How’s this for accountability? A secret office with secretaries running interference as well as an assistant who won’t return calls, and instead calls security when you drop in for a visit! Thanks to Free Concord, Here’s the video of our visit to the district court head offices in Concord.
Also, here’s his alleged home address, phone number, and information about his home for anyone who might want to hold a vigil, courtesy of a helpful commenter here on the FK blog:
Edwin W Kelly
22 SUMMIT RD
Plymouth, NH 03264
(603) 536-2060
After three weeks of being jailed for not filling out a court form, then ultimately for being morally opposed to paying money to aggressors, Jim Johnson is among the semi-free again!
Generous people donated to Jim’s wife Lauren Canario, and she and Jim made the choice to pay the ransom. It is good to have Jim out of the cage, and outrageous that he was put there in the first place. The man in the robe, in an “ORDER”, claims he doesn’t have “statutory authority” to instead of a fine, impose jail time at $50/day, or community service. (See that ORDER, as well as the original one that Jim was imprisoned on here.
Can the robed man, John P. Arnold, be held responsible? Word is that some activists are pursuing the new “grievance committee” option in Concord against both Keene judges, Arnold and Burke. How successful it will be is another question. JJ and I also put in a message with John Lynch, “the governor”, who is the man who appoints all the judges. Thus far, he has not called back.
Other shenanigans related to this case:
The hearing where John P. Arnold threw Jim Johnson back in a cage was about as secret as you can get. (more…)
Unfortunately, I was not able to attend Pete Eyre and Ademo’s trial today, but that means I can relay the results before those attending get back to Keene.
WOW. Copblock and Liberty on Tour‘s Pete and Ademo went to trial today on felony “wiretapping” charges and “resisting arrest” in Greenfield, MA. (Click for extensive background info.) Over fifty supporters turned out! The courtroom was literally full with liberty-loving friends and associates of Pete and Ademo. Before trial, the “trespassing” charges were dropped, which was the original reason for arrest, but as we have seen, that never stops them from continuing prosecution.
Unfortunately, electronic devices were forbidden from the courtroom, with the exception of Jason Talley, who was the anointed one allowed in with a video camera. He was also allowed to bring in his tablet computer, which they decided that he can not bring in for the final day of trial, tomorrow. Why? Probably because he did an awesome job of videoblogging the trial, including classic moments showing what the atmosphere in court was like. Here’s a quick video showing one of SEVERAL instances of the audience erupting into applause for Pete and Ademo.
Besides that, the audience also laughed multiple times, and the court security and robed man did nothing. In addition, multiple hats were worn in court, and nothing was done. Nothing was also done about the applause, even though the prosecutor asked the robed man to stop it.
With the memorial to Thomas Ball in mind, a man chewed up and spit out by the family court system, I wanted to share a lawsuit against a police officer who illustrates the unintended consequences of using state violence to address thee non-violent problems of someone not paying their obligated child support.
The case is Henry v. Purnell, No. 08-7433 and it is from the 4th Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. The case is another instance of a police officer “accidently” using a gun to shoot someone running away in lieu of a Taser.
From Findlaw.com:
In a Section 1983 action arising from the fatal shooting of a suspect wanted for misdemeanor failure to pay child support, summary judgment in favor of defendant-police officer is reversed because: 1) although defendant intended to use his Taser rather than his gun to stop fleeing suspect, Tennessee v. Garner prohibits shooting suspects who pose no significant threat of death or serious physical threat; and 2) defendant’s use of force could be viewed by a jury as objectively unreasonable.
Yeah, I’d say that blasting a non-violent person with lead “could be” construed as “objectively unreasonable.” When you use state violence to solve non-violent problems, this is what happens. People get shot. Over owed child support.
If you think these cases are rare, you’d be incorrect. This particular case came out yesterday. I only chose to share it with you now in reflection of Mr. Ball’s memorial.
CORRECTION: Findlaw was incorrect in their syllabus stating that the man in this case was murdered. The man thankfully lived through this encounter, but it clearly could have turned out far worse.
As was reported earlier, video and audio devices have been banned from Keene superior and district courts unless media members beg for an exemption. Edwin Kelly, the head judge of the circuit courts, has now officially refused to comment on his order. I called the circuit court administration office at 603-271-6418 last week and left a message for his assistant, Linda J. Cammett, and then again this week I left another message. I never received a return call. Today I called again and Linda picked up the phone. That’s when she told me that Kelly will not comment on this matter. She referred me to the supreme court’s public spokesperson Laura Kiernan. Laura did talk to me about the issue. She explained that NH is SO open in comparison to the other states. I should be grateful for the opportunity to grovel in front of a robed man to get permission to have a camera in his court. It’s entirely OK for them to prohibit audio and video devices from the lobby and the rest of the premises, because it’s somehow “disruptive”. Laura can be reached at 603-271-2646.
Interestingly, the location of the administrative office of the circuit courts is a secret. They apparently don’t want the public to come to the office that they pay for with their tax dollars. All they give out publicly is a P.O. box and this number: 603-274-6418. Does anyone know where this office is physically located?
After three weeks of being jailed for not filling out a court form, then ultimately for being morally opposed to paying money to aggressors, Jim Johnson is among the semi-free again!
WOW. 
