Judge in Vancouver, Wash., jumps into courtroom scuffle

VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Officials in Vancouver say a judge who jumped into a courtroom scuffle suffered minor injuries.

The Columbian reports (http://is.gd/se1Lrf ) that Clark County Superior Court Judge Daniel Stahnke stepped into the fray Thursday afternoon to help stop a defendant who reportedly was trying to assault a deputy prosecutor.

Superior Court Administrator Jeff Amram says he did not see the fight but later saw a bite mark on Stahnke's cheek and arm.

Deputy Prosecutor Colin Hayes says a jury had just convicted the 49-year-old defendant on child molestation charges. After the jury was excused, the sheriff's office says the man left the defense table and tried to strike the deputy prosecutor. The sheriff's office says a deputy sheriff on courthouse jury intervened, as did the judge.

A sheriff's statement says both the judge and the deputy suffered injuries that required medical attention but should be fine. The injuries were not described. The newspaper says the judge's judicial assistant described the injuries as minor.

The sheriff's office says the deputy prosecutor was also hurt but needed no medical care. The defendant was taken to jail.