>>> In June 2002, a jury in a civil suit ruled against the FBI and Oakland police, saying that they had trashed the Constitutional rights of Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney. The authorities were ordered to pay $4.4 million for the frame-up.

Two jurors have spoken out about the case, and their comments are below.

[To read more about the case, see the Judi Bari Website]

Juror Mary Nunn:

"[I]nvestigators were lying so much it was insulting."

"The FBI and Oakland [police] sat up there and lied about their investigation. They messed up their investigation, and they had to lie again and again to try to cover up. I'm surprised that they seriously expected anyone would believe them."

"[T]he FBI really lacked credibility"

"Police tried to blame their mistakes on the FBI, but the FBI was trying to shove the blame right back. No one in law enforcement was willing to say 'we made a mistake' and stand up and admit it. They were evasive. They were arrogant. They were defensive."

"This trial taught me what it means to be American. I realize that freedom is something we can never take for granted.... We are free because we hold people in power to a higher standard."

source: "Cops, FBI lied about probe, juror says" by Jim Herron Zamora. San Francisco Chronicle, 3 July 2002.

An anonymous juror:

"There were too many lies and manipulation of the evidence. And way too much guilt by association. Law enforcement isn't supposed to do that. They should rely on the truth to make a case."

"There was always a majority willing to return verdicts in favor of the plaintiffs. Everyone had strong feelings the case had been handled wrong,"

"Why did they act so quickly? Why did they rush to arrest them, and eagerly report that to the news media? Ms. Bari was seriously injured and in the hospital. She wasn't going anywhere. Neither was Mr. Cherney. Why didn't they wait, do their homework, and gather the facts? We don't know. We still don't."

"There was never a chance that these officers were going to be cleared."

source: "Bari juror explains verdicts, marathon deliberations" by Mike Geniella, Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 14 June 2002.

front page | newest additions | index + search
about | contact | donate