Judge Bars Defendant from Testifying [semi-satire]

Semi-News/Semi-Satire ^ | 13 August 2017 | John Semmens

[John Semmens]

U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro barred Eric Parker from mentioning the First Amendment after he took the stand to testify in his own defense in a trial stemming from the 2014 Bunkerville standoff in which ranchers confronted Bureau of Land Management officers in a dispute over grazing rights.

"Once a duly authorized law enforcement action is underway the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech no longer apply," Navarro ruled. "Allowing a jury to hear these words would only serve to undermine the respect for authority that is essential to an orderly enforcement of the decisions made by government officials."

The Judge also cited "the need to avoid another hung jury in this case. If we allow the defense to raise issues that I have determined aren't pertinent to the case we could end up in the same quandary where some jurors might elevate their uninformed opinions about freedom of speech and assembly above the instructions from the bench to consider only whether the defendants did or didn't obey the lawful commands of the Bureau."

Since one of the "lawful commands" forbade video taping of the confrontation, recordings that the defense contends demonstrate the peaceful intent and behavior of the defendants will not be shown to the jury.

if you missed any of this week's other semi-news/semi-satire posts you can find them at...

http://www.gopbriefingroom.com/index.php?topic=275909.new#new

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I read the story last week on this. I don’t see how this is satire because it is a completely accurate description of Navarro’s words and actions. She needs to be brought under control. These are grounds for a mistrial.

[Founding Father]

Say it anyway.

[Fhios]

I’ve read several of these bundy trial updates over the last few months.

I often wonder how accurate they are and if they’re presented neutrally or heavily biased by some weird alt-alt-right bloggers.

With a good Lawyer, a vindictive judge at the lower court levels becomes just a nuisance. Appeal everything and Don’t represent yourself.

Hire a constitutional law expert witness and pose the first amendment questions to him. They judge would not be able to refuse since it’s the job of the jury to determine the facts.

Jury nullification attempts notwithstanding.