From: Jury Rights Project
Date: Friday September 27, 1996
In court on Friday (9/27), Judge Henry Nieto ruled against motions presented by the defense to disqualify the prosecutor and to dismiss the case against Laura Kriho. The trial of Laura Kriho will take place on October 1st at 9 a.m. at the Gilpin County Justice Center. Laura is being charged with contempt of court for allegedly deliberating "improperly" when she served on a jury recently.
Laura's trial will be the first ever like it in the history of the U.S. Eleven other jurors will testify against her. However, her attorney will not be allowed to question the judge or the prosecutor on her case. And she has been denied a jury trial. Laura's trial will be a landmark case in that it will be decided whether or not jurors can be prosecuted for their deliberations. If she is convicted, all jurors must fear prosecution for their actions and beliefs when they serve on a jury. This has never happened before and will send a chilling message to the citizens of our republic. Laura's conviction will allow judges to have fully-controlled juries. This cannot be tolerated!!
If you can, please come to Laura's trial on Oct. 1st. A strong show of support will be important to show the court that this prosecution is outrageous. This is very important.
Tuesday, October 1st, 9 am
Gilpin County Justice Center
Hwy. 46 (Golden Gate Canyon State Park Road)
One mile east of Hwy. 119
>From Boulder, take 119 through Nederland to Colo. 46.
>From Denver, Hwy. 72, Hwy. 46, Hwy. 6, or I-70 all connect to Hwy.
119
About 40 people attended Laura's motion's hearing on Sept. 27. We would like to have 100 people at her trial. Please, spread the word!!!!!!!!
Call the Gilpin County Court Clerk to confirm trial has not been re-scheduled. (You never know). (303) 582-5522
The Star Chamber was initiated in 1487 in England. The Star Chamber was a court which had extraordinary powers. It was composed of members of the king's privy council. The Star Chamber used torture to extract confessions and was apt to treat as corrupt any verdict of acquittal which it considered as against the weight of the evidence. There are many examples of the Star Chamber punishing jurors with heavy fines and imprisonment for this offense. The Star Chamber was abolished in 1641, but its spirit lives on in 1996 in Gilpin County.
Please come on Oct. 1!!!!
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