[marktwain]

It sounds as if the court punted on the disorderly conduct charge in order to prevent a lawsuit against the officers.

[Always Right]

at least he got the important part of the ruling correct.

[papasmurf]

Sounds like a reasonable ruling (disorderly conduct), but, I have to question the circumstances of his "checking his fireman" to be sure it was secure.

Was he asked if it was secure? Did the policeman say something to the effect of..."it's unsheathed, or unsnapped, or not holstered securely/properly", then he "checked" it?

What caused him to "check it"?

[Naspino]

There needs to be an Obama type reform to disorderly conduct. It seems to have become the catch-all arrest for whenever the law does not apply. I understand the intention but it seems the interpretation is far too open and applied randomly.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“First, it had to find that Mr. Woodard was “acting in a state of violent agitation.”

No way any reasonable person jumps from “checking if a firearm is secure on his belt” to “violent agitation”. In my opinion, “disorderly conduct” is a B.S. charge. Threatening a police officer would be disorderly conduct.

[School of Rational Thought]

Fron what is written, I don’t see the disorderly conduct charge. It appears the judge wants to ensure cops have a catchall basis for arrest.

[wastedyears]

First, it had to find that Mr. Woodard was "acting in a state of violent agitation." The sole fact used to support this finding was the undisputed and admitted fact that Mr. Woodard checked his gun more than once to see if it was secure on his belt. Second, the court had to conclude that a reasonable (even though mistaken) officer could have concluded that Mr. Woodard's "violent and tumultuous" action of checking his gun was aimed at certain people. Third, the court had to find that those people were placed in reasonable fear of their safety.

This 55 years ago would have caused the officers to be fired, as well as the judge. How absolutely insane to believe that checking to make sure a holster is still secured to a belt to be acting in a menacing manner. Our "justice" system is so broken there's no way to repair it.

[SUSSA]

Mr. Woodard should file federal criminal charges against the cops for violating his constitutional rights under color of law.

[SuperLuminal]

bttt

[2harddrive]

Sure sounds like the “Court” is trying to protect the two cops!