Oregon Malheur Trial

[wserra]

The zoo starts today. This order from last week concerning Ryan Bundy's continuing pro se status is not reassuring.

Poor Judge Brown.

[AndyK]

Well, it's already 1:00 PM (EDT) on September 7 -- the day the order referenced as the start of the trial.

Has Bundy managed to get himself censured or removed from the proceedings yet?

[wserra]

Local coverage with updates in comments.

[Tuba Cain]

Did Ammon get to wear Cowboy boots like his lawyer wanted? I'm certain the Sovcit fasion world waits with baited breath...

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-stando ... s_for.html

[Jeffrey]

Philpot added later in the day in a written motion, "These men are cowboys, and given that the jury will be assessing their authenticity and credibility, they should be able to present themselves to the jury in that manner.''

They should also be allowed to do lasso tricks, smoke and/or chew tabacco and ride a horse in and out of the court.

[ArthurWankspittle]

Philpot added later in the day in a written motion, "These men are cowboys, and given that the jury will be assessing their authenticity and credibility, they should be able to present themselves to the jury in that manner.''

Philpot needs a good kicking for misrepresentation. None of them are cowboys, Ammon fixes trucks, Ryan is in construction, etc. Only dad (Cliven) could possibly claim that and he isn't on trial here.

[Tuba Cain]

I think I understand his strategy here.

Essentially, there is such an overwhelming amount of evidence against his clients that the only way to win is to enter a realm of pure fantasy. With cowboys! And unicorns! And pixies!

With any luck, the defence will be less of a "defence" and more of a "make-shit-up-a-thon". Fingers crossed!

[notorial dissent]

Day 1 was supposed to be motions and housekeeping, and the two senior Bundies and Cox dumped a whole knew batch of retreaded, basically rehashes of previously repeatedly denied motions on the court, and have since dumped about an equal number again over the course of day 2. Day 2 was supposed to be jury selection and voir dire, and the impression I got was that they were about half done, down to about 20 jurors and they really haven't had challenges yet, so this could conceivably go in to Days 3 and 4. So far it has been the judge bouncing potentials and the attorneys haven't really gotten a crack at it yet. I think she misjudged the number she was going to need to get through the process. Turnout for the hearing was light to the point they only barely needed the one court room, the promised faketriot support was largely noticeable by its absence. The upswell of promised support didn't. The highlight of the main hearing was that the Bundynistas were told they couldn't wear cowboy drag to court for safety reason. That apparently didn't go over well, but the marshals weren't giving in on that one. So more fun and games on Day 3. The one unexpected turn of events was that one of the defendants, Santilli, was dismissed from the case and will now go on to NV for the more serious charges.

FWIW, Philpot has been winging it ever since he got involved, so the current batch of nonsense is no real surprise.

[grixit]

Cowboy is a big category, they didn't all wear snazzy boots and hats and big fancy belts with bandoliers and bowie knives. they could have shown up in ragged overalls over long johns and bare feet.

[AndyK]

Old Texas saying: Big hat, no cattle.

[Tuba Cain]

Old Texas saying: Big hat, no cattle.

This board needs a "like" button.

[notorial dissent]

Cowboy is a big category, they didn't all wear snazzy boots and hats and big fancy belts with bandoliers and bowie knives. they could have shown up in ragged overalls over long johns and bare feet.

Oh come on now. When I said cowboy drag I mean fancy shirt with metal tipped collars, and probably button covers, steel toed boots, bolo tie with metal tips and belts with metal findings. They're pretend cowboys just like they are pretend patriots.

[jcolvin2]

Old Texas saying: Big hat, no cattle.

New Nevada saying: Tin hat, feral cattle?

[notorial dissent]

Day 3, third verse same as the first two. Judge denies most all of Ryan Bundy's motions, doesn't released, doesn't get rid of his standby, does get a copy of the rule book, rest don't fare much better. Ryan throws a bunch more spaghetti at the judge. Go through another 60 possible jurors. Defendants still trying to argue that the refuge wasn't gov't property since the gov't can't own property, judge tired of it all and instructs gov't to file motion so that judge can take notice that refuge was gov't property. Ended the day with a panel of 28 jurors that the lawyers get to take a swing at on day 4. One camp follower was arrested for passing out jury nullification fliers and has apparently been barred from the courthouse for the duration.

[Jeffrey]

Defendants still trying to argue that the gov't can't own property

And they're making that argument in a courthouse owned by the government...

[notorial dissent]

Defendants still trying to argue that the gov't can't own property

And they're making that argument in a courthouse owned by the government...

And it gets better, amazing what you can come up with when you live in fantasy land.

On the reality side, the judge has already smacked down several nearly identical motions on the subject and will shortly be issuing a judicial notice of reality to end it all. It's sovcit motion time.

[wserra]

It's sovcit motion time.

It certainly is. The docket since Sept 1 alone.

Gibberish apocalypse.

[notorial dissent]

And there'll be more to come until the judge gets fed up with it.

[The Observer]

[The judge will]...be issuing a judicial notice of reality to end it all.

It would be wonderful if she actually issued a literally worded notice to that effect. Or maybe an injunction ordering Ryan and his attorney to vacate Fantasyland.

[Jeffrey]

Aw hell, I didn't realize Santilli had the charges dropped against him. What b.s.