Police: Lawyer assaults wife in court

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Updated: April 19, 2011 5:16AM

JOLIET — A lawyer reportedly gave a judge probable cause to grant an order of protection by beating his estranged wife in court Friday morning.

Will County Sheriff’s spokesman Pat Barry said the 43-year-old woman had gone to Judge Marilee Viola’s third-floor courtroom for a hearing against Robert W. Goldsmith, 48.

“It appears Mr. Goldsmith was not pleased with the outcome of the hearing,” Barry said. “He made a derogatory comment about his wife as they were walking out, then grabbed her by the hair and began punching her in the face — knocking her to the ground.”

Robert Goldsmith was reportedly restrained by some other men inside the courtroom while deputies were called in.

The victim suffered cuts and bruises to her head and was transported to Silver Cross Hospital by Joliet firefighters.

Goldsmith, of 14864 Cricketwood Drive in Homer Glen, was arrested on a charge of aggravated domestic battery and booked into the county jail.

Jail records show Goldsmith is an attorney with an office in Frankfort.