Trial assignment took a long time for many reasons and Judge Christopher Wilson and court staff were still working as of noon. Judge Wilson is familiar with both men in this post.
Moran who has been arrested several times, never seems to take repeated chances seriously gets offered a plea deal with a dismissal of certain cases and mandatory supervision. Moran, when released, will violate probation again, waste law enforcement and court resources.
Abarr who had a resolution reached in his case showed up for every hearing except today. Sitting in a car, waiting for hours. His attorney tried to reach him today and the phone was disconnected. A bench warrant was issued for $55,000 and held. He lost his place as first in line because he wasn't here, once. Thanks to County Health, only one COVID jury trial at a time.
I watched the Abarr case for the first and second call. Moran, I watched the initial discussion. Not sure if the plea went through for Moran.
COVID has been a disaster economically and the poor always get the brunt. For many but when it comes to courts and due process, it is injustice. In rural areas, especially states like California and counties like Humboldt, no one gives a damn if freedom and people's lives are destroyed.
Not everyone has a home, office, computer. Courts, self help in person, access to any help in person is shut down in Humboldt. Courts are jammed, backlogs, and overworked staff. The California Judicial Council and Governor Gavin Newsom have press releases that sound good about money for online proceedings but the dollars are not evenly distributed and the infrastructure to support digital court proceedings is not practical.
Habitual criminals like Moran get a pass over and over meanwhile someone like Abarr who had his phone service disconnected gets a bench warrant.
Newsom, Public Health officials, the CA Judicial Council, Judges, court administration all over California have not missed a paycheck since the pandemic started. Newsom or anyone who wants criminal justice reform should start by not further penalizing those without money and power their basic constitutional rights, due process and meaningful help instead of throwing dollars at bureaucrats.
Why can't there be a 30 to 60 day temporary moratorium on civil and family cases except for restraining orders until the criminal backlog is addressed all over California? Immature adults can learn how to coparent instead of using children as pawns and civil cases can wait a month or two. But the almighty dollar is what matters and no spine from Newsom or the CA Judicial Council to say that due to the pandemic, cases impacting a person's freedom prevail.
Different standards for different industries and people. The enforcement for COVID 19 in California is a joke and letting certain industries stay open while shuttering others has no effect on prevention. Besides disproportionate economic effects, court rulings impact a person's freedom, credit, reputation and life. To have decisions made arbitrarily is a disgrace.
Related posts: (Abarr):
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-same-old-issues-and-no-decision-yet.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/01/we-have-been-authorized-to-do-one-trial.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/01/mr-acosta-you-with-us-this-morning.html?m=1
Previous post (Moran):
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/06/it-dont-matter-boss-probation.html?m=1
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