DIST. ATTY. TRIES TO THROTTLE THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.
By Warren Yates
First Amendment – US Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the FREEDOM OF SPEECH, OR OF THE PRESS; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. First amendment of the Bill of Rights.
As I mentioned earlier in a comment, Dist. Atty. Ferreira complained to Judge Zuniga that I was writing comments regarding this case. She said that my writings were inflammatory and might influence potential jurors if this “case” makes it to trial. I am paraphrasing what she said. She also mentioned to Judge Zuniga that she wants a “gag order “put in place. Judge Zuniga refused a request and told her to file a motion.
Dist. Atty. Ferrera wants to suffocate my right to publish an average citizen’s perception of the events of this preliminary hearing. I have no idea what Dist. Atty. Ferreira is so afraid of regarding what I write. Albert Einstein once said “Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth”. As citizens, we have to havaae respect for authority, but must not go along like lambs being led to slaughter.
It is incumbent on us as free men and women to challenge authority, in order to avoid transgressions of justice. If a prosecutor in a serious case such as this one, has prepared the case properly and lawfully, then why would that prosecutor want to silence a citizen from letting those taxpaying citizens who cannot attend the hearing be kept up to date.
One that has nothing to hide should have nothing to fear. The Dist. Atty.’s attempt to deprive me of my first amendment right of free speech, and although I am not a reporter, my right to publish for the common good is egregious behavior. District Atty. Ferreira should pull herself up by the bootstraps, charge forward with her case and not be intimidated by a common citizen’s musings.
The other reason that citizens comments on this hearing should be allowed is because the Modesto Bee has not written an article keeping the public informed of the progress of this case for at least nine court dates. This case is of vital importance to the citizens of Modesto and Stanislaus County but the local newspaper prints nothing.
It is my hope that Dist. Atty. Ferreira will abandon her quest to shut the door of free speech let the taxpaying citizens that pay her salary be kept abreast of the court proceedings. I encourage people to write to the office of the Dist. Atty. Stanislaus County to request that no such gag order be sought.
I will close with a quote from another Patriot, Thomas Paine: “Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one”.
Today was somewhat of an explosive day in court. I am only going to say briefly that DA Fererra threw my name out in court saying that the comments I make about the case are inflammatory or words to that effect and that people reading may be influenced or prejudiced as potential jurors if this goes to jury trial.
At this time I would like to thank Ms. Fererra for letting me know that she thinks that others besides the district attorney’s office and their investigators read what I write. Its a real boost to my ego. Almost couldn’t get my head through my front door when I got home.
She said that Defense Attorneys Rine and Garcia violated blah, blah, blah of the Government Code because they let me read a court transcript of the afternoon I missed court because I had to take an old veteran friend of mine to the VA Hospital in Livermore because he cannot drive out of Modesto due to stress.
My writings are taken from the public record and in person testimony by witnesses in court. Never thought I would get called on reporting the verifiable facts. Your tax dollars at work. Just saying…
Source: http://www.backstorynews.com/?p=97
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