Whenever Ben Livingston, the founder of the Cannabis Defense Coalition, talks about the mission of the organization, he likes to say that it’s to “bear witness” to the injustices that take place when prosecutors go after authorized medical marijuana patients. While the act of sitting in a courtroom may seem inconsequential, it lets judges and prosecutors know that they’re being watched. During the Bruce Olson trial, the presence of CDC volunteers – and the media coverage that followed – appeared to fluster both the prosecutors and the judge in that case. Olson’s victory in that courtroom might still have happened without those “witnesses”, but Kitsap County’s approach towards prosecuting medical marijuana patients changed after that. They immediately dropped charges against Glenn Musgrove, a quadriplegic who had to be wheeled into the courtroom on a gurney, and have appeared to scale back their attempts to go after patients.
What’s happening in Egypt is happening on a significantly larger scale and with significantly direr consequences, but the same dynamic is in effect. Mass killings of innocent people by a government have happened before, and to some extent, we saw what happened in places like Srebrenica, Tiananmen and Darfur. But unlike those cases, we’re truly “bearing witness” to what’s been going on Egypt over the past 10 days. Technology that allows average citizens to film their surroundings, along with Facebook, Twitter, and an influx of new media outlets able to broadcast this uprising in real time to the whole world, presents an unprecedented challenge to regimes who prefer to operate in the dark.
There’s been a lot of discussion about what role the internet plays in starting these revolutions. But to whatever extent it does, that’s not its most valuable attribute. The more vital role is how it allows the world to bear witness to these events in depth, and to provide the context that encourages more people to stand in solidarity with those who are suffering from the extreme injustices being witnessed. The primary value to the internet is not its ability to allow for greater organization. Even with the internet shut off, millions of Egyptians continued their protests just fine. Its primary value is to provide that window into what’s actually happening – as it’s happening – to the rest of the world.
The latest news out of Cairo is that plain-clothed security forces are now more aggressively rounding up foreign media as they escalate the amount of violence directed at the anti-Mubarak protesters. They fired live ammunition at the unarmed protesters and hurled molotov cocktails from the rooftops of nearby buildings. Aggressors in this battle are being exposed as members of the Mubarak regime’s paid security forces. Others have admitted to having been paid by the regime to suppress the protests. Reports from numerous news outlets have confirmed that the regime is behind the violence, not that it’s even hard to figure out simply by seeing the timing and nature of the attacks.
So what happens next? We watched protests similar to this 18 months ago in Iran, and the crackdown eventually muted the calls for regime change. Even though we were able to bear witness to that, it wasn’t enough to make a difference. But Egypt is not Iran. We have leverage against the Egyptian government that we don’t have against Iran. And as I watch the violence escalate, I wonder when Obama finally starts playing those cards.
The Mubarak regime has taken decades to form itself into an immovable object – along with that necessary dose of hubris that allows them to believe that they can get away with anything. I find it amazing that in just two weeks, Mubarak has gone from being seen as a pro-American ally presiding over a country with good ties to the west, to unleashing his forces against his own people, the press, and foreigners, and using the same tactics and language used by the Iranian government in 2009 and Saddam Hussein in 2003. As we look around the Middle East today, it’s a good reminder that the biggest difference between Hosni Mubarak and Saddam Hussein was never a matter of character. It was a matter of circumstance.
Lee, if you believe Obama should use whatever leverage the U.S. has to overthrow Mubarak’s regime, do you then believe we should begin doing that with all are other allies that are run by dictatorships, monarchies, and the like? For example, should we use whatever leverage we have to overthrow the Saudi regime? The Jordanian monarchy? The Chinese one-party state?
@1
Yes. We should be using whatever leverage we have to move all of those countries towards having free elections. In some of those cases, we don’t have much leverage, but that should be part of our policy. Otherwise, as we’ve seen in Egypt, our hypocrisy ends up hurting us in the long run.
“While the act of sitting in a courtroom may seem inconsequential, it lets judges and prosecutors know that they’re being watched … appeared to fluster both the prosecutors and the judge ….”
I’m sorry, Lee, but how does intimidating judges and prosecutors do anything but undermine the rule of law? This is third-world, undeveloped-country, thug-dictatorship type of crap.
When I was a judge, yes, I was faced with this kind of thing. People who want to tape record or videotape the proceedings. People who bring friends to sit as silent “witnesses” monitoring how you preside over the case — and sending a not-so-subtle message that you’d better rule in their friend’s favor … or else. As a professional judge, I learned to not be emotionally affected by attempts of parties and observers to intimidate me, and to focus my mind on the facts and law of the case. I was very, very good at listening to the evidence and arguments evenhandedly, and making impartial and dispassionate decisions based on facts, law, and reason. And I believed very strongly in an open justice system that the public has access to, and the idea that anyone can sit and observe is part of that. I never closed a proceeding unless the parties requested it, and the law sanctioned it, because sensitive personal information was being discussed; and I never ordered anyone to leave for any reason other than being disruptive. I’m proud of my record as a judge, and most of all, I’m proud of the fact that I couldn’t be intimidated or swayed by this kind of pressure.
These kinds of pressures are part of the job; and most, if not all, judges and prosecutors I’ve known can handle them.
But, Lee, you’re deluding yourself if you think for one minute that “letting prosecutors and judges know that they’re being watched” contributes anything constructive or beneficial to the administration of law in our society. It doesn’t. This kind of activity in a courtroom is negative in nature, is not helpful, and shouldn’t be there.
@1 Wasn’t bringing democracy to the Iraq dubya’s stated rationale for invading that country? Wasn’t democratization the core objective of the neocon blueprint for remaking the Middle East? Have you left the wingnut reservation, friend? Have you turned into a Freedom Socialist or one of those other ultra-leftists who, unlike liberals and progressives and Democrats, have a totalitarian worldview? What are you going to do next, pal around with people like Bill Ayers, and blow up government buildings? Have you gone mad?
Except, Roger, Hauge (Kitsap Prosecutor) is an elected prosecutor and the Superior Court judges are elected as well.
You were an appointed judge if I recall correctly. And I believe you were a good one.
We can have a discussion about the merits of election or appointment, but there’s no doubt that public sentiment can affect the judgement of elected judges (and prosecutors) who wish to be re-elected.
“As we look around the Middle East today, it’s a good reminder that the biggest difference between Hosni Mubarak and Saddam Hussein was never a matter of character.”
And as we look around Washington D.C. today, our government’s response to the events in Egypt is a good reminder of the difference between having a Republican president or a DINO president in the White House.
As frustrated as we get with Obama, who in his domestic policies oftentimes seems to be a “Democrat” in name only, he is supporting Egyptian democracy and Egypt’s long-suffering “little people” with actions as well as words, by telling Mubarak to step aside now, and by threatening to cut off foreign aid and supplies of U.S. weapons to the Egyptian military.
If a Republican was running the show from the White House, he’d be encouraging Mubarak to dig in his heels, and an emboldened Mubarak would be mowing down the pro-democracy demonstrators with tanks and machine guns.
The collapse of the Mubarak regime, which now seems inevitable, won’t be beneficial to U.S. interests in the region. The Egyptian government could never have maintained its relatively benign policy towards Israel if it had to answer to Egypt’s masses. And the yearnings of Egypt’s impoverished masses are bound to clash with the agendas of the multinational corporations that rule D.C.’s political roost. What replaces Mubarak could be “unfriendly.” Obama, understandably, has been reticent about letting an ally fall. But, seeing the handwriting on the wall, he at least is lending real support, however tepid, to the principle of democratic self-rule. That’s a good thing. Human civilization, for hte most part, has evolved beyond slavery and feudalism and hereditary rulers; it also can (and, I’m confident, eventually will) evolve beyond autocrats and military rulers like Mubarak. The revolution now sweeping the Arab world may not be a good thing from the point of view of Washington politicians or the corporations who own them, but in the long run it’s probably a good thing for humanity as a whole.
@5 “there’s no doubt that public sentiment can affect the judgement of elected judges (and prosecutors) who wish to be re-elected”
It shouldn’t. Their judgment should turn solely on the rule of law.
There is indeed persuasive evidence that the violence against anti-Mubarak demonstrators and intimidation of journalists is being orchestrated, encouraged, and facilitated by the regime.
Little bush is responsible for the riots in Egypt. He broke the American military machine and everybody around the World knows it. Now nobody is afraid of American intervention because they know that we just don’t have the resources to step in. They also know that Barack Obama is unlikely to drop a bomb on them. Little bush turned America into the paper tiger that Chairman Mao used to call us.
Imagine what rhetoric would be coming out of the White House if Mr. Decisions Punted was still there. Threats, warnings, unqualified support for Mubarak, maybe a new axis of evil – we can only imagine.
In Melissa Rossi’s highly-recommended What Every American Should Know About the Middle East (2008), she says that most Middle East countries, if left to their own devices, would install Islamic governments. I hope that the forces for openness and freedom will not produce this outcome. However, I remember when we rioted in the streets in America and instead of freedom, we got Nixon, Reagan (now in Hell), and the bush Family Evil Empire. I wish the reformers luck, but I’m not optimistic. And then we may see whether America is still strong enough to help Israel. But I’m not optimistic about that, either.
Lee, is weed the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning? Just askin’.
Here we go again with Retired Courthouse Head Janitor Roger “O.C.D.” Rodent thinking he knows anything about the law. Cleaning the floor of a Judge’s chamber certainly does not make you a Judge. Thanks for the laugh old timer, try clicking your heels together along with wishful thinking. You are a riot!
Mark1,
“Lee, is weed the first thing you think about when you wake up in the morning? Just askin’.”
…asks the twit who, apparently, wakes up each morning thinking about Lee….
Markie boy @11,
How is the old goat herd doing? Rumor has it several of them died over Christmas during your bizarre satanic goat sex rituals.
@12
Good point.
@3
I’m sorry, Lee, but how does intimidating judges and prosecutors do anything but undermine the rule of law?
It’s not about intimidating judges, it’s about witnessing the judicial process. There are no threats, just eyeballs. The reason that we have open courtrooms in our society is for this very reason.
But, Lee, you’re deluding yourself if you think for one minute that “letting prosecutors and judges know that they’re being watched” contributes anything constructive or beneficial to the administration of law in our society. It doesn’t. This kind of activity in a courtroom is negative in nature, is not helpful, and shouldn’t be there.
So do you believe that people should be banned from being able to witness court proceedings?
All these years of getting involved with tyrants and dictators, and the chickens are coming home to roost. Hopefully Mubarak will just leave, and Egypt can form a new government without some tyrant in charge.
Breaking News: Roger Rabbit sex tapes released:
Roger Rabbit Sex Tape
(SFW)
rhp @16, Careful with that kind of stuff. It’s going to excite the trolls for sure.
@12 No, he wants up every morning thinking about his A.A. degree from a correspondence school and envying my J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Envy is as close to UWSL as Mark will ever get. It’s nearly impossible to get into U.W. Law School. When I was admitted there were 16 highly qualified applicants for every person chosen for the entering class. It’s probably even higher now.
@14 “So do you believe that people should be banned from being able to witness court proceedings?”
I directly addressed this point in #3 and don’t need to do so again.
@15 Mubarak appears to be digging in his heels. They’re arresting journalists and human rights activists. Which looks like they’re getting set to fire on the anti-Mubarak demonstrators.
@16 Damn! I always worried those tapes would surface some day!!! When you’re screwing up to 200 cute fluffy female bunnies a day it’s hard to keep them under wraps. There’s always one loose cannon in every harem.
@19
I think your comment in #3 is contradictory, unless maybe you’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. CDC volunteers do nothing more than sit in the gallery of a courtroom. They’re not there to intimidate, just to witness. If their mere presence is intimidating (as it sometimes is), that’s the fault of prosecutors and judges who know that what they’re doing is indefensible.
If you think that that’s inappropriate, then the only conclusion is that you think people should be barred from watching court proceedings.
Exactly right, Lee.
A 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl who was raped by a 40-year-old married cousin was sentenced by a village council to receive 100 lashes for adultery under Shariah law, according to news sources. The girl died after receiving after lashes.
Perhaps Allah released her from suffering the last 20 lashes.
That’s what ignorance looks like. There are people who want to establish ignorance in our own country.
Welcome to The Long Emergency, folks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Emergency
Code Pink joins the Muslim Brotherhood.
Yeah so?
No just Iraq
So you are with Code Pink looking o join the Muslim Brotherhood, creator of Al Qaeda’s #2 also?
Well, you voted for someone who did and he hung with Ayers for a long time too!
Mubarak is scum. So who will Roger Dumb Rabbit put in instead? Someone who wants to break off peace with Israel?
Dick Gregory said many years ago that ultimately, the arms that our government and all others governments cache away are for the repression and control of their own citizens.
It doesn’t seem so farfetched anymore.
@22,23:
No offense to Lee or Zotz, but that’s crap. It would only be true if the prosecutors and judges knew for a fact that all of the observers were rational people and not fanatics. Are you seriously suggesting that if a white man was charged with murder of a black woman in the south and the local KKK showed up, the judges and prosecutors would only feel intimidated if they knew what they were doing is indefensible?
I realize I’m switching the scenario and raising the stakes, but suggesting that DAs and judges can only be intimidated if they’re doing something wrong (particularly in a world where cops and judges are targetted with increasing frequency) seems silly.
@31
That’s a very fair point. And it’s why CDC always encourages its members to dress appropriately and be respectful.
It comes down to whether the prosecutors and/or judges feel strongly enough that what they’re doing is serving the public good. In the case of a racially charged murder, a prosecutor might be intimidated by folks even as he/she knows that they’re doing the right thing. In the cases that I’ve generally seen, I’m often shocked at how the prosecutors and judges are going along with it. In that case, feeling intimidated by knowing the public is watching can spur some positive changes. And in Kitsap, it did.
C’mon Roger Wabbit, you know you weren’t ever a Judge. At least be honest asshole.
Everything here is totally subjective, so either prove it, or shut the fuck up about your fairy tales old man.
@24 & 25,
We ain’t gonna change Islam, rodent. Islam has to change itself. The best we can do is leave their countries to allow them to totally return to the Seventh Century. Maybe after a decade or two of living at the hunter-gatherer level will convince them that it’s Islam that’s the problem, not the West, Israel or the rest of the world.
TJ you are right Roger Rodent is an old fart with alot of bullshit lies. He was fired from his job as an administrative law flunkee and he tries to pump up his deflated ego with a bullshit sense of self-importance.
@5
so you are saying that intimidation is OK in the courtroom then.
just like a good progressive…when you dont get your way, turn to intimidation…
@10
the military is broke?
you obviously dont know anybody in the military..or have a clue about what you are talking about.