U.S. Judge Defends Ban on Jury Trials
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SUNDAY,FEBRUARY 7, 2021 /// Times Community News publication serving Orange County /// timesoc.com U.S. judge defends ban on jury trials U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton says the federal court’s decision to indefinitely halt jury trials makes sense as the pandemic continues. BY MEGHANN M. CUNIFF Afederal judge defending the court’s pan- demic-related prohibition on jury trials said her stateside counterparts in Orange County Superior Court aren’t tracking jurors after trials end, so it’s impossible to know how many people have been infected through them. “How do you know it wasn’t spread throughout the community because of the trial? How do you know someone’s grand- mother wasn’t hospitalized because she came into contact with the juror?” said U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton. Speaking to attorneys during a recent Zoom hearing, Staton said the last few months of increasing coronavirus infections in Orange County means “someone is doing something wrong, not right” and justifies the decision to indefinitely halt jury trials. Staton was responding to a defense attor- ney’s opposition to a trial delay, but she also was addressing her colleague U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney’s ongoing criticism of the ban. Carney has dismissed four criminal cases, including a robbery case and two gun indictments, because he believes the indefi- Sean M. Haffey | Getty Images nite ban on trials violates the accused’s con- stitutional right to a speedy trial. He’s ac- LLI BY ANTHONY CIARDE cused his colleagues who support the ban is pretty direct about ennywise frontman Jim Lindberg of misconduct, and he’s repeatedly cited Or- re,” he said. “I grew his hockey allegiances. “Full disclosu ange County Superior Court’s ongoing trials went to a lot of L.A. P up in Manhattan Beach in L.A. and as evidence trials can happen in the federal sly a huge fan and I al- Kings games as a kid and was obviou Central District of California. nt to a lot of games during ways will be.” Lindberg said. “I we “It’s me against all my colleagues. I just era.” the Rogie Vachon, Marcel Dionne Photo have such a problem with what they’re do- first Stanley Cup celebration In spite of that fact, Lindberg’s by Brent ing,” Carney said Jan. 21. rival, the Anaheim Ducks. came thanks to the Kings’ heated Broza In her hearing a week later, Staton made was on stage, playing with Lindberg wasn’t just watching it. He clear she’s with the majority of judges who ived him, at the team’s Pennywise, while Ducks players high-f support the ban. She indicated that Carney in 2007. celebration outside Honda Center was once, too, because she said the initial performed the song Lindberg and Pennywise wrote and vote to end jury trials in March was unani- Ducks’ goal song since mid- “Bro Hymn,” which has been the mous. It became the soundtrack to way through their 2005-06 season. “I think there’s still a majority of the court and, over a decade and a half the Ducks’ 2007 Stanley Cup title —avast majority — that has that opinion,” s culture as it was then. later is as much a part of the Duck Staton said. 21 season Jan. 14 “Bro When the Ducks opened the 2020- Staton’s comments are the first public Ducks goal song, making it Hymn” began its 15th season as the refutation of Carney’s stance on trials out- s by an NHL team. In those one of the longest used goal song side a 60-page brief from federal prose- a goal song, it’s become a 15 years, it’s become more than just cutors who are appealing his dismissal of a nership of and that former tradition. One that fans feel an ow 35-count indictment against a Newport Beach doctor accused of illegally supplying R5 See Song, page drugs to patients. They’re also the first public acknowledg- ment that Orange County Superior Court, Jakob Silfverberg #33 ABOVE: Christian Djoos #29 and which has held at least 145 trials since June, the Anaheim Ducks after he congratulate Jani Hakanpaa #28 of isn’t tracking juror infections long term, and Center on March 11. RIGHT: scored his first NHL goal at Honda court officials only know of one because the nnywise, who co-wrote “Bro Jim Lindberg, the lead singer of Pe juror voluntarily called to tell them of the the song at the Ducks’ Hymn” with his bandmates, performed nda Center. 2007 Stanley Cup celebration at Ho See Trials, page R4 Campaign for official recognition of ‘Little Arabia’ progresses BY BEN BRAZIL nered with UC San Diego’s U.S. sored a petition that has gathered Immigration Policy Center to con- nearly 1,200 signatures. Community organizers have duct a poll of Anaheim residents. Al-Dabbagh said the designa- been fighting for about a decade The recently released report tion would be helpful to the busi- for Little Arabia to be officially shows that 58% of registered vot- nesses of Little Arabia because it designated by the city of Ana- ers who responded to the poll would bring increased advertising heim. support Little Arabia’s designa- and signage. The dozens of businesses lining tion. That number increased to The increased revenue to the Brookhurst Street in West Ana- more than 75% for respondents area from the advertising is much heim have for years served as a who have been to Little Arabia or needed, Al-Dabbagh said, due to cultural hub for Orange County’s know about it. the crippling impact of the pan- Arab American community. The poll gives Al-Dabbagh demic economy on small busi- Yet City Council members have hope that the City Council may nesses. resisted the push for designation. now consider the designation be- “It would take it to the next lev- Rashad Al-Dabbagh, executive cause of public support. el and hopefully that would get director of the Arab American “I think we’re very close, espe- more funding to the area,” Al- Civic Council, said council mem- cially that this time we are show- Dabbagh said. bers have repeatedly said over the ing with a poll that we conducted Al-Dabbagh said he’s still mobi- years that they don’t know that there is support in the city,” lizing support. Little Arabia busi- Scott Smeltzer | Staff Photographer whether the issue has garnered Al-Dabbagh said. “You cannot use ness owners will be meeting with widespread support among resi- that excuse anymore.” the Chamber of Commerce about KAREEM HAWARI, owner of Kareem’s Falafel in Anaheim, pours dents. In addition to the poll, the Arab chipotle tahini into a serving container. The neighborhood where the In response, the nonprofit part- American Civic Council spon- See Campaign, page R4 eatery is located is informally known as Little Arabia. R2 SUNDAY,FEBRUARY 7, 2021 TIMESOC WWW.TIMESOC.COM Impact of pandemic on homeless shows need for housing options BY BEN BRAZIL The need for housing options for the homeless is becoming all the more crucial in Orange County as the COVID-19 pan- demic has ripped through homeless shelters, causing Nelvin C. Cepeda | San Diego Union-Tribune hundreds of homeless SANTA ANA is considering whether to approve “hero pay” people and some staff to for grocery workers during the coronavirus pandemic. be stricken with the deadly illness. According to the county, 825 homeless people have Santa Ana contracted COVID-19, with 625 of those being shelter residents. Last week, the Voice of OC broke the news that supports 417 homeless people and dozens of staff have con- Raul Roa | Staff Photographer tracted the coronavirus during current outbreaks A HOMELESS MAN sleeps in Costa Mesa during the January 2019 Orange County Point across 17 shelters in the in Time count. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the need for housing, officials say. ‘hero pay’ county. The conditions at the person being in a shelter from year’s past. The most recent Point in congregate shelters, where right now, Jason Austin, di- Tim Houchen, a local Time count in 2019 found Council members bless them, great for them. homeless people sleep rector of the county’s Of- activist who used to be almost 7,000 homeless But they should extend near one another, exem- fice of Care Coordination, homeless, mentioned dur- people in Orange County. say grocery store that to their employees plifies the need for timely said through email “there ing an interview that he The Stanton Inn cur- workers deserve that help them make those housing options for the are risks associated with used to be uncomfortable rently is at capacity with 72 higher wages additional revenues.” homeless. being in congregate set- in the armories while be- rooms filled, and the Tahiti during pandemic. Councilman Johnathan Organizations like tings.” ing surrounded by dozens Motel is scheduled to be- Hernandez echoed a simi- United to End Homeless- “The [Office of Care Co- of sick and coughing peo- gin operations later this BY BEN BRAZIL lar sentiment. ness are working to make ordination] and [Public ple. month. “I can assure you that that a reality. Health Services] have been Austin said his office The high-risk and vul- Santa Ana moved one the CEOs are working from “The connection be- working collaboratively to and Public Health Services nerable homeless people step closer Tuesday night home while people that tween health and housing implement the needed have been working with enrolled in Project to approving “hero pay” are living below the pover- is something that has al- safeguards and precau- the Salvation Army to im- Roomkey were transi- for grocery store employ- ty line are leaving their ways been there, and I tions to mitigate these plement safeguards to for- tioned to Project Toolbelt, ees in the city.