Court Merry-Go-Round Whirls On for Santa Cruz Eleven

HURRY UP AND WAIT
Thanks to 15 or 20 supporters who showed up for what turned to be almost entirely a postponement hearing. The loyalty and patience of these supporters, who take time out from work, family, school, and life, is heart-sustaining.

Brent's prospective attorney apparently couldn't or wouldn't take his case, so there was another week's postponement until Friday June 8th 8:15 AM in Dept. 6 for a new attorney prospect. In the meantime Brent is representing himself, but also in closer communication with a few of the other attorneys, looks like/ He seemed pretty upbeat after the hearing, though Brent almost always does.

I'd thought the hearing was for all seven of us, but only five were on the calendar ((Becky, Gabriella, Brent, me, and Desiree). Four of the original Eleven (Alex, Bradley, Ed, and Grant) haven't had their charges refiled and, I think, are unlikely to. However Cameron Laurendau and Angel Alcantara, two of the seven of us still charged weren't on the court calendar (though I think Angel showed up).

COME BACK NEXT WEEK
No date was set for a Preliminary Hearing, but we were all ordered to appear (again!) on Friday, June 8th 8:15 AM in Dept. 6--this time probably before Judge Burdick, the main judge on the case (and the one who's dismissed charges against six of the defendants).

Attorneys seemed interested in having a Preliminary Hearing in July. One defendant may go for an early Preliminary Hearing.

A sympathetic portrait maker took photos of the five of us who were actually on the court calender with an eye to making a poster to put the word out more broadly about this sustained smear campaign against long-time activists.

Judge Sillman, after denying the Motion a week ago, agreed to lift the condition that I stay in the state, but refused to allow me to walk on the sidewalk next to 75 River St., where the occupation happened. This "guilty until proven innocent" requirement, has required all the defendants (except Bradley and Alex, whose attorneys got the requirement lifted) to walk into the street if a protest march goes past that building at the corner of River and Water. Presumably they can then arrest us for "jaywalking" and not "obeying all laws". Kind of creepy. No other attorneys joined in my motion--hopefully more will reclaim their rights,

This strange energy-consuming mini-circus has now gone on for 3 1/2 months and looks like it's going to continue.

THE BACKGROUND
Remember we're talking about what seems a unique prosecution for Santa Cruz--where months later--reporters, supporters, and observers were arrested. We were not even explicitly charged with organizing the occupation ("aiding and abetting" is the catch-phrase used by D..A. Rebekah Young to describe the "conspiracy").

We were simply targeted out of hundreds of people who came and went from the vacant Wells-Fargo leased building (now one of three empty bank properties downtown). The majority of us had been writing, photographing, and/or supporting the broader local Occupy Santa Cruz movement before it was crushed in early December for empowering the homeless.

It's been both exhausting, frightening, and numbing--as one shuffles between court and attorneys in the jaws of an oblivious mechanical juggernaut.

The disinterest and low priority D.A. Bob Lee seems to place on this case can be shown by the quality and quantity of legal force he's assigned--the sole attorney visibly on the case is the inexperienced and fanciful Young. Every defendant she's brought to D.A. has had charges dismissed, yet she shows no signs of apologizing, relenting, or rethinking. Her principal witness has been impeached. She always appears late and seems to be making it up as she goes. Her record of withholding discovery has become notorious.

However, attorneys seem to think that much if not all of the previously withheld video, photos, and documents held by police and D.A.'s is now piled high and ready for the weary task of reviewing.

UPCOMING LEGAL PROSPECTS
Coming up: Motions for Selective Prosecution and Enforcement, Pitchess Motions (attacking the credibility of the remaining witnesses), and more treks to and from the courthouse as the attorneys and courtroom bureaucrats get paid while defendants struggle to pay rent, find new jobs, and struggle with health problems.

But, it has to be said, the eleven haven't been doing lots of high-profile demonstrating lately. So perhaps the objective of these prosecutions has been met--whatever the outcome.

For those interested in following a similar frame-up, check out http://davisdozen.org/

As usual, I speak for myself and no one else in these comments--though, I suspect, others share these views.

To check out more on the Santa Cruz Eleven, go to http://www.santacruzeleven.org .