At Florida's Seminole County Courthouse, they don't mess around. But in striving to be tough on criminals, some judges seem to miss the point entirely, leaving them open to errors such as the one that sent 11 people to jail for failing to appear before a judge - even though all 11 were just 100 feet away in another courtroom.

All 11 were of the belief they were to appear before a Judge John R. Sloop in courtroom 1B last Friday. Sloop, however, was presiding in room 1A that day. By the time the 11 realized they were in the wrong place, Sloop had already signed warrants for their arrest. And when they arrived at his courtroom to explain their absences, he had them locked up.

The 11 stewed in the county jail for eight hours or more before the matter was cleared up and they were set free. Sloop, who had jailed seven others under similar circumstances the day before, was taken off criminal court duty on Monday.

» Scott Saxon