Lawyer cleared in dispute over remark

FLINT (AP) -- The Michigan appeals court has cleared an attorney who spent time in jail for saying the word "guilty" in the presence of jurors at a Flint restaurant. The court says Genesee County Judge Archie Hayman abused his authority in finding Anthony Lubkin guilty of criminal contempt. Lubkin says he was discussing a matter with a client when a jury in a murder trial was brought to the same restaurant in 2012. He admits using the word "guilty" but says it had nothing to do with the jury. A judge's aide reported the incident, and Hayman subsequently declared that Lubkin's comment could have interfered with the jury. Lubkin was sentenced to 30 days in jail but was released after about four. He says the higher court's reversal means "America still works." Published: Tue, Feb 11, 2014