Sean Avery causes controversy in New York courtroom.

It seems that never more than a few months go by before we once again see former National Hockey League forward Sean Avery's name in the headlines once again, and unfortunately for Avery there's often a negative connotation around those headlines.

This week the controversial former NHL player was once again in the spotlight after a scene he made in a New York courtroom over a relatively minor legal dispute made The New York Times. Two weeks prior to this incident Avery was threatened with jail time during a virtual meeting in which a judge ordered him to appear, in person, during his next court hearing for a charge of criminal mischief stemming from a 2019 incident where he was accused of ramming his scooter into the door of a parked car.

Avery would follow that judge's order and would appear in court this week but upon arriving he had a surprise for everyone including his own lawyer, Dmitriy Shakhnevich. Avery proudly announced to the court that he would now be representing himself in these legal proceedings, resulting in Shakhnevich quickly leaving the courtroom. Judge John Zhuo Wang would advise Avery not to move forward with this decision but Avery not only insisted on representing himself he would also go on to request a jury trial for his misdemeanor infraction.

Judge John Zhuo Wang would inform Avery that he was not entitled to a trial by jury but did offer him a bench trial, which Avery promptly refused while continuing to insist for a jury trial. After failing to persuade the judge, Avery agreed to schedule a date for a bench trial at a later date but promptly told the judge that it would need to be much later in the year. Avery cited the fact that he now lives across the country as the main reason for requesting an extended delay.

"I have a job sir. I live in California," said Avery to the judge as per the New York Times. "I don’t just get on the subway to come here."

Seemingly not amused by the antics of the former NHL pest, Judge Wang set a trial for May 23rd and in spite of Avery's objections to that date also informed him that if he did not appear on the appointed day a warrant would be issued for his arrest.