Posted on 08/10/2006 3:49:02 AM PDT by IrishMike
CHICAGO - A federal judge Wednesday denied prosecutors' request to seat an anonymous jury in the trial of a Bridgeview, Ill., man charged with funneling money to the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve ruled that prosecutors failed to show Muhammad Salah and his co-defendant Abdelhaleem Ashqar, of Virginia, are likely to intimidate or harass jurors.
"(T)he mere invocation of the word `terrorism,' without more, is insufficient to warrant such an anonymous jury," St. Eve wrote in a ruling released Wednesday.
Salah's attorney, Michael Deutsch, called the ruling a small but significant step toward a fair trial.
"Just because the government invokes the word `terrorism' doesn't mean they are terrorists," he said.
Deutsch argued that jurors would be unfairly prejudiced against Salah if they knew their names and backgrounds were being kept secret.
"It creates the impression in them that there is some danger associated with the defendants," he said.
In her ruling, St. Eve noted that prosecutors acknowledged Salah and Ashqar aren't dangers to their community at the men's bond hearings.
While St. Eve ruled the identity of jurors won't be kept secret from the defense or prosecution, she suggested she may place their names under seal.
That likely would prevent the public and press from learning jurors' identities.
Salah's attorneys first suggested the possibility of releasing jurors' names to the defense and prosecution but keeping them under seal.
(Excerpt) Read more at thestate.com ...
Good ruling idiot prosecutors. Just my humble opinon.
And who would you suggest carry out your brave dream?
'Non-Muslim Discombobulation Club'?
That anywhere would preclude your town or city wouldn't it?
Are you asking for volunteers? I'll be the first in line to drive the D9 into the totalitarian government headquarters which some call mosques.
LOL. You don't know me. I openly tell people this. I fear no one, because I am ready to die for what I believe -- just like they are. What's your next comment?
No, how about we name the idiots that keep sending the same political hacks back to office "MORONS IDIOTS AND COWARDS"
Deport Muslims Now! No camps -- just deport! Raze ALL mosques. Do it now!
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That is sounding more and more like a good idea.
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Muzzy Wuzzy? Bombsy Womsy?
If I had my choice it would be in the dry Tortugas.
If they put them close to me , Babs Mukulski would be there pulling a Monica on each and every one of them.
Exactly
"Hey, Stupidass Judge!!! If you're the perps, and you're funding Hamas (A Terroist Org) I don't want you to know I'm the one that put you behind bars, ok?" "BTW, I can't do jury duty, I'll be away for the rest of my life!"
Anybody think to ask the jurors how they feel about this? Maybe it is unfair to ask average american citizens to sit on a jury of this sort. See, if I am being tried, I have a right to a jury of my peers. But there is some reflexivity in that I am also a peer of my jury. No way is any man who is funnelling money to terrorist organizations a peer of any jury I'd be on. The fact that anonymity is being considered should trigger the thought that this case is orders of magnitude a different category than that which our English/American legal tradition is able to cope with.
New legal procedures will be needed to be developed to deal with the enemies we have blindly let into this country. If this guy has done what they allege, he should be declared an enemy combatant and sent to Guantanimo. (where he may have to endure having panties put on his head)
An intimidated juror is grounds for Defense counsel death
"Only a lawyer can so strain at a gnat while ignoring the camel it rode in on."
Truth.
Another judge who needs to be removed from office
I would guess the Judge has 24/7 protection and a hi-tech home alarm system. Likely has family under protective suveillance and gets driver to and fro to court in an armored limo.
Is she willing to live the every day life of these "common" jurors?
She needs to walk in the jurors shoes for a day when it comes to this case.
IMHO, if the guy is found guilty Hamas will give each of these 12 members of the jury and their families a personal jihad.
Black robe fever strikes again.
Judges refuse to live in the real world.
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