Sleepwalking Through Summer: Another SC-11 Hearing

Becky Johnson and Gabriella Ripley-Phipps have been ordered to appear in court with their attorneys to determine their readiness for a Preliminary Hearing scheduled for 9 AM Monday June 25th (also in Department 6 before Judge Paul Burdick).

The two face a series of charges, already dismissed against six other defendants of the Santa Cruz Eleven, stemming from police retaliation and selective prosecution involving the peaceful occupation of a vacant bank building last winter at 75 River St.

D.A. Rebekah Young has obsessively pursued charges against these two women (and five men) for "conspiracy", trespass, vandalism, and other concocted "crimes" stemming from the peaceful protest that sought to negotiate a community center out of a Wells Fargo eyesore.

Other issues that may arise have to do with Rebekah Young's attempt to disqualify Judge Burdick from some of these cases because he has consistently dismissed all of Young's charges.

This hasn't stopped her, because in felony cases, the D.A. reportedly can refile charges not just once, but twice.

Young has apparently grudgingly let loose of her vendetta against Alex Darocy, Bradley Allen, Ed Rector, and Grant Wilson in the face of not only a dismissal of all charges, but some pointed comments from the bench.

It's going to be a long summer for the Santa Cruz Eleven.

See also " Fundraiser for Santa Cruz 11's Desiree Foster w/ Rick Walker & Tom Noddy " at http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/06/20/18715884.php .

Go to http://www.santacruzeleven.org for more information.