NILES (WWJ) - It was a “muttering” of some choice words that landed 49-year old LaRue Ford in jail; charged with contempt.

District court clerks overheard her using some profanity while she was trying to settle a 2004 traffic ticket.

The ACLU filed an emergency appeal in Berrien County Circuit Court saying the woman “essentially muttered a swear word to herself” earlier this month as she was leaving the clerk’s office in Niles, just north of the Indiana state line.

The ACLU asked the judge to order Ford’s release and dismiss the case.

A Michigan circuit court judge had ordered bond reduced from $5,000 to $500 for the Indiana woman charged with contempt for cursing – and Friday afternoon she was released from jail.

Ford was charged with contempt and jailed Dec. 18 after her bond was revoked because she could not show a permanent address in Indiana.

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