Nation of two

[MichaelNotMike]

Would like to Private Message you regarding the "legal" system since your wife is a paralegal.  Found out about our Kangaroo Circus Court here last Sept.  When I said I don't intent to testify against myself and wouldn't take the oath, the judge gave me a look over her glasses that could kill!

I can't give legal advice. But I can give you*my* *opinion*: It would certainly depend on the severity of the charge how much I'd be willing to challenge the non-constitutional protocol of a state court if my neck were the one being chopped. Parking ticket, noise complaint or zoning issue? Maybe. Probably. Depends how much coffee I'd had and how cocky I was feeling.

Felony I didn't commit, or lethal self-defense case? Not a chance in hell. "Yes your honor, I do solemnly swear...."

(your mileage may vary. and INAL - I am not an attorney.)

MWD

[SteveM]

 Maybe not....Web forums tend to be a microcosm of the world, and what I really want out of life is to just be left alone, and not much of the world seems into that. You would not BELIEVE how many people in California over the past few months, complete strangers even, have asked me who I'm voting for and how I'm voting on different propositions, then they try to CHANGE MY MIND if I disagree. [/quote]

Welcome Michael.  I think you'll find there are a lot of people who've come here because they want to be left alone to live as they see fit.  Many of us live in states other than Wyoming where that is increasingly difficult and are looking to relocate.  As to the weather, I grew up in south Florida and now live in Washington state.  You adjust fairly quickly to areas that have four real seasons.  After a couple of years you don't really notice the difference.  Though many think western Washington really has 2 seasons, cold and wet and warm and wet.  Besides, as others have said a deep breath of freedom makes a large difference.

It's the same here with people trying to change my mind over who I vote for.  I pretty much keep it to myself since being a libertarian is roughly akin to being from Mars in most places.  Since I don't support whoever they support they assume I must be for their opponent. 

[gabby]

Don't need legal advice at all.  I fought the law and the law won.  Bogus traffic ticket from a IC borderline RC Highway Patrolman.

I saw it was a Kangaroo Court the minute I refused to take the oath and said I wouldn't be testifying on my behalf.  The judge was insisting that I had to take it, and I wouldn't budge.

Anyway, what I wanted to kind of know is if most all courts are like that.  When I signed in at the initial appearance and at my "trial" I saw the troopers hem hawing with the prosecuting attorney in the back and they all looked like cats eating $hit.  I wouldn't figure the trooper to flat out lie on the stand, but I got a reality check.  I kind of figure most folks in LE wouldn't lie like that, but he did at the end of his testimony.  If I would have been really thinking on my feet instead of being nervous to beat all, I would have asked him to present his video evidence to prove my "sarcastic remark"

One other thing I noticed that was odd, was when the prosecuting attorney finished with the trooper, he never said the prosecution rests.  I watched two court sessions prior to my date, and also the cases before me that day.  He always said that he rested before the defense went.  When the judge said it was my turn to question the "witness" I asked if the prosecution was finished.  She then got irate at me and said it was my turn.  I then asked again, if the prosecution rested.  She said I wasn't "listening" and to ask the witness questions.

I had him dead to rights with his testimony about his testing of the radar, but the judge wouldn't hear it.  I then asked to enter some case law, to which she first denied it, then I insisted.  She asked in a smug way if I had it, to which I presented it to the overweight out of shape bailiff.  She looked at it briefly and wouldn't have anything to do with it either.  She also didn't take into account the radar unit manual copy that I had that showed the HP didn't test his radar according to the manufacturer.

Long story short, my peace officer friend in town was right.  I could fight it, but I would lose.

[MamaLiberty]

I saw it was a Kangaroo Court the minute I refused to take the oath and said I wouldn't be testifying on my behalf.

I'm curious what "oath" was required here.

[socalserf]

The Constitution is the only thing that stands between me and the tyranny of the masses (mostly).

"But whether the Constitution really be one thing, or another, this much is certain - that it has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.  In either case, it is unfit to exist." - Lysander Spooner

Don't look now, but I suspect it's not going to stand between you and what's coming, if it ever did. sigh

Bullseye, ML!
An exellent read is Bostons/Keneth Royces' Hologram of Liberty.http://www.javelinpress.com/hologram_of_liberty.html
Also it is discussed in the 'Books we like section'.
http://www.fundamentalsoffreedom.com/fswforum/index.php?topic=3424.0

[malachirc]

I remember asking Boston if he was an attorney, I recall he said no, but that has legal training (though it may be self taught). 

Also, as for editing, it's an option only available for actual members if I recall.  Don't know why they did it, but there you go.

Gabby:  You were mistaken about the process, I believe (which is usual).  What the judge was asking/telling you do do was cross examine the witness. 

The prosecution has to rest his case before you get to call any witnesses in your own defense, not in the middle of every witness.  In particular, after you ask questions, he can ask questions again as well. 

[MichaelNotMike]

...  I fought the law and the law won. ....

yuck. That sucks.

This is part of why I try not to leave my property if I can help it. Home is where the rights are....Which is why I'm interested in having more land too. 1100 square feet can feel a little cramped.

MWD