Thread: Hazleton: John, Jane Doe plaintiffs won’t have to testify at

Posted on Sun, Mar. 11, 2007
John, Jane Doe plaintiffs won’t have to testify at immigration trial

SCRANTON – The city of Hazleton suffered another setback in the Illegal Immigration Relief Act lawsuit on Friday when a federal judge ruled that Jane and John Doe plaintiffs won’t have to take the witness stand, and their pre-trial depositions can be used instead.

U.S. District Judge James Munley previously ruled in December that the identities of four plaintiffs would not have to be revealed to the city, and attorneys for the plaintiffs consider Munley’s Friday ruling another victory in the case.

The trial, which begins on Monday, will determine the constitutionality of the city’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which seeks to punish landlords and employers who knowingly rent to or hire illegal immigrants.

The city was issued a win in pretrial motions on Sunday when Munley ordered that the city can have an expert witness – Jan Ting, a professor of law at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law – testify in the trial.

The plaintiffs sought to prevent Ting from testifying, asserting that the disclosure of using him as a witness came after the deadline for submitting expert reports, and only two business days prior to the trial.

In denying the plaintiff’s motion, Munley said he agreed that the city needed to find rebuttal testimony to an expert witness for the defense whom they plaintiffs learned would be allowed to testify only on Feb. 22.

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/16883524.htm

It is pretty obvious that this judge is doing everything he can to pander to the plantiffs. No judge should be able to hold the stand if they are not going to uphold the law.

This John Doe business is ridiculous! What happened to the "facing your accusers."????

U.S. District Judge James Munley previously ruled in December that the identities of four plaintiffs would not have to be revealed to the city, and attorneys for the plaintiffs consider Munley’s Friday ruling another victory in the case.

OUTRAGEOUS!

SCRANTON – The city of Hazleton suffered another setback in the Illegal Immigration Relief Act lawsuit on Friday when a federal judge ruled that Jane and John Doe plaintiffs won’t have to take the witness stand, and their pre-trial depositions can be used instead.

U.S. District Judge James Munley previously ruled in December that the identities of four plaintiffs would not have to be revealed to the city, and attorneys for the plaintiffs consider Munley’s Friday ruling another victory in the case.

Hmmm..........maybe the John Doe plaintiffs have skipped town. Perhaps Hazelton's plan is working.

Actually, I think the judge fears ICE may show up an arrest the illegals. If that is the case, I seriously doubt he has anything to worry about.

I sure hope the fix isn't already in on the Hazelton trial. Sounds like the judge is doing eveything legally possible to give the plaintiffs the advantage.

The Sixth Amendment

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

Originally Posted by April

U.S. District Judge James Munley previously ruled in December that the identities of four plaintiffs would not have to be revealed to the city, and attorneys for the plaintiffs consider Munley’s Friday ruling another victory in the case.

OUTRAGEOUS!

Un frigging real!!

Originally Posted by gofer

This John Doe business is ridiculous! What happened to the "facing your accusers."????

They pulled this crap in the New York case, GOFER!

And got away with it!!

Nice bag of tricks, eh

Well we shouldn't expect a Clinton appointed judge to actually uphold the law now can we?!