Judge to Michael Lohan -- Do You Know How to Read?

A furious Florida judge just ripped into Michael Lohan for violating Kate Major's restraining order against him -- by asking his attorney straight-up, "Does [Michael] know how to read?"

Lohan -- who's been locked up since being arrested for allegedly battering Major yesterday -- appeared before a Hillsborough County (Tampa) judge this morning.

During the hearing, the judge set Lohan's bond at $5,000 -- but ordered Lohan to stay behind bars until 6 PM.

But's that's not all ... the judge asked prosecutors to look into adding a felony charge of aggravated assault against Lohan -- since Kate claims he threatened to throw her off a balcony.