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Denver Judge Axes the Constitution - Update of Rick Stanley's 2A/Civil Disobedience Trial
The Stanley for U.S. Senate 2002 Colorado Campaign - News Release ^ | May 15, 2002 | Stanley for U.S. Senate 2002 - Colorado

Posted on 05/16/2002 3:05:12 AM PDT by LibertyRocks

Denver Judge Axes the Constitution
Update on Trial: Day 1
News Release - May 15, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 15, 2002

NEWS RELEASE

Stanley for U.S. Senate 2002
Website:
http://www.stanley2002.org
Contact: Rick Stanley, 303.329.0481
Email:
Rick@stanley2002.org

===========================================================

DENVER JUDGE AXES THE CONSTITUTION...

[Denver - 11:30 pm] Sparks flew today in a Denver Courtroom where Libertarian U.S. Senate hopeful Rick Stanley is on trial for openly carrying a firearm in violation of Denver Municipal Ordinance 38-117.5(b). The arrest was the result of an intentional act of civil disobedience during a rally celebrating the 210th Anniversary of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 2001.

After wading through the usual preliminary proceedings, Defense Attorney Paul Grant moved for a twelve-man jury. This request was denied by Judge Patterson who stated Stanley would get only 6 jurors, citing a Colorado Statute.

Judge Patterson's next move was to order everyone except the defendant and the officers of the court out of the room.

Grant immediately objected stating the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guaranteed Rick's right to a speedy and public trial. "A trial can't be public," Grant stated, "if the public is excluded."

The judge countered that there wasn't enough room for the jury pool of 18 people and the public. After a few more minutes a compromise was reached and everyone except Mr. Stanley, his lawyer, and the court officials left the courtroom.

As observers left the court room they were met by a posse of armed guards from the Sheriff's department who ordered them to move away from the doorway.

After the jury pool came in and were seated, the observers were allowed back into the courtroom.

During the jury selection process supporters of Stanley were shocked to discover that out of a pool of 12 prospective jurors - 5 just happened to be employed by the Plaintiff, The City and County of Denver. One prospective female jury member confirmed that she indeed was a police officer employed by the Denver Police Department.

Grant objected that these jurors should be disqualified for conflict of interest issues, the Judge did not find cause to dismiss these jurors at that time.

During the selection process Defense Attorney Paul Grant posed several questions to this Police Officer.

When asked by Grant if she could really apply the laws as explained by the judge, she replied, "yes".

Then Mr. Grant asked her to confirm if she really was a police officer with the city and county of Denver. She replied, "yes".

Mr. Grant then asked her if, "...when becoming a police officer, she had taken an oath to support the Constitution of Colorado and the Constitution of the United States of America?"

"Yes, I did." the officer replied.

Grant then asked her a hypothetical question; "If the judge were to instruct you that the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and Article 2, Section 13 of the Constitution of Colorado are applicable to this case, would you be able to follow that instruction?

Pandemonium erupted halfway through Grant's question with the City Prosecutor objecting at the top of his lungs to the form of the question, as the Judge pounded his gavel for attention.

At this time Judge Patterson dismissed the jurors for lunch. After they left the courtroom Judge Patterson began to lecture Mr. Grant.

"I already sent you an order in this case. The order has been mailed to your offices. You are not to mention the Constitution during this proceeding. Do you understand?"

Grant replied that he did not.

Patterson said, "Then I'll explain it again. You are not to reference the Constitution in these proceedings. You will not address it in voir dire, you will not address it in your opening remarks, you will not ask any questions about the Constitution when you summon your witnesses, and you will not talk about the Constitution when you give your closing arguments. Do you understand my instructions?", questioned Judge Patterson.

Grant again replied he did not understand, and the judge proceeded to repeat his previous orders. He also stated that Mr. Grant had already violated these orders during the voir dire process when questioning the police officer.

Grant objected to the judge's statement and replied, "Your honor I did not ask a question about the Constitution I asked a question about jury instructions."

The Judge then asserted, "You did no such thing."

Grant countered, "Yes, I did." He peered at his notes and said, "Here's the question I asked her. If the judge were to instruct you that the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 2, Section 13 of the Constitution of Colorado are applicable to this case, would you be able to follow that instruction?"

In the presence of numerous observers, and despite an audio recording and at least one court reporter the Judge then asserted, "That's not the question you asked."

At that point it was clear Judge Patterson was visibly upset. He began advising counsel that he was on dangerous grounds and threatened him with court sanctions. Patterson then recessed the proceedings for a lunch break.

As Judge Patterson left the courtroom one Stanley supporter, Mr. Joe Johnson stood and addressed those left in the courtroom, "Hear Ye, Hear Ye, The Constitution of the United States of America has just been repealed by a Denver County Court Judge." Two reporters from the Denver daily papers scribbled furiously and then bolted for the doors.

The court reconvened in the afternoon and the jury selection was completed. The jury consists of 6 people, 5 women and 1 man.

The court heard testimony from both sides including testimony from the arresting officers who stated they did not fear any violence from Mr. Stanley, and that he was co-operative.

When Mr. Stanley was called by defense to testify, Judge Patterson questioned whether he really wanted to testify or not. The judge mentioned the Constitutional provision that guaranteed his ability not to testify, but when Mr. Stanley asked the judge to cite the provision the judge refused.

Throughout the afternoon's proceedings lawyers, judges, and others who apparently worked within the judicial system were seen coming in and out of the courtroom for short periods of time.

Testimony was concluded in the afternoon. Judge Patterson then recessed the proceedings to reconvene in the morning for closing arguments.

More information concerning Rick's arrest and the trial can be found online at: http://www.stanley2002.org/denvsconstitution.htm .

Previous news releases about this trial can be found online at: http://www.stanley2002.org/releases.htm

Rick Stanley is the CEO and owner of Stanley Fasteners and Shop Supply in Denver, and is currently seeking the Libertarian Party of Colorado's nomination as Candidate for U.S. Senate 2002. The convention will be held this weekend in Leadville, Colorado.

For more information on Rick's campaign please visit his official web site at: http://www.stanley2002.org . Information about the Libertarian Party of Colorado can be found at: http://www.lpcolorado.org

#30#

============================================================

Rick is available for media interviews about his grassroots campaign for U.S. Senate. For more information please call Rick at 303.329.0481.



TOPICS: Activism/Chapters; Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Colorado
KEYWORDS: 2a; banglist; colorado; constitution; corruption; courts; guns; judge; jurytampering; libertarians; secondamendment; trial; ussenatecandidate
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To: bvw
Oh, by translating into regularized latin, one can make the law now?

These are just maxims of common law that regulate courts. They were written in Latin and translated into English. Evidently Latin is a more precise language for legal matters.

281 posted on 05/16/2002 2:03:34 PM PDT by William Terrell
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To: ctdonath2

Roscoe writes: What does this case have to do with the "Constitution of the United States"?

"...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Sound familiar?

Let me guess what line of response will be akin to... I didn't inhale... I didn't have sexual relations with that woman... or, I didn't know it was an aspirin factory.

282 posted on 05/16/2002 2:03:36 PM PDT by Zon
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To: ctdonath2
Care to explain WHY?

Because your assertion was unsupported by law or facts.

283 posted on 05/16/2002 2:04:30 PM PDT by Roscoe
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To: sinkspur
Grant DID try to have them removed. The judge found no cause.
284 posted on 05/16/2002 2:06:06 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: sinkspur
Grant DID try to have them removed. The judge found no cause.
285 posted on 05/16/2002 2:06:08 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: Zon
Let me guess what line of response will be akin to...

You guessed wrong.

"The Second Amendment declares that it shall not be infringed, but this, as has been seen, means no more than that it shall not be infringed by Congress." -- US Supreme Court, U.S. v. Cruikshank, 92 U.S. 542 (1875), Presser v. State of Illinois, 116 U.S. 252 (1886)

286 posted on 05/16/2002 2:06:29 PM PDT by Roscoe
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To: infowarrior
The rest of the probelm lies with the people, who don't take back their courts.

287 posted on 05/16/2002 2:07:05 PM PDT by William Terrell
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To: lodwick

288 posted on 05/16/2002 2:07:08 PM PDT by christine
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To: William Terrell
"The common law is not a brooding omnipresence in the sky, but the articulate voice of some sovereign or quasi-sovereign that can be identified." -- Oliver Wendell Holmes
289 posted on 05/16/2002 2:10:04 PM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Roscoe
The Allard comment was NOT in relation to this case. AND it has nothing to do with his lawyer Paul Grant...
290 posted on 05/16/2002 2:10:22 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: LibertyRocks
Grant DID try to have them removed. The judge found no cause.

There was no cause. Removing city employees from jury pools simply because they work for the city that is enforcing the law through a lawsuit sounds loony.

291 posted on 05/16/2002 2:11:23 PM PDT by sinkspur
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To: LibertyRocks
It's the same Stanley.
292 posted on 05/16/2002 2:12:57 PM PDT by Roscoe
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To: Roscoe
The idiot confessed. OJ didn't.

Confessed to what -- exercising his 2nd Amendment Right? That does not constitute a confession!

Why don't you take me up on my offer. You can freepmail me and give me your address. I'll arrange for you, me, and Rick Stanley to meet face-to-face so that you can tell him to his face that he's an idiot. How's that sound?

293 posted on 05/16/2002 2:17:25 PM PDT by BillofRights
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To: BillofRights
Confessed to what -- exercising his 2nd Amendment Right?

Wrong.

294 posted on 05/16/2002 2:19:50 PM PDT by Roscoe
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To: sinkspur

I'm having fun watching you paint yourself into a corner as an anarchist.

Anarchist HA! I'm 100 percent for honest/equal justice and the upholding of individual-property rights. What you propose is anarchy and is demonstrated by the millions of innocents convicted of breaking political agenda laws. That facilitates anarchy because those innocents would be productive members of society producing marketable values for citizens instead of costing taxpayers to have them produce nothing.

295 posted on 05/16/2002 2:21:27 PM PDT by Zon
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To: ffrancone
But it is dubious that, after 20+ years of democrat governors appointing justices, we will get a decision that actually applies the language or intent of the constitution.

THIS would seem to support that assertion.

296 posted on 05/16/2002 2:21:35 PM PDT by MileHi
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To: Roscoe
[Me]The Cruikshank case was an exercise in squid ink...

[You] Cite an exception.

Well, Roscoe, try this:

Sec. 242. - Deprivation of rights under color of law

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or to different punishments, pains, or penalties, on account of such person being an alien, or by reason of his color, or race, than are prescribed for the punishment of citizens, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

This section of USC clearly shows that the rights of United States citizens are protected by the the laws of the United States, not by the laws and governments of the several States as per Cruikshank.

That exceptional enough for you, Roscoe?

297 posted on 05/16/2002 2:27:26 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: lentulusgracchus
That exceptional enough for you, Roscoe?

Begging the question and completely off point.

Wanna try again?

298 posted on 05/16/2002 2:29:51 PM PDT by Roscoe
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To: hattend
Umm.. did you read the rest? The observers were allowed back in the courtroom after the jury was seated.
299 posted on 05/16/2002 2:33:27 PM PDT by LibertyRocks
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To: Roscoe
Wrong.

Please cite and quote (in extenso, please) relevant authority showing that ctdonath2 is wrong in his opinion.

300 posted on 05/16/2002 2:36:02 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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