Friday, April 11, 2014

“They seem to be people moving a little outside regular social norms and regular behaviour. Therefore I don’t give them the same level of respect as people who follow the line”

"It is the most important question being asked of dozens of New Yorkers lined up as potential jurors for the trial of Cecily McMillan, an Occupy Wall Street activist accused of assaulting a police officer: what do you think of her protest movement?"
Unfortunately for those keen on the swift procession of justice, a series of Manhattan residents who presented themselves at the criminal courthouse this week declared that they strongly disagreed with it – and could not promise to be impartial about one of its members.
 

“I’m involved in Wall Street things. I’m on the Wall Street side, not their side,” George Yih, one of a group of prospective jurors whose names were plucked from a tombola by the clerk, said under questioning from Judge Ronald Zweibel on Wednesday. “They can protest all they want, but they can’t brainwash my mind.” (read more)
the guardian

6 comments:

Shouting Thomas said...

Zweibels are all over the map in the legal system in NY State. There is a law firm with branches in NY, Kingston and Albany named Zweibel & Fairbanks. Got the feeling there is a family relationship with the judge.

That said, I'm all over the map in terms of this trial. Seems like a remarkably minor altercation to justify criminal charges, and I'm surprised that the charges were not pled down and disposed of outside court. That's routine in NYC for minor charges. So, for some reason the defendant wants her day in court.

I visited the Occupy encampment on Wall St. several times, and it was a pretty ragged bunch of goofballs. A mess of professional lefties and the usual assortment of spoiled college kids dabbling in Rainbow Tribe drama.

Mitch H. said...

I don't think that approving of the defendant's politics and cultural affect is a valid cause to exclude a potential juror during voir dire. But hey, that's what peremptory strikes are for, I guess.

If they got a jury composed solely of the defendant's hippie peers, the court officers would have to wear gas masks to tolerate the stench in the courtroom.

Shouting Thomas said...

Our financial, banking and governmental systems conspired to rip off the taxpayers in the great mortgage/derivatives scam.

Biggest Ponzi scam in human history. The suffering and devastation inflicted on ordinary people was vast.

I can understand the outrage over this.

What to do about it? I don't know. The scam was entirely bipartisan and the players are still in power.

Paddy O said...

ST, I totally agree.

The trouble with Occupy was they were not willing to go after the politicians. They wanted to rage against the wrongs but weren't willing to put all the guilty to the fire.

They got to the barricades and lost heart, even as they continued to put on the show.

Different than the Tea Party, in that respect, which had demonstrations then made sure Republicans did not continue the status quo. It's the status quo of corruption that is the enemy, both sides have it, only one side has a movement that is willing to address it.

Paddy O said...

It's also the irony over how the Left treated Sarah Palin. Someone who made her career on fighting corruption became the figure of mocking, because the Powers decreed it so, and the tools, what the Occupy people ultimately were, fell into line.

It's brilliant maneuvering by the Left, really. Make the issues all about something else, and keep the power that continues the real oppression. It's what Chavez excelled at and was able to put in force in full. Devastate the nation, but the people still love him because he hated the right people.

edutcher said...

At least they're honest about it.

Shouting Thomas said...

Our financial, banking and governmental systems conspired to rip off the taxpayers in the great mortgage/derivatives scam.

Biggest Ponzi scam in human history. The suffering and devastation inflicted on ordinary people was vast.

I can understand the outrage over this.


But why do they keep voting Democrat?