"Judge orders ERA activist who exposed breast outside Capitol held without bond until trial" * https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/general-assembly/judge-orders-era-activist-who-exposed-breast-outside-capitol-held/article_d8557a15-1b78-517d-8763-40881a55d14a.html
[SNIP] A Richmond judge ordered a New York activist who exposed her breast outside the Capitol during a protest in support of the Equal Rights Amendment to remain in jail without bond on a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure until her court date on March 21.
Holding someone without bond on a nonviolent misdemeanor is unusual. Supporters of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment said that Michelle Renay Sutherland, 45, is a political prisoner.
Kevin Martingayle, a lawyer in Virginia Beach and past president of the Virginia State Bar, said holding Sutherland without bond is unusual.
"What the woman did in reenacting the flag/seal is classic political speech entitled to the highest free speech protection known to law," he said by email. "She should win and the denial of bond seems to be totally inappropriate. I am very surprised to see that done in a case in which she’d be unlikely to get jail time even if convicted."
Important Update:
ReplyDelete"Judge orders ERA activist who exposed breast outside Capitol held without bond until trial"
* https://www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/general-assembly/judge-orders-era-activist-who-exposed-breast-outside-capitol-held/article_d8557a15-1b78-517d-8763-40881a55d14a.html
[SNIP]
A Richmond judge ordered a New York activist who exposed her breast outside the Capitol during a protest in support of the Equal Rights Amendment to remain in jail without bond on a misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure until her court date on March 21.
Holding someone without bond on a nonviolent misdemeanor is unusual. Supporters of ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment said that Michelle Renay Sutherland, 45, is a political prisoner.
Kevin Martingayle, a lawyer in Virginia Beach and past president of the Virginia State Bar, said holding Sutherland without bond is unusual.
"What the woman did in reenacting the flag/seal is classic political speech entitled to the highest free speech protection known to law," he said by email. "She should win and the denial of bond seems to be totally inappropriate. I am very surprised to see that done in a case in which she’d be unlikely to get jail time even if convicted."