Molloy Suspends Trial
On Friday, February 27, 2009, Judge Molloy filed an order suspending the jury trial and cross-examination of Paul Peronard in light of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal’s ruling regarding the rights of victim-witnesses. The district court order stated that it would conduct proceedings to make particularized findings with respect to the remaining 26 victim-witnesses expected to testify. The court ordered the government to call each remaining witness, one at a time, to present the entire expected testimony, including possible exhibits each witness might testify about, in order to determine if each witness was a victim-witness for the purposes of the Crime Victims Rights Act. The court ordered the jury to be not present Monday morning for these proceedings, which would be closed to the public and media.
Over the weekend, the United States filed three motions, resulting finally in notice to the district court that none of the 26 victims desired to exercise their rights and the cross-examination of Paul Peronard could continue. Whether we will have a jury this morning is still unknown.
– Nick Lofing (posted 9:02 a.m.)
Posted: March 2nd, 2009 under Law.
Comments
Comment from John Derry
Time March 2, 2009 at 10:04 am
This ruling pertains to the 26-34 persons from Libby on the government’s witness list.
Comment from David F. Latham, editor, The Montanian newspaper, Libby, Montana
Time March 2, 2009 at 11:43 am
Nick Lofing’s multiple “court” references are unclear. The use of “The Court” (incorrectly capitalized) after “Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals” refers to the Ninth Circuit Court, not Judge Molloy’s court. Nick needs to make it clear whether he is referring to the Ninth Circuit Court or Judge Molloy.
Comment from bruce
Time March 2, 2009 at 9:40 am
with the findings of the 9th court. does this mean (we) Libby, are Crime – Victims?