Join us tomorrow in Department 6 at 8:15 as the remaining four of the SC11 appear in court again.
Recently the prosecution’s motion to recuse Judge Burdick was denied and with that block to proceeding gone the lawyers are once again preparing to schedule a trial date. We hope that tomorrow we’ll have a clear idea (again) when trial will be.
Come show your support and see first hand what happens.
The following is the article from the Sentinel:
Santa Cruz >> An appellate court has upheld a judge’s decision to levy a $500 fine against the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office for not promptly sharing evidence with defense attorneys in a bank takeover case from 2011.
Eleven defendants involved with Occupy Santa Cruz initially were charged in a takeover of a vacant bank building at 75 River St. in Santa Cruz. In February 2012, defense attorneys asked prosecutors for “all reports, photographs and videos” related to the takeover, according to judges in the Sixth District Court of Appeals.
Prosecutors supplied some of the material, but in May 2012 it was revealed that there was additional police surveillance footage that was not released, according to court records.
Prosecutors blamed technical problems for not providing the footage later that year and a preliminary hearing again was delayed. Santa Cruz County Superior Judge Paul Burdick imposed a $500 sanction against the District Attorney’s Office for not providing the material.
District Attorney Bob Lee filed for an appeal of the ruling and fine in March 2013, but appellate judges upheld the decision in an April 4 ruling.
Not much happened in court yesterday. The decision on Judge Burdick’s disqualification is still pending. The next court date is June 3rd at 8:15 in the morning and there will probably be a decision on that day. If there is a decision, a trial date will probably be chosen. The waiting game continues! We’ll keep you posted.
Hello friends and supporters! We’ve got another check-in with Judge Burdick in department 6 this coming Wednesday at 8:15! Come see all your favorite courtroom faces! There may be a decision from the Santa Clara district about whether or not Judge Burdick is biased. If there is no decision yet, the waiting game continues! Hope to see you there!
Also, stayed tuned for what’s happening on this month’s coming 11th!
If you are coming tonight, please bring your own plate, napkin, and utensils. Contact santacruzeleven@riseup.net if you have any questions! We’re excited to see you there!
The Santa Cruz 11 would like to thank our supports on Friday, April 11th with a delicious pasta dinner. We appreciate you coming out to the court dates, wearing the T-shirts and for all the millions ways you support us and show you care.
Are you a Santa Cruz 11 Supporter? Probably, if you are here. Want to know the dinner details? Want to help? Contact us at: santacruzeleven@riseup.net
Today’s status hearing was uneventful as expected. Judge Burdick reported that he sent his response to the prosecution’s 170.1 to a judicial council who then has 2 weeks to assign it to a judge in Santa Clara, Monterey, or San Francisco County. Once a judge in one of those districts has the motion and the response, they have 4 to 8 weeks in which to deliver a ruling.
We will be back in court on May 7th to determine whether or not a ruling has been delivered. See you there!
Check out this Democracy Now broadcast talking about new discovery of the depths of Wells Fargo’s criminal foreclosure practices! What bullies! An attorney who represents clients being foreclosed on by Wells Fargo, Linda Tirelli, has discovered that Wells Fargo actually has a manual that tells their lawyers “how to produce missing documents to foreclose on homeowners.” Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez interview Linda Tirelli and Kevin Whelan, campaign director for the Home Defenders League,” a national movement of underwater homeowners and allies who organize to keep people in their homes and demand accountability”.
This is a quote from Amy Goodman from the interview:
“…we have this latest news that as—that the attorney general claimed to have filed lawsuits on behalf of homeowner victims for losses totaling more than a billion dollars. In fact, it was 91 percent less than this, at $95 million. What do you think should happen? Who gets prosecuted here, and who is let free?”
The county is spending more and more money to prosecute the final four of the Santa Cruz 11 as federal prosecutors turn a blind eye to Wells Fargo’s criminal acts. When will the absurdity end?
Listen to the full broadcast or read the transript here :http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/21/as_wells_fargo_is_accused_of?autostart=true
Join us in calling Bob Lee’s office and telling him what we think about his handling of the Santa Cruz 11 case, and urging him to drop the charges. His office is open from 8 to 12, and 1 to 5 and can be reached at (831)454-2400. It is the duty of the District Attorney’s office to uphold the well being of the citizens of Santa Cruz county, let’s let him know continuing to prosecute the 4 defendants in this case is not in the best interests of our communities.
Friends of the SC11 will be out around town today handing out fliers with information about the case, inviting people to call in, and giving out free coffee!
Come hangout with us:
This coming Tuesday, March 11th join us in calling in to Bob Lee’s office and telling them to Drop The Charges! From 8-12 and 1-5 call the District Attorneys office at (831) 454-2400 and let them know their actions aren’t representing you. The DAs office exists to act on behalf of the residents of Santa Cruz County and has a duty to respond to our opinion.
Some talking points you might use are:
Thank you for your support and for taking the time to follow this case as it continues its long and twisting course. It is often a strategy of the court to draw things out and strain defendants to the point of taking whatever is offered, and we see vocal and on going support as important not only to the defendants but in highlighting the poor state of our justice system.
Thank you for calling in on the 11th, please help spread the word. Also feel empowered and encouraged to pick up the phone and call Bob Lee’s office anytime, all the time, and remind them that we are watching and to Drop The Charges!
As Bob Lee’s office continues to make decisions that draw out this case and cost the taxpayers of Santa Cruz thousands upon thousands of dollars, it is time for us to let them know what we think!
Support the Santa Cruz 11! 