Judge asks why Obama admin. seeking unusually tough charges against GetEqual DADT protesters

[EFerrari]

Judge asks why Obama admin. seeking unusually tough charges against GetEqual DADT protesters, invokes MLK -- then prosecutor lies
Posted by Joe Sudbay (DC) at 3/18/2011 11:30:00 AM

Just got a report from Paul Yandura who is at the Federal Court House where the arraignment is for the 13 DADT protesters. As reported yesterday, the protesters, who were arrested on November 15, 2010 in front of the White House, are facing tougher charges than usual for cases like this. The government's lawyers intend to prosecute the 13 defendants for "violating the orders of a federal law enforcement officer," which could result in jail time. This is the first time DADT protesters have been in federal court. The other defendants were processed for minor misdemeanors in DC's court system.

At today's arraignment, Mark Goldstone, the lawyer for the 13 protesters, explained to Federal Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola that the statute under which the defendants are being charged was unusual. He noted that it had not been used in recent past against people engaging in civil disobedience at the White House. For whatever reason, the government has decided to pursue the more serious criminal charges.

What happened next was surprising to those in the Courtroom. Judge Facciola got up out of his chair, while pacing, gave a speech about the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. He intimated that there were trumped up charges back in the 50s and 60s, too. And, he evoked the Shuttlesworth v. Birmingham case, Martin Luther King's "letters from the Birmingham jail" and how civil rights protesters were often brought to court to face stricter charges. The judge clearly linked the protest over Don't Ask, Don't Tell to those earlier civil rights protests.

The Judge asked the government prosecutor a lot of questions, including why the government didn't charge the protesters under the lesser crime of disorderly conduct. Apparently, and I had to ask Paul to repeat this a couple times, the prosecutor said the protesters were talking politely and weren't being that loud. So, they weren't being disorderly. (I have a video of the protesters here. They weren't talking quietly amongst themselves after the first 5 seconds.)

http://gay.americablog.com/2011/03/judge-questions-harsher-charges-against.html?utm_content=backtype-tweetcount&utm_medium=bt.io-twitter&utm_source=twitter.com

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[myrna minx]

2. K&R n/t

[nashville_brook]

3. k and r

[girl gone mad]

4. k & r

[FiveGoodMen]

5. Who's STILL not sensing a pattern here?

[Bluebear]

11. thank you

[Canuckistanian]

22. +1

It's an all-too-familiar pattern.

[n2doc]

6. Because it is what Ronald Reagan would do n/t

[Le Taz Hot]

7. K & R

And he just raided medical marijuana dispensaries in Montana. As long as this president has his priorities straight . . . :puke:

[meow mix]

8. k&r

[myrna minx]

9. kick

:kick:

[EFerrari]

10. Thank you for the recs and kicks.

:kick:

[City Lights]

12. K&R. nt

[Bluebear]

13. k/r

[demmiblue]

14. K&R

:kick:

[Octafish]

15. Judge Facciola has integrity.

His type may have become the minority in government.

[Starry Messenger]

16. k&r

[bluestate10]

17. Do you realize.

That the prosecutor in the case has to be appointed to that job. And do you realize that prosecutor in the courtroom may be a Bush appointee because republicans have blocked and outright stonewalled President Obama's appointees. Now, it the protesters spent the money that they are spending on fines and lawyers on funding effective grassroots political organizations that can register democratic voters and get them to the polls, maybe, just maybe, the next democratic President won't have to deal with shit from republicans because he or she will have overwhelming majorities and Congress that is not filled with blue-dogs. But, of course, it is easier to see the obvious and not have a damned clue.

[EFerrari]

20. Baloney. n/t

[bluestate10]

21. Explain why? nt

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[_ed_]

26. Do you have any facts

or are you just reflexively defending Obama's administration regardless of reality?

[Bluenorthwest]

29. Are you trying for a best Screenplay nod?

Making it up as you go along is not really the same thing as reporting facts. I offer that a rouge prosecutor is the responsibility of his superiors. That prosecutor only has power as given him or her by the administration. The guy is their lawyer, plain and simple.

[Kurovski]

18. K&R

good to see a judge who doesn't work in a politically motivated vacuum.

[TriMera]

19. k&r. n/t

[donheld]

23. How else does one be a "strong advocate?"

[Luminous Animal]

25. Here come the judge. Here come the judge.

[_ed_]

27. The contempt for gay rights advocates

in the White House is palpable.

[VoteProgressive]

28. Wow, this is unbelievable.

[timo]

30. bill of goods

bought and paid for by your blood, sweat and tears, and cash donations!! what a rip off!!