Reps expected to grill prosecutors 3/20/2012

[Dave Ridley]

Some of you are casting about for a constructive way to hold judges and prosecutors accountable for overstep.  You may find it useful to observe this House committee's attempt at doing so.  Representatives of New Hampshire's controversial "legal branches" will reportedly be there to face questioning. 

Who: Redress Committee (NH state reps).  Attorney general's folks (assuming they show up).  And folks with grievances against the system.
When:  Tues, March 20.  10:00 a.m. - unknown
Where: 107 N. Main St., Concord, NH.  Legislative Office Building Room 307
What: Govt. prosecutor-types are supposed to explain themselves to reps this day; there are at least 300 people requesting this committee make them whole after alleged mistreatment at the hands of the judicial system.  Actual turnout probably closer to 20. 

Facebook event page
http://www.facebook.com/events/253145204776850/

Event as listed on House calendar:
http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/house/caljourns/calendars/2012/houcal2012_22.html

Some thoughts on the redress process:  From attending one full hearing , observing others on video and from watching the reactions of prosecutors and judges...I think the process basically has potential and the committee members are helpful.   The main problems I see are below; some of these problems have been cited by reps as well:

1) The committee may get disbanded if the process isn't improved.
2) Petitioners often don't play their role nearly as effectively as they could.
3) The hearings sometimes last unnecessarily long (maybe this is to the credit of some very patient reps).
4) The hearings sometimes take on a UCC / conspiracy theory flair that turns off "mainstream" people
5) The hearings don't get much publicity.
6) The hearings take on a he-said, she-said tone.

One way to correct this situation might be to file a compelling petition yourself and do it right.  That means don't make the committee do all the investigative work, bring proof, publicize your hearings in advance on facebook/LTE's/web forums etc. Tape the hearing and put it on the net.  Publicize it on the forums listed at http://ridleyreport.com/Legion
Invite the press.  Schedule a demonstration to occur outside the building roughly 90 minutes before your hearing.   And post your suggestions below, on this thread, for other ways to make the redress process more effective.

If you're not a petitioner, you can probably be most effective by attending the hearing with a camera and lawfully/respectfully questioning any justice system officials that show up.  Do it as they arrive and leave.  Then put the video of your exchange on YouTube.  I will not be in a position to do this on Tuesday.

Disclosure:  Two different plaintiffs before the committee have commissioned me to videotape and/or inform the public of the hearing.  They are:  David Johnson and Gus Breton.  I'll be acting as their contractor, i.e. more cautiously than I would when operating independently.

[Dave Ridley]

This process is a perfect match for some of the Keene activists and their concerns.   But ideally you guys should do what the civil rights folk did.  Pick your most sympathetic victim to put forward and focus activism on him or her.    That's how Rosa Parks became Rosa Parks.

Update:  After posting this on facebook I'm seeing quite a bit more interest than I would have expected.    Also, there is a related event and simultaneous State House event posted at

https://www.facebook.com/events/329106320471409/331122253603149/

This involves complaints against Cheshire Superior Court judge John Arnold...the tormentor of Free Keene.

[Russell Kanning]

he said - she said is much different than a courtroom where a judge slams down a gavel and thugs put you in chains

he said - you pay

[Porcupine Realtor]

According to the House Calendar, there are a bunch of hearings that day, all in LOB 307. They are scheduled 5 minutes apart because the chair doesn't know how long each will last. It could be a LONG day in that committee. Here is the posted schedule:
REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES, Room 307, LOB
10:00 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 11, grievance of David D. Vandenberg.
10:05 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 20, grievance of Carl E. Dow.
10:10 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 21, grievance of Arthur Ginsberg, Nashua, New Hampshire.
10:15 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 22, grievance of Joseph Haas.
10:20 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 23, grievance of Bill and Mary Cloutier, Epping, New Hampshire.
10:25 a.m.        PETITION 26, grievance of Joshua Youssef.
10:30 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 25, grievance of the Community Action Group to Save CMC Again.
10:35 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 27, grievance of Monique Prince.
10:40 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 28, grievance of Ghislain Breton.
10:45 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 30, grievance of Bethany Capen.
10:50 a.m.        Rescheduled public hearing on PETITION 31, grievance of Wade Henry.
10:55 a.m.        PETITION 32, grievance of Randall Bowen, Shona Bowen, Jerry DeLemus, Robert Gates, Thomas Kaczynski, Jr., and 308 additional petitioners, all of Rochester, New Hampshire.
                        Work session may follow.

[KBCraig]

They only gave Joe Haas 5 minutes? It will take that long for his introduction, with parentheses and footnotes. 

[Dave Ridley]

They only gave Joe Haas 5 minutes? It will take that long for his introduction, with parentheses and footnotes. 

no, it will take that long just for his parentheses!