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Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Ind. Courts - Still more on: Emergency "bonding-out rule" signed Thursday by the judges of St. Joseph Superior Court
Updating earlier ILB entries from May 16th and May 17th, Alicia Gallegos of the South Bend Tribune has a long story today headed "Protesters at ND rally in court: Judge tells group trespassing charges don't involve right to protest." Some quotes:
SOUTH BEND — The 10 men and two women strolled slowly into the courtroom six at a time, many with white hair, some with hearing aids, one walking with a cane.Aside from the handcuffs chaining their hands in front of them, the line looked more like a senior citizens tour group than an assembly of inmates about to appear before a judge.
But the 12 people were part of the large group of protesters arrested over the weekend on charges of trespassing on the University of Notre Dame campus. The group is accused of refusing to leave the property while rallying against the choice of commencement speaker President Barack Obama.
For many of the bifocal-wearing inmates, the current stay in the slammer wasn't their first.
The appearances before Chief Judge Michael P. Scopelitis on Monday were primarily so that bonds and dates for their initial court appearances could be set.
After determining flight risk and whether each protester had other offenses pending, Scopelitis set bonds ranging from $200 to $1,000. One South Bend woman was released on her own recognizance.
During the hearing, Scopelitis asked the inmates a set of questions about their residency and whether they had ties to the community. He also asked each whether they promised to appear at their scheduled date.
"I can't see how I'm going to make it," one woman from Minnesota told the judge. "I don't drive."
"I can't make a promise like that," Arnold Mattenson told the judge when asked.
"If you don't appear, there will be a warrant issued for your arrest," Scopelitis told him.
"Suits me," Mattenson said, before raising his voice in a rant. "There's no justice taking place here," he said. "We were there protesting the killing of unborn babies."
Scopelitis repeatedly reminded the group that the pending charges had not to do with their right to protest, but rather the allegation of trespassing.
One protester told the judge he did have permission to be on campus.
"I had permission from the owner of the property," he said. "Our Lord authorized us to do it."
Jack Smith, another protester, asked whether his $250 bond could be lowered to $200 because he only had $214 in his bank account. The request was granted.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 19, 2009 09:15 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts