Columbus Short Arrest Warrant Issued -- Judge Wants Him Cuffed

Columbus Short may not be wanted anymore on "Scandal" ... but he's still a wanted man -- as in there's now a warrant out for his arrest.

Short was ordered to show Wednesday morning in criminal court for a hearing in his domestic violence case. His wife was asking the judge for more protection from the actor, who is mired in legal trouble.

But Columbus wasn't there, so the judge issued a bench warrant.

Here's the interesting twist. The day before he was a no-show in a different criminal case. The judge threatened to issue a warrant and Columbus suddenly appeared.

We asked Columbus Tuesday about his belated court appearance. Check out his reaction.