Friday, September 25, 2009

Court Advocates Needed For Case Involving Sheridan Rioter

If you're free next Tuesday, or can go into work a little late, your presence is requested at the court appearance of Warren Poole, 19, for "aggravated assault on a police officer" during the Sheridan gang riot last month. He's appearing in Branch 29-2, 9am, in the courthouse at the corner of Belmont and Western, right next to the police station.

Court advocates don't say anything, or testify, but your silent presence in the courtroom on behalf of the community sends a clear message that "This is a case that the neighborhood feels strongly about."

It won't be like TV, but it sends a powerful message to the cops - the judge - the prosecutor - and the bad guys - about how this community feels about violence on our streets and against our cops. We would just love to see Mr. Poole's face were he to walk into a courtroom filled with court advocates, all there just for him.

7 comments:

  1. Gosh wouldn't this be a great time for our Ald. who cares so much about the Safty of the community, to be there. O, you said 9am. sorry she does not come in until atleast noon, if at all. Her staff can attend. O, again, 9am will not work for them either. Limited time in office and never available for comment.

    How easy this would be for her to take 30 minutes and send apositive message. This job is so easy.

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  2. Do people just show up at the courthouse, or is there a process that must first be followed?

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  3. You should show up 20 minutes or so prior to 9am to make sure you have time to pass through security. Check the case sheet on the door or inside the court room (there should be a sheet) to see when his case is up (what number on the call). Try to get a good seat, if possible. If you see a prosecutor, police officer or other official outside you can tell them you are there as a court advocate.

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  4. Do you have to live in the district to be an advocate? (I'm just on the other side of Dover) but am still affected by all this...

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  5. Any concerned citizen can be a court advocate. If you can make it, welcome!

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  6. By the way, the Sun-Times published this article today, describing how a mob of dozens of unarmed people beat a 16-year-old boy to death in a street melee.

    http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1790002,w-teen-dead-community-center-092409.article

    Which really puts Alderman Shiller's gut-wrenchingly stupid comments about how people need to stop complaining about "fisticuffs" that do not involve guns or knives in perspective. How long until this happens in Uptown?

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  7. I suggest you contact the district CAPS office. They have a court advocate section and can give some more info. If there is a big enough turnout of advocates perhaps they can get a bus.

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