AnonymousBy an edhat reader
The [largely secret] MS 13 trial is set to start this month in Santa Maria – same courthouse as the Michael Jackson trial. While I only know that there are about 50 felony counts of murder, attempted murder, etc. the case documents have been sealed and not allowed to circulate among the public. Does anyone know if the courthouse will be off limits to the public/press? I can’t seem to locate this information.
You think there might be some “unsavory” types in attendance at that trial? I sure hope they have the metal & other detectors operating all over that place when this trip begins. “Film at 11”
Trials like this require lots of extra bailiffs who appear have only very short shifts and have to replace each other every few hours. And yes, the gallery is full of trial observer runners ready to snitch on the snitches. Your criminal justice tax dollars at work – on top of the court appointed attorneys and court appointed translators this large pack of defendants all get for free. Learn the hard way, go be an observer yourself when you can during a “gang” trial. Count of the amount of tax dollars spent just to keep the courtroom doors open everyday – everyone gets their day in court. It is the American Way – no matter where one might hold their citizenship.
Hmmm, It sounds like you have something better to propose — Let’s hear it?
We still have the Constitutionally guaranteed right to a public trial. No matter how often fascism suggests that we close the courtroom, deny lawyers to the poor, intimidate or prohibit witnesses for the defense, or simply impose summary punishment without hearing, our system has almost always continued to comply with the Founding Fathers vision. Without these protections we have no nation.