NYC ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Protesters Seek Trials

[Hissyspit]

Source: Bloomberg News

NYC ‘Occupy Wall Street’ Protesters Seek Trials

By Chris Dolmetsch - Nov 3, 2011 5:35 PM ET

More than 50 ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protesters arrested on disorderly conduct charges tied to marches through New York City rejected an offer from Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. to drop their cases in six months.

About 78 people arrested during a Sept. 24 march to Union Square in Manhattan were scheduled to appear today before New York County Criminal Court Judge Neil Ross. More than 50 of those who appeared in court chose to go to trial rather than accept an offer from prosecutors to dismiss the charges after six months if they’re not arrested again over that period.

The defendants will return to court in January, when they will ask a judge to dismiss the charges, according to Martin Stolar, one of about a dozen attorneys associated with the National Lawyers Guild who are representing some defendants. The defendants face as much as 15 days in jail if convicted of disorderly conduct, said Stolar, who added that he doesn’t expect demonstrators to be jailed even if they are found guilty.

“It has to do with the ambiguity of police instructions where people are told to go somewhere and they won’t be arrested,” Stolar said outside of court. “When people go there, they’re arrested. That strikes me as not justice.”

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-03/-occupy-wall-street-protesters-request-trial-at-court-hearing-in-new-york.html

[rasputin1952]

1. Force courts to make the calls on legality...

without court direction, police departments will become even more brazen.

While I realize that some people can't use the courts because of logistics, (i.e., they may live hundreds of miles away and not be able to make continued trips to court), those that can use the system must. Here in Boston, my advice to the 141 arrested was to make an issue and demand trial by jury. Force the courts to make decisions regarding what is happening. Use the judicial system to our advantage as opposed to letting law enforcement have free reign over the lives of citizens.

[Javaman]

2. this will be like the Chicago 7, only much bigger. nt

[nineteen50]

3. That is what king george said get lost somewhere and don't come back or

I will have you arrested. That's why we used to have a bill of
rights.