Nemi Jones, a New Hampshire native, and inhabitant of the Keene area for nearly 20 years was in court this week when security agents attacked peaceful people and kidnapped them because they did not stand for the robed man. She was shocked and disgusted, calling the experience a “red pill”. Here’s her post about her experience from the Shire Free Press:
It’s been an eventful week in the Shire. Learn more here and here.
In response to John Q’s comment on a related post on FreeKeene.com on Thu, 22nd Dec 2011 @ 6:48 pm:
“Let me get this right; you guys went into the court house and harrassed this guys, taunted him and antagonized him, followed him around and wonder why they’re reacting to that?”
No, you don’t have it right at all, actually. Wednesday, peaceful people entered the Cheshire County “Superior” Courthouse to conduct business peacefully. These peaceful people were not rude, provocative, confrontational, or antagonistic toward anyone. They did not seek out conflict in any way, shape, or form.
Unprovoked, these people (and/or others) were treated by the bailiffs (CSO Tebo especially) in an appallingly biased, disrespectful, and completely unprofessional way. In the courtroom, clearly assuming the membership of his audience, Tebo raised his voice and shouted at half the quietly-settling gallery to be quiet (though court hadn’t yet convened), barked an order to remove hats, and ordered them stand when the judge entered, or leave.
Does this account conflict with your preconceived notions? I can relate. If I hadn’t experienced it first-hand, I wouldn’t have believed it either.
My jaw rarely drops, but CSO Tebo’s conduct in the courtroom on Wednesday was beyond the pale. In my shock, I must have missed another bailiff saying “all rise,” but in all honesty, I’m not sure I would have risen if I had. No court worthy of respect could allow or condone this sort of behavior from a person in its employ.
Before someone goes off half-cocked, allow me to clarify: I’m a native, not a “Free Stater.” I’ve lived in Keene for nigh on 20 years now. Arnold has presided over three adoption hearings I’ve attended over those years, and not once have I had any trouble (or needed to file a notice) when bringing electronics into the courtroom … a nod and a smile from the court staff, perhaps, but nothing even remotely like the security theater circus I experienced Wednesday. Afterward, I was physically shaking; I felt nauseous. It was truly disgusting.
I watched a bailiff block the exit of a peaceful person who wished to leave the courtroom. I watched this peaceful person ask the judge to intervene on his behalf. I watched the judge defer to the bailiffs, who handcuffed this peaceful person for failing to leave, then dragged him across the floor en route to jail. I later watched Arnold try to revise history for the record (and his image?) during this peaceful person’s hearing on a criminal contempt charge.
Let’s contrast and compare, shall we?
Not two weeks ago I entered the Grafton County Superior Court with the same equipment and credentials I carried with me Wednesday. Without filing a media notice or waiting for a judge’s ruling, I was allowed (yes, “allowed”) to keep everything I brought. The sheriffs running the security checkpoint handed me a copy of Tina Nadeau’s order regarding filming on court premises, and pointed me toward the clerk’s office. Before I’d been granted judicial clearance to film, I asked for clarification regarding filming in the lobby. The sheriffs at the checkpoint told me I’d be fine to film without judicial clearance, so long as I had the permission of those I was filming.
Reasonable, respectful, courteous. If people visiting a court are conducting themselves that way, there is absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t be treated the same way in return.
That said, Mr. Q, I wholeheartedly applaud the efforts of those working to get Arnold and his squad of Napoleon brutes on film. People in the employ of the court are not immune to accountability, and their silence should not protect them. If they feel uncomfortable, perhaps they should examine the role they played in bringing their discomfort to pass, and begin behaving in a way that doesn’t make them squirm and squall when sunshine is cast on their actions.
