Intro

Someday, I'll write a book...for now, here's my blog.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Trial of First Amendment Rights: Day 1

Background

Day 1

According to reports, the trial didn't really begin today because the opposing parties eliminated so many potential jurors during selection that they ran out, and will continue tomorrow.  However, the Defendant has only one remaining elimination, and the Prosecutor two, so proceedings will certainly get off the ground tomorrow.

However, prior to jury selection, the Prosecution introduced some pre-trial motions, as well as the prior testimony of a witness they intended to call to the stand.  The motions were in regards to the content of the Defendant's opening statement from October 2013's trial, asking the court to prohibit the Defendant from making certain claims in this round's statement.  The Defendant had been filing motions for months leading up to this trial, giving the Prosecution plenty of time to incorporate her requests, but the Prosecution chose to spring their requested changes on the Defendant potentially hours before opening statements were to be given.  The reader may conclude, as the author has, this was a dirty, cheap tactic employed to make the Defendant flustered and unprepared.

The other introduction was that of the new witness' testimony, which the Defendant have never before seen.  It was approximately 300 pages long.  Of course, had the trial commenced, she would have been able to request adjournment until she'd had time to read this extensive document, but the tactic employed here was, of course, the same as in the introduction of the impromptu motions.  One has to wonder, if the Prosecution is stooping to such tactics in an attempt to gain the upper hand, how secure can they really feel about their case?

And finally, a PSA: if you are a potential juror in a federal case, and you really don't like the government or one of its extensions, don't say you don't like them when you're being interviewed during selection, as some would-be jurors did today (and for which they were promptly eliminated by the Prosecution).  That's just silly.

Day 2

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the update! Sorry to hear about the pre-trial motions, though. Good point in your PSA. They could show their displeasure towards the government more effectively by acquitting the defendant.

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  2. Thanks, Katie. This made me literally LOL: "One has to wonder, if the Prosecution is stooping to such tactics in an attempt to gain the upper hand, how secure can they really feel about their case?"

    They are absolutely "stooping" to such tactics. Based on my experience of YEARS watching the IRS work (as you have), these are the ONLY tactics they know. They are criminals and thugs. I'd rather deal with the Mafia.

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