Ocala Star-Banner (FL)
January 21, 2014
'Grand jury' makes demands; money, office space, supplies
Jan. 21--Members of a group called the Common Law Grand Jury demanded on Tuesday that the County Commission help them seek justice on behalf of citizens whose rights have been ignored or thwarted by government officials.
Asserting authority derived from the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, the Florida Constitution and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling authored by Justice Antonin Scalia, the group maintained it was standing up on behalf of "we the people," as society's "supreme rulers."
Their demands: three secure rooms in the county courthouse; five new laptops; new printers, reams of paper, a conference table and office supplies; 30 "comfortable" chairs for jurors, four leaders and a secretary.
And also a budget of $1.5 million.
All by the end of the month.
Or else.
But the attempt by this self-designated "fourth branch of government" to impose the rule of law may land them on the other end of the criminal justice system.
Clerk of the Circuit Court David Ellspermann told the commission that he was referring the grand jury's presentation to State Attorney Brad King for possible prosecution under a new state law.
That law, enacted last year, allows prosecutors to charge someone who "simulates" the "legal process" to intimidate, harass or hinder public officials while performing their official duties.
The grand jury rolled out its wish list in a six-page writ of mandamus that was delivered to the commissioners.
...
