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DESCRIPTION:MORE OF THE ENDLESS ORDEAL FOR THE SC-11 ACTIVISTS\nAttorneys for the Final 
 Four of the Santa Cruz Eleven--peaceful political activists and 
 journalists--will meet with Judge Paul Burdick and D.A. Bob Lee's appointed 
 flunky to determine whether the 2-3 week long felony trials will begin in 
 September as scheduled.\n\nThe four are charged with felony vandalism and 
 trespass charges for peaceful protest against the real master of 
 foreclosure fraud, Wells Fargo Bank, nearly 2 years ago, at a long-vacant 
 bank building at 75 River St. None of the four are charged with actual 
 vandalism, just being present to "enable" or "aid and abet" the vandalism. 
 Essentially this was a series of charges to shut down Occupy Santa Cruz 
 (which didn't actually organize the bank occupation).\n\n\nJUDGE SOUGHT 
 SETTLEMENT AT PRIOR HEARING\nAt a prior status hearing on August 16 Judge 
 Burdick reportedly pressed for a settlement of the cases before trial. (So 
 far the only offers have been pleading to felonies, which the defendants 
 have rejected).\n\nOne observer felt this was because Burdick thought a 
 guilty verdict at trial was likely, and that the trial wasn't worth the 
 expense This would seem particularly true, given the how poor the 
 defendants are--two of them are homeless.\n\nIf the purpose was to 
 reimburse Wells Fargo for damages done by others to its leased and still 
 vacant building on River and Water Streets, to undergo a trial costing over 
 $100,000 for damages that amount to less than $30,000 (using Wells Fargo's 
 inflated estimates)\n\nA second observer felt Burdick might be coming 
 around to understand how political the how prosecution is, how 
 time-wasting, and--perhaps--how questionable in terms of the justice 
 involved. Both observers agreed that the new prosecutor--who has taken over 
 for the discredited and sanctioned Rebekah Young-- is still hot for a 
 trial.\n\n\nOn August 16, Burdick suggested that the defendants "prepare 
 for restitution". Some of the dialogue between judge and attorneys 
 reportedly concerned the fact that those really responsible for damage at 
 the River St. building weren't in court (or even known to 
 authorities).\n\nDELAY OF SEPTEMBER TRIAL LIKELY\nNone of the defendants 
 has really made any strong appeal for supporters to attend, though I'm sure 
 Brent Adams--probably the only defendant likely to attend--wouldn't 
 mind.\n\nCameron's attorney, Alexis Briggs, is reportedly six months 
 pregnant and some police witnesses will be unable to appear at the current 
 trial date in September. This may push the trial back to February 2014. 
 Brent's attorney, Jesse Rubin, is appearing before Burdick in a murder 
 trial in September which would also make a delay likely.\n\nThe prosecutor 
 now reportedly estimated the length of the trial to be 2-3 weeks. (Rebekah 
 Young, when she was the D.A. on the case, before retiring to Texas, 
 estimated a week or so, with Briggs suggesting that was far too 
 optimistic.)\n\nD.A. STILL TRYING TO DODGE BURDICK'S SANCTIONS\nRebekah 
 Young, whose misconduct resulted in a $500 fine to D.A. Bob Lee's office, 
 took off in the spring for Texas. Lee has appealed the sanctions but none 
 of the attorneys served were willing to spend the time to file papers 
 defending the fines against the D.A.\n\nA private legal worker may be 
 preparing a brief (which was due on August 19th, but perhaps there's basis 
 for an extension). I may be willing to file that brief if no one else will 
 and if it looks like it can be done without costing more than it's 
 worth.\n\nSo far D.A. Lee has put thousands of dollars of work time into 
 appealing the $500 fine and filed a 49 page brief defending his incompetent 
 D.A. (Young).\n\nOne of the SC-11 attorneys has frankly described Lee's 
 brief as marred by "lies"---indeed the history of the contempt-ridden 
 behavior of Lee's D.A. Young has been notorious. 
 (See\nhttp://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/03/07/18733298.php).\n\nAttached 
 is Lee's attempt to overturn the $500 fine, which was absurdly mild 
 considering the repeated nature of Young's misconduct by repeatedly 
 violating court orders and withholding evidence from the defense.\n\nSome 
 wags have suggested a Panhandle-In or Blacktop Benefit for Lee in order to 
 raise the $500 to spare the community the thousands of dollars Lee is 
 spending on appealing Burdick's ruling. \n 
 https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/08/27/18742198.php
SUMMARY:SC-11 Back in Court: D.A. Bob Lee's BigTop Up for Fall Engagement?
LOCATION:Dept. 6 701 Ocean St.  Santa Cruz County Courthouse
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2013/08/27/18742198.php
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DTEND:20130828T153000Z
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