Tuesday, October 23, 2007

800th Post: 'DC Madam' Trial Date Set

Washington D.C.--The time is coming, it's near. Federal District Judge Gladys Kessler has set the tentative trial date of Deborah Jeane Palfrey criminal trial for February 19th, 2008. It's going to be quite a ride, and remains to be seen who will be subpoenaed successfully. What's likely is that more unpleasant facts about our political system are going to be aired publicly during the body of the trial. According to Ms. Palfrey's attorney Montgomery Blair Sibley (her civil and criminal trial representation), a suppression hearing is slated just 11 days before the trial itself. Kessler's decisions on various motions have been mixed, and with virtually no discovery process on the side of the prosecution, the defense is compelled to holds their cards close to the vest.

Federal prosecutors have been given a leg-up with congressional legislation that allows them incredible flexibility to get around due process, the right of every defendant. Discovery is one such area affected, and a crucial one. Kessler has frequently fallen on the side of these procedural rules, though she can trump them on constitutional grounds. So far, she doesn't appear to be willing to exert the power of the judiciary to check the legislature or the executive branch. She's too credulous. Will she show an independent-streak that's fitting to the bench?

Judge Kessler has reserved judgment on whether there will be a hearing on selective (politically-based) prosecution of the defendant. The US Courts have visited this site in the past--will they be back? It might behoove Judge Kessler well to read some of what the research here has uncovered--including site meter readings--and subsequently published at this site. At least 90% of the information found here is readily available on the internet for anyone to find and analyze. Readers should be asking themselves why the mainstream media and press are not doing so. February 19th, 2008, you read it here first.

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