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[Shard]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry...ions-sentenced_us_5967de92e4b0d6341fe7a9e2?4r

WASHINGTON ― A D.C. judge has tossed out a jury’s conviction of a protester who laughed during Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing, finding on Friday that the government had made improper arguments during the trial.

Desiree Fairooz, 61, who was associated with the group Code Pink, had been convicted of disorderly and disruptive conduct and demonstrating inside the Capitol. But Chief Judge Robert E. Morin of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia tossed out the guilty verdict because the government had argued that the laugh in and of itself was enough to warrant a guilty verdict.

Morin said it was “disconcerting” that the government made the case in closing arguments that the laughter in and of itself was sufficient.

“The court is concerned about the government’s theory,” Morin said. He said the laughter “would not be sufficient” to submit the case to the jury, and said the government hadn’t made clear before the trial that it intended to make that argument.

 

[Transistor]

Good on that judge

 

[ThLunarian]

Common sense prevails.

Once again the judicial branch doing its part to counter the awfulness of this administration and Congress.

 

[Trojita]

Good

 

[Baron von Loathsome]

Good.

 

[cameron]

Sentencing was today. Judge tossed it out.

 

[UnemployedVillain]

I can't tell what's more distressing, that this ever came to trial or that a jury convicted her of anything

 

[Korigama]

Good.

 

[TemplaerDude]

Well done Judge.

 

[LakeEarth]

I just can't believe the country of freedom freedom freedom let this happen. Thank God for the judiciary.

 

[Angelus Errare]

The judicial branch, the last and only line of defense against the fuckery of America's fragile government system.

 

[neoanarch]

Fucking Justice prevailed? What a great piece of news.

 

[Gordon Shumway]

Good..

 

[BrutishMrFish]

It never should have gotten that far.

 

[Stinkles]

One more L for the La Li Lu Le Lo

 

[Malvolio]

Poor snowflake can't handle a little giggle.

 

[PopeReal]

Such fucking pussies. Can't handle a laugh.

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

One more L for the LALEELOOLAHLLAHLU

What the!? Impossible!

 

[Orbis Tabula]

I can't tell what's more distressing, that this ever came to trial or that a jury convicted her of anything

Well, as far as I understand the article, I can understand the jury. It sounds like they were told "laughing is sufficient to make her guilty." Then shown a video of her laughing. If you don't know about jury nullification, I can empathize with thinking "Well, I don't think it's right, but it's my duty as neutral arbiter of the law to find her guilty if she meets the standards of guilt."

 

[commedieu]

The judicial branch, the last and only line of defense against the fuckery of America's fragile government system.

Just don't get too close.

 

[Slayven]

Good

 

[mf.luder]

I pay your fucking salary and I don’t get to comment? Glad this got thrown out.

 

[Laevateinn]

One more L for the La Li Lu Le Lo

You can't spell collusion without multiple Ls.

 

[theWB27]

Yeah...hurting racist Jeff Sessions' feelings isn't a reason to be locked up.

 

[Krombopulos_Michael]

Getting in legal trouble for laughing is the most ridiculous thing i have ever seen. Glad it got tossed.

 

[Zakalwe]

Good

Good.

Good.

Good..

Good

This.

 

[Siegcram]

Get fucked, goblin.

 

[Dynasty]

Good, shouldnt have gotten that far.

 

[TheCochese]

 

[Beartruck]

I'd laugh at that keebler elf too.

 

[Shauni]

I could maybe understand if she just had some massive belly laugh that completely disrupted the atmosphere (which it was not, at all), but even in that situation simply being removed should be enough. A small fee at the absolutely extreme. More than that is fucking absurd.

 

[Omegasquash]

I could maybe understand if she just had some massive belly laugh that completely disrupted the atmosphere (which it was not, at all), but even in that situation simply being removed should be enough. A small fee at the absolutely extreme. More than that is fucking absurd.

Removal should have been where it ended. Taking it this far indicates a vendetta, and that's not something that should come from any form of government.

But, here we are. At least common sense prevailed.

 

[SliceSabre]

Shouldn't even have had to tossed out the verdict, those whacks on the jury should have taken all of 30 seconds to come back with a not guilty in the first place.

Hell most that should have happened to her is that they take her out of the hearing and that's it.

 

[Captin Quacker]

Still tryin to rap my head around the fact there was a good chance she could of gone to jail for laughing at someone

 

[Keri]

I just can't believe the country of freedom freedom freedom let this happen. Thank God for the judiciary.

It didn't let it happen. This is a win.

 

[FlyinJ]

Wait, a jury found her guilty?

What in the fuck?

 

[BadWolf]

Shocking that it even had to come to this.

A laugh? Really?

 

[shadow_shogun]

Shocking that it even had to come to this.

A laugh? Really?

That is the sad take away from the whole. I hope the U.S will somehow make it out of this bottomless pit it's sunk into.

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

The only thing keeping this country from fullout becoming a fascist oligarchy is the damn courts. Even then, they fuck up a lot. Shit is terrifying.

 

[EGM1966]

Common sense? Goodness. Thought that was a goner recently.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

How many tax payer dollars were wasted on this?

Ballpark it for me.

 

[Lastgengamer]

I laugh along with her at I don't recall Sessions.

 

[Ogodei]

Should park herself outside Jeff Session's home and laugh at him over a megaphone.

 

[Slime]

Good.

Now convict that jury for being a bunch of dumbasses.

 

[MetatronM]

Wait, a jury found her guilty?

What in the fuck?

If they were told "a laugh is enough to find her guilty" and there's no real debate as to whether or not she did laugh, then yes, a jury would obviously return a guilty verdict. Hence why the verdict is being thrown out.

 

[Whompa02]

Good!

 

[ReAxion]

sane judges ftw

 

[Do Better]

The prosecution wanted a conviction for this so badly that they resorted to misleading the jury?

 

[Keri]

The prosecution wanted a conviction for this so badly that they resorted to misleading the jury?

And misleading the Court, as to the basis of their case. I'm not surprised a Jury returned a guilty verdict, if they were given incorrect instructions, but I don't understand why it wasn't caught a little sooner? Why didn't the defense move for nonsuit, after the prosecutions case? Why weren't the instructions hashed out, before the decision went to a jury? Since the Court obviously caught this error eventually, I feel like there are explanations for this, but I don't know what they are. Like, obviously the Court itself was not trying to push through a guilty verdict. Maybe this is on the defense, for not raising this issue sooner.

 

[GrizzleBoy]

The problem with American jurys, is that they're actually androids.