Posted on 07/13/2011 1:14:34 PM PDT by Teflonic
Adam Mueller, aka Ademo Freeman, stood inside the Keene District Courthouse in New Hampshire, waiting for Judge Edward Burke to step inside so he could ask him a question.
Less than two minutes later, he was arrested for threatening the judge, a felony charge called “improper influence.”
But Mueller had his camera rolling, so he captured the entire exchange on video.
And there is absolutely no evidence that he threatened Burke.
Here is that exchange, but you can also hear it for yourself in the above video:
(Judge Burke enters the building)
Mueller: “Judge Burke, can I ask you a few questions about a hat … and how that constitutes contempt.”
(Burke ignores him and heads for the stairs)
Mueller: “You think people want to pay for somebody to be in jail for five days for wearing a hat?”
(Burke continues to ignore him as he walks up the stairs with Mueller walking behind him)
Mueller: “It’s kind of ridiculous to waste tax-payer money on something like that, isn’t it?
(Burke reaches the top of the stairs)
Mueller: “Sir, I just want to have a conversation.”
(Burke opens the door and motions to the bailiff)
Burke: “Bailiff, bailiff, this person is threatening me about a decision I just made.”
Mueller: “I’m not threatening you ….”
Mueller is then taken into custody and thrown in jail where he spent two nights before he was bailed on a donated $5,000 bond.
On Wednesday, after viewing the above video, the district attorney’s office dropped the charges against him
But that hasn’t solved the issue that Burke had Mueller falsely arrested.
And it hasn’t solved the issue that Burke directed a court order that now forbids photography or videography in the Keene courthouse.
(Excerpt) Read more at pixiq.com ...
“My freedom for a little security.....”
“It’s getting to the point where I think cameras are needed everywhere to prevent the rampant abuse of power going on across the country.”
Yep. Hence why it is illegal, in some places, for you to record cops on the street—can’t have the serfs defending themselves, now can we?
Perhaps a “personal video rights” bill should be passed making it legal for everyone to wear a camera anywhere they may go in public?
Wtf?
was the attorney wearing a hat in the courtroom?
men are required, just good manners, to remove their hats in court.
(see also hand over heart during national anthem)
There are cases where women were asked to return with proper attire when arriving in shorts/skorts.
Sounds like another one of the free staters pushing for a confrontation. Judges run their courtrooms with a lot of discretion and power. If you can’t get over having to take your hat off it a courtroom and have to confront a judge about it, you’re looking for trouble. IMHO.
There will be a whole heap of men wearing hats indoors before long. I was once against it (National Guard) but not now. ...includes untrimmed hair and full beards.
Okay. All well and good. But, what I want to know is how the initial exchange about the hat go down? Did Mueller create a stink? How did Judge Burke address the issue with the hat initially? What prompted Judge Burke to slap the contempt charge on Mueller?
If the judge politely asked him to remove the hat, he should have removed it.
Buh Bye Buy 1st ammendment!
How can a judge/former lawyer not know about the first RIGHT!
And luckily, such cameras are small, cheap and plentiful. One of them in the shape of a pen, sticking in your shirt pocket will do the job nicely.
Yep, he now needs to take this matter in several direction:
1. He needs to seek legislators to introduce and seek passage of a law allowing video taping and photography in all public areas of courts in the state.
2. He needs to seek redress against this judge via the state Judicial ethic body:
http://www.courts.state.nh.us/committees/judconductcomm/
3. He could swear out a complaint to the local police seeking the arrest of the offender.
4. He could file a law suit seeking damages for the tort of false arrest or defamation.
Getting the legislature to not let tyrants hide their behavior behind rules that don’t let you collect evidence of their crimes is among the most important things he could do. Really the legislature should jump all over this on their own accord.
This judge should be impeached and thrown off the bench.
Why do you think the guy asking the judge about wasting tax payers money was the guy sanctioned for the hat? It sounded more like a citizen journalist challenging a spendthrift member of the political class to me.
Not at all. Review the transcript of the Trial of William Penn in London, where Magistrate ordered him to remove his hat. Being a Quaker, and holding that all men are equal before G-d and the Law, he refused.
That trial was one of the bases of our common law rights in trials.
I’m surprised he wasn’t kept in jail on wiretapping charges. How dare he record the illegal actions of our overlords!
in london where powdered wigs are still in fashion.
here in the states nobody wears a hat.
yamakah (yes i know sp) are allowed.
So we’ll put you down in the “OK with false arrest” column...
In general I’d be on the judge’s side in the courtroom. They are responsible for maintaining what they consider to be proper decorum, and they have the power to enforce it. Unless you have some overriding reason, like maybe you’re Sikh, just remove the hat, or leave. A contempt charge for someone refusing a judge’s simple orders is reasonable.
This guy misses the fact that it’s not about the hat, it’s about respect for the court.
However, an officer of the court just lied to a bailiff, using the power of his position to have another man falsely imprisoned. He needs to be removed from his position of power immediately.
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