.

Wiseman continued the hearing to March 26, 2014 in order for Atalig to prepare for the evidentiary hearing.

After the hearing, Atalig was remanded into the custody of Corrections.

The 57-year-old Atalig surrendered to Corrections last Friday to begin serving his eight-month prison sentence for domestic violence.

Wiseman earlier issued an arrest warrant for the suspended lawyer after learning that he did not report to Corrections on Feb. 15. Law enforcement agents failed to locate him.

Last year, Atalig pleaded guilty to assault and battery, two counts of disturbing the peace, and criminal contempt. He was sentenced to eight months in prison but Wiseman granted his request to delay reporting to DOC.