Hays ? William E. Shanahan knows how to debate.

The Fort Hays State University team he coaches is, after all, the nation’s best.

His choice of opponents and tactics on Tuesday, however, left him cooling his heels for two hours in the city jail.

That’s how it goes when you argue with someone who can punctuate his rebuttals with a gavel, as Municipal Judge Gene Anderson did when he held Shanahan in contempt of court.

“He directly insulted the court,” Hays Prosecutor Glenn Braun said. “He launched into an extensive closing argument, and the judge interrupted him and said, ‘Sir, I’m going to give you 30 seconds to wrap it up.’ Shanahan said he wanted to address a different issue and then looked directly at the judge and said, ‘You are making a mockery of the judicial system.”‘

That’s when Shanahan went from fighting a speeding ticket to being held in contempt. The judge also found him guilty of driving 49 mph in a 30-mph zone and fined him $30, with an additional $42.50 in court costs.

“I know everyone likes to attack the judicial system, but in fairness to Judge Anderson, I thought he showed a great deal of restraint in handling Mr. Shanahan,” Braun said. “He’s lucky he wasn’t in front of a district judge.”

Shanahan, 40, did not immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press.

Braun gave this version of events:

Shanahan came to court wearing a T-shirt and shorts and no shoes or socks and interrupted the witness and the judge on numerous occasions.

When the judge swore him in, asking if he promised “to tell the truth, so help you God,” Shanahan said, “Everything but the God part.”

The judge repeated the oath but left out the words, “So help you God.” Shanahan then asked the judge what truth he was asking about.

“He had been warned three times by the judge,” Braun said.

Shanahan has coached debate at Fort Hays State for 18 years. The school won its first national title in April.