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FEDERAL COURT, March 24 – During closing arguments of the impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate, alleged insurrectionist Thomas Edward Caldwell was ordered detained until trial by District Judge Amit P. Mehta. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here and below. (US v. Caldwell affidavit on Patreon here).

 On February 26 Jessica Watkins, who as a founder of a small Ohio militia was present at the Capitol on January 6, was ordered detained pending trial. Inner City Press live tweeted it here and below  (Podcast here)

  On March 23 in the wider Oath Keepers' case, Judge Mehta convened the prosecutors and defense lawyers about prejudicial publicity. Inner City Press live tweeted it, here
 and below. Judge Mehta mulled, but did not impose, a gag order.

Now on March 24, another DDC Judge is on the gag order path: "MINUTE ORDER as to CHRISTOPHER RAY GRIDER. The parties are scheduled to appear before Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for a VTC Status Conference on 4/6/2021 at 2:30 pm. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall come to the Status Conference prepared to discuss whether the Court should enter an order pursuant to Local Criminal Rule 57.7(c), which authorizes the restriction of "extrajudicial statements by parties, witnesses, and attorneys" concerning "a widely publicized or sensational criminal case," where, among other things, such statements are "likely to interfere with the rights of the accused to a fair trial by an impartial jury." LCrR 57.7(c); see also LCrR 57.7(b)(1) ("It is the duty of the lawyer or law firm not to release or authorize the release of information or opinion which a reasonable person would expect to be disseminated by means of public communication, in connection with pending or imminent criminal litigation with which the lawyer or the law firm is associated, if there is a reasonable likelihood that such dissemination will interfere with a fair trial or otherwise prejudice the due administration of justice."). Signed by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on 3/24/2021."

From March 23: OK - #insurrectionBlues showdown, DDC Judge Amit Mehta has convened the lawyers in the Oath Keepers case - he begins with 60 Minutes interview.

Judge Mehta: I hope DOJ is looking into the propriety of the 60 Minutes interview... No matter how much press this case gets, the defendants are entitled to a fair process. These statements could impact the jury pool. The government should know better.

Judge Mehta: Read local criminal rule 57.7, which governs public comments on pending criminal cases. I intend to vigorously enforce it. DOJ needs to understand these statements can impact the rights of defendants. I will not tolerate this.

 Judge Mehta: What steps has DOJ taken?

AUSA: With respect to the 60 Minutes interview, the rules were not complied with. It has been referred to the DOJ Office of Professional Responsibility. There's nothing more I can say about that.

Defense lawyer 1: We'll file a motion if & when necessary.

Defense lawyer 2: I didn't see the interview.

Defense lawyer 3: My client is concerned, as we argued challenging detention, there were inaccurate statements.

Defense lawyer 5: I was contacted by 60 Minutes

 Defense lawyer: I apologize I had to respond to what Mr. Sherwin said.

 Judge Mehta: I think your response was fine. But we want to avoid this going forward. We are adjourned.

We'll have more on this.

Inner City Press live tweeted Riley June Williams on January 25, here. 

  From January 22, song here: Thread here.

 Inner City Press' John Earle Sullivan song on SoundCloud here. 

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