Chad Johnson Judge Not to be Messed With!

Posted by Jose Lambiet , August 22, 2012 Print

The Broward County judge assigned to hear the domestic violence case against ex-Miami Dolphins star Chad Johnson is one tough cookie!

Judge Ian Richards, who hails from the same tough Liberty City neighborhood of Miami where Johnson grew up, made news in 2009 because of his unorthodox restoring of order in his courtroom.

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Clad in his black robe, the 37-year-old Richards didn’t hesitate to jump over his bench to tackle a suspect. The man attacked his girlfriend during a domestic violence hearing at the Fort Lauderdale courthouse, and Richards threw himself between them as the suspect was about to hit his victim.

The incident was caught on surveillance tape:

“He’s a no-nonsense guy,” said attorney Paul Molle, who often represents defendants before Richards. “He’s a very fair judge and he’s actually very patient.”

Meanwhile Johnson, the wide receiver formerly known as Ochocinco, is facing a misdemeanor battery charge after he was arrested August 11 for allegedly head-butting his wife of six weeks, reality TV star Evelyn Lozada.

Lozada, 36, who’s become famous for her tantrums on VH-1′s Basketball Wives (she once was engaged to retired Miami Heat star Antoine Walker), filed for divorce last week. Johnson, meanwhile, was cut by the Fins on Aug. 12.

Johnson’s first date with Richards is scheduled for September 13.

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