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 =========================================================== 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. |
THIS is important for everyone in the country to know about. The newspapers in Colorado are NOT reporting on the real issues at stake in this trial. There was absolutely no testimony included in the article and as you read, the trial is not boring to say the least...
The media is not reporting about how the jury pool was so obviously fixed... I mean come on... 5 people out of 18 potential jurors work for the City - the Plaintiff?? AND we had a police officer??? In a city the size of Denver -- well over half a million people I find it hard to believe that the jury pool was a random sampling of the population!
Please support Rick through this trial. He is a true Patriot who loves his country. Read for yourself, visit the website: www.stanley2002.org
I thought Maryland was screwed up...
HOLY SH*T!!!
Spread the word!
COUNTY COURT
1437 Bannock Street
Denver, Colorado 80202
Phone: (720) 865-7800
Fax: (720) 865-8250
dccadmin@ci.denver.co.us
Patterson is an elected official and sits for a four year term. I'm affraid I don't know when he's next on the ballot. In the following pic, he is in the second row, second from the left (the black man). Click the picture to see his legal biography.
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.Scalia is going to love this case.
-Eric
| Libertarian's gun case goes to jury Senate candidate says he put loaded gun in holster during rally to make a point By Charlie Brennan,News Staff Writer Jurors start deliberating today in Libertarian Senate candidate Rick Stanley's trial for openly carrying a gun in defiance of a Denver city ordinance, but they're not exactly faced with a whodunnit. Stanley, owner of Denver's Stanley Fastener & Shop Supply, removed much of the suspense Wednesday when he testified toward the end of his 1 hour, 45 minute trial in Denver County Court. Stanley admitted to the jury of five women and one man that he put a loaded Beretta .380 caliber semiautomatic handgun in his holster during a Dec. 15 rally at a downtown Denver park. The rally marked the 210th birthday of the Bill of Rights, and Stanley said he wanted "to bring attention to a bad law that needs to be overturned." Stanley also testified he wanted "to obtain standing, so that I can take it up through the court system, if we don't get this resolved (at trial) in favor of we, the people." Stanley says the Denver ordinance contradicts the Colorado Constitution and the Second Amendment, which he sats grant permission to openly carry a deadly weapon. Stanley, who has pleaded innocent to the misdemeanor charge, which could bring a year in jail and a $999 fine, offered jurors a second reason for carrying a gun. As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, whose controversial views have riled many inside and outside the Libertarian Party, Stanley testified: "For the past year, I have been receiving threats over the Internet," adding that people using "five or six different monikers" had been harassing and threatening him. In the week before the rally in a park at 1440 Lincoln St., Stanley testified, one of those people wrote that "He and I were going to introduce ourselves to one another" at the demonstration. Asked by his attorney, Paul Grant, how he interpreted that message, Stanley said, "A threat." Stanley's trial occurs against the backdrop of a political campaign in which he has invested $10,000. He hopes to secure the Libertarian nomination to oppose U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard and likely Democratic challenger Tom Strickland this fall. Only last month, Colorado Springs software engineer Steve D'Ippolito was pressed into the fray by Libertarians alarmed over Stanley's comments that some judge too extreme. Among them is Stanley's contention that Allard should be tried for treason -- and hung, if found guilty -- for voting to pass the Patriot Act in response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Sandra Johnson, who garnered 22,000 votes as the Libertarian candidate for governor in 1998, said many Libertarians oppose Stanley because, "We don't want to be seen as the lunatic fringe." The Libertarians will gather in Leadville Friday through Sunday to choose between Stanley and D'Ippolito, as well as other candidates for statewide office.
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That is the coloration to give to this odious trial.
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
When we have 'people' such as this on the bench, there can be little hope for either freedom or democracy.
If you mention them, we kill you. Got it?
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