Tuesday, January 09, 2007

CO Courts say 1st Amendment need not apply

The Colorado Supreme Court, while overturning a 45 day jail sentence for contempt of court for wearing a T-Shirt with a picture of Stanley "Tookie" Williams (more on that later), says,

"...wearing a shirt bearing a political message in a courtroom is not protected under the First Amendment."
Meaning, the CO Ct believes that your First Amendment rights are valid everywhere but the very place set up to protect that right. Meaning, you can't make a political statement in court. This seems a bit off to me. When did the court become Cuba? I understand that Judges are, in effect, mini-dictators (patience, patience), but now they feel the need to quash political speech? Wow.

Now, on to the 45 days for contempt by said dictator. I've never fully understood how a judge can just accuse you of something and jail you without:
  1. Arrest
  2. Representation
  3. Burden of guilt
  4. Right to face accuser
  5. Trial by jury
Judge says you did bad, go directly to jail, do not pass go. Yes, there is an appeal, but it comes not after a trial, but in effect is your trial, and you're not released on bond until said bizzaro trial. Get it? You're presumed guilty. Contempt skips kind of a key part of our legal process, in the very place set up to protect our legal process.

I find that...contemptible.

3 comments:

StalinMalone said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
StalinMalone said...

Yes, and more free speech at the gallows. What are they? Cuba?

Muscles for Justice said...

Laugh it up, Neo-Con. Let's see you before the court in that "Savage Nation" shirt next time you come to Boca and cook up something trans-fatty.