Lemaster Lodging Trial Date Set: October 15, 2010, 9 a.m.

FIRST AMENDMENT IN A NOOSE?

This morning, court 8:30 AM; coffee while driving to 701 Ocean Street, Santa Cruz, CA. Heading for Judge John M. Gallagher's Department 2 Courtroom.

The Lodging Trial yet to unfold ~ referring to California Penal Code's section 647(e) ~ continues into limbo, leaving me accused of this horrible crime of falling asleep (allegedly) on the cement steps outside that very same courthouse where I was cited. 

Two years and STILL no glue factory in sight! Finally, today Judge Gallagher facilitated setting an actual trial date:

October 15th, 2012, at 9 a.m

 There will also be a "trial readiness" hearing in prep for that trial, on October 10th, also at 9 a.m.Ms. Sarah Dabkowski remains on board as D.A. for the trial.

Meanwhile, my attorney, Jonathan Gettleman, has filed a petition to appeal Judge Paul Marigonda's ruling about whether it was appropriate for Sheriff Deputies to use this particular "lodging" law to quash (to utterly destroy) our PeaceCamp2010 Demonstration on behalf of Homeless Folks, which was happening 24/7 when I got cited.

Marigonda's decision, in reply to the Writ of Habeas Corpus regarding Lodging 647(e) legally strengthened the fact (to me, self evident) that our Constitution's First Amendment was, and remains, a factor in our Demonstration.

What a waste of our public and judicial resources, no wonder "the status quo" is so insidious! Feels like there's no way to get any actual CONVERSATION happening once "The Law" gets involved? When I first began doing the Courthouse Waltz for this mis-step, I was told to not talk with nor engage with "The County of Santa Cruz" until it was over. So, setting aside PERSONAL losses due to being effectively "on call" for the courthouse and Department 2, I've missed two years of County annual funding hearings, and two years during which we could also be lobbying to change this rediculous, status law.

Kudos to friendly court-watching team today: Becky, Nazreen, Leslie, Kent, and Gail. Much gratitude to Occupy Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Eleven supporters who have been watching my back and soothing my crazy-making frustrations. Thanks for print media who were there. Much gratitude to Gary Johnson and Ed Frey also of PeaceCamp2010, two "jailbirds" for having slept out of doors, for saving me from "where no man has gone before."  Johnson and Frey are appealing, too. Because it's crazy-making, overly broad, and can kill homeless people.

Linda's Hearth note:  If you would like to help with my pro-bono attorney's hard costs, such as zeroxing, court fees, please send yoru checks or whatever you've got, to me (Linda Ellen Lemaster/P O Box 42/Davenport, CA  95017. Please include either a note sayaing "legal/lodging" or "Gettleman", or put a similar memo on your check. Any contributions will be well leveraged and greatly appreciated.