Anti-Government Movement Guidebook The Anti-Government Movement Guidebook The National Center for State Courts 1999, National Center for State Courts Anti-Government Movement Guidebook This guide was developed under a grant. Award No. SJI-96-02B-B-159, "The Rise of Common Law Courts in the United States: An Examination of the Movement, The Potential Impact on the Judiciary, and How the States Could Respond," from the State Justice Institute. The points of view expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the State Justice Institute. Anti-Government Movement Guidebook STAFF Managing Editor Mr. Chuck Ericksen Acting Executive Director Institute for Court Management National Center for State Courts Contributors and Primary Researchers Mr. Chris J. Wesser, J.D. College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Mr. Dov M. Szego, J.D. College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Virginia Project Staff National Center for State Courts 300 Newport Avenue Williamsburg, Virginia 22185 (757) 253-20000 Ms. Catina N. Burrell Senior Administrative Specialist Ms. Amanda C. Murer Intern Research Assistants Shawn Shurden Koran Singh Stuart Turner Funding Agency Ms. Cheryl Reynolds, Grant Manager State Justice Institute 1650 King Street, Suite 600 Alexandria, Virginia 22314 703-684-7618 i Anti-Government Movement Guidebook PROJECT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Mr. Chuck Ericksen State Judicial Educator Office of the State Court Administrator Olympia, Washington Mr. Peter Haskel, Esquire Assistant Division Chief, Financial Litigation Division Office of the Attorney General Austin, Texas Honorable Joanne Huelsman State Senator Madison, Wisconsin Honorable Jeffrey H. Langton Judge, 21st Judicial District Court Hamilton, Montana Mr. Thomas McAffee Professor of Law Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois Mr. Nick Murnion, Esquire District Attorney Garfield County Prosecutor's Office Jordan,Montana Ms. Cheryl Reynolds State Justice Institute Alexandria, Virginia Mr. Stephan W. Stover State Court Administrator Supreme Court of Ohio Columbus, Ohio ii Anti-Government Movement Guidebook Table of Contents Preface.................................................................................................................. viii Acknowledgements.............................................................................................. x Part I Common Law and Uncommon Courts: 1 An Overview of the Common Law Court Movement ................................................ 1 The Posse Comitatus........................................................................................... 3 Avoiding Legal Authority................................................................................... 5 "Hidden History" as Justification........................................................................ 6 The Posse and the Common Law........................................................................ 9 The First Wave of the Common Law Movement............................................... 14 Decline and Resurgence...................................................................................... 19 The Future of Common Law Courts?.....................................................…......... 29 Part II Tactics in the Courtroom.............................................................................................. 31 Subpart 2.1 - Challenging Subject Matter Jurisdiction.................................................... 32 A. The Gold-Fringed Flag Issue..................................................…................... 32 B. Typical Responses to the Flag Objection...................................................... 33 C. Additional Authority..........................................................…........................ 34 Subpart 2.2 - Challenging Personal Jurisdiction............................................................... 35 A. The "Sovereign" vs. the "Corporate" Citizen....…........................................ 35 B. Typical Responses to the Personal Jurisdiction Issue.................................... 36 C. Additional Authority............................. ........................................................ 38 Subpart 2.3 - Demanding Use of "The Common Law"...............…................................. 39 iii Anti-Government Movement Guidebook A. Demanding a Strict Interpretation of "Common Law"...…........................... 39 B. Typical Responses to the Common Law Demand.......….............................. 40 Subpart 2.4 - Significance of "The Bar"..................................…..................................... 42 A. Refusing to Enter the Bar....................................................…....................... 42 B. Typical Responses to the Bar Argument............................…........................ 43 C. Additional Authority............................ ......................................................... 44 Part III Disrupting the Operation of the Court....................................................................... 46 Subpart 3.1 - Refusing to Speak/Identify Oneself............................................................ 47 A. Refusal to Identify Oneself............................................................................ 47 B. Typical Responses to Refusals to Identify..................................................... 48 Subpart 3.2 - Silence/Filibuster......................................................................................... 50 A. Party Chooses to Remain Silent or Party Chooses to "Filibuster"................................................................................................. 50 B. Typical Responses to Silence/Filibuster.............................……................... 50 C. Additional Authority...............................................…................................... 51 Subpart 3.3 - Demanding "Counsel of Choice"................................................................ 52 A. Party Requests to be Represented by a Non-Lawyer..................................... 52 B. Responding to Requests to be Represented by a Non-Lawyer........................................................................................... 53 Subpart 3.4 - Verbal Threats Against the Court............................................................... 54 A. Party Makes Verbal Threats Against the Court............................................. 54 B. Responding to Threats Made by Members of the Movement........................ 54 Subpart 3.5 - Hunger Strikes............................................................................................. 56 A. Party Begins a Hunger Strike......................................................................... 56 iv Anti-Government Movement Guidebook B. Responding to a Hunger Strike...................................................................... 56 Subpart 3.6 - Attempts to Disqualify the Judge................................................................ 57 A. Judicial Disqualification.....................................................…....................... 57 B. Typical Responses to Judicial Disqualification or Recusal.....…….............. 58 Subpart 3.7 - Forms of Pleadings...................................................................................... 60 A. Party Files "Odd" Documents/Uses Antiquated Pleading Forms.............................................................................................. 60 B. Responding to Unusual Documents............................................................... 61 Subpart 3.8 - Refusal to Sign Documents......................................................................... 63 A. Party Refuses to Sign Documents..................................…............................ 63 B. Responding to a Party's Refusal to Sign Documents..................................... 63 P IV Tactics Outside of the Courtroom........................................................................... 65 Subpart 4.1 - Interactions with the Clerk.......................................................................... 66 A. Appearance at Office/Window/Counter of Court Clerk................................ 66 B. Clerk Responses to Members of the Movement............................................ 67 Subpart 4.2 - Actions Against Court Personnel................................................................ 69 A. Service of Process/Personal Suits Against Court Personnel....…...….......... 69 B. Responses to Service of Process/Personal Suits...........…….….................... 69 C. Additional Authority...................................................................................... 70 Subpart 4.3 - Threats Against Court Personnel...........................…................................. 72 A. Threats Against Court Personnel................................................................... 72 B. Clerk/Personnel Responses............................................................................ 72 Subpart 4.4 - Violent Actions........................................................................................... 74 v Anti-Government Movement Guidebook A. Members of the Movement Become Violent................................................. 74 B. Clerk Responses............................................................................................. 74 Part V Trial Court Performance Standards............................................................................ 75 Relationship