Night Court Magistrate Throws the Book at Haslam, Troopers Over Occupy Nashville Arrests

[cal04]

http://www.nashvillescene.com/pitw/archives/2011/10/29/night-court-magistrate-throws-the-book-at-haslam-troopers-over-occupy-nashville-arrests

"It's not every day you get to see a night court magistrate smack down the governor of Tennessee," a legal observer said outside the Metro Courthouse at 2:30 a.m. today, as fog shrouded downtown in mist.

Yet that's what happened in the early morning hours, as Metro Night Court Judge Tom Nelson told the troopers who arrested 25 peaceful Occupy Nashville protesters at midnight on Legislative Plaza — along with Scene reporter Jonathan Meador, who was attempting to get off the plaza when he was cuffed and hauled off — that the curfew being enforced at the Capitol had no constitutional grounds whatsoever.

"I have reviewed the regulations of the state of Tennessee, and I can find no authority anywhere for anyone to authorize a curfew anywhere on Legislative Plaza," Judge Nelson told a grimacing trooper, before ordering the immediate release of everyone arrested.

Some 30 additional protesters greeted those released with cheers and chants of "This is how democracy works!" They were last seen at 4 a.m. marching victoriously up Deaderick Street — back to Legislative Plaza.

Occupy Nashville
Occupy Nashville will be having our General Assembly today at 1PM (Saturday) at Legislative Plaza to express our 1st Amendment rights. We are continuing our fight to end the corruption of our government by corporate influences. We demand better income equality for the people of this nation. We are the 99%. And so are you.
http://www.facebook.com/OccupyNashville

Jonathan Meador
Arrestees erupt in applause to news of warrants being thrown out. (5 hrs ago)
Out of jail. (3 hrs ago)
http://twitter.com/#!/JonathanMeador

[GodlessBiker]

1. K&R!

[Fumesucker]

2. Great judge..

Too bad there aren't a lot more like him..

[leveymg]

3. Bravo! Democracy and Justice still live in one courtroom in Tennessee!

[EFerrari]

4. Kick

[malaise]

5. Bwaaaaaaah!

Love you Judge Nelson! :yourock:

[Tsiyu]

6. Tennessee sucks a little bit less this morning

Haslam wants to treat protesters - who are just regular people trying to make this a better nation for all of us - as if they are criminals for exercising their rights to free speech and assembly.

This is what Republicans do best - demonize anyone who wants to make this country better.

While Bill Haslam hides behind doors making his deals for the 1% like the COWARD Republican he is. He has no regard for the people of this state and the hardships we are going through. None whatsoever.

Kudos to Nelson for putting Haslam back in his place. And putting the Constitution front and center ...TWICE






Constitution: TWO Bill Haslam: BIG FAT ZERO

[qb]

7. grimacing trooper

:rofl:
The judge should have ordered the Guv & troopers to mandatory civics classes.

[Downtown Hound]

8. Some judges aren't morons.

Some...

[WillyT]

9. HUGE K & R !!!

:bounce::woohoo::bounce:

:hi:

:kick:

[dmosh42]

10. That judge will never get off the night shift!

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. Oh yeah, that Constitution thingy the cops hate so very much...