Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Nobody & AG go at it

Nobody slugged it out in federal court last Friday with the Mississippi Attorney General over an investigation into anonymous flyers and mailers that appeared in the August 4 elections in Madison County.  Secretary of State Englebert Hosemann and Attorney General Jim Hood are investigating the flyers.  They said the use of anonymous flyers violate state law and those responsible may be prosecutred.  Nobody filed suit in U.S. District Court last week and asked Judge Carlton Reeves to issue a temporary restraining order that would stop the investigation.  The complaint states the plaintiff is Anonymous.  Attorney Graham Carner represented the plaintiff.


Attorney Harold Pizetta defended the A.G. Judge Reeves said he would not rule during that day but would allow Nobody to argue why a TRO should be issued and allow a full hearing within ten days.

Reeves asked if faxes and pamphleteering are the same thing as speech and how are they different from the Federalist Papers.  Carner said the mailers involved individuals spending their own money and expressing their own beliefs.  He said they were governed by a different set of rules than candidates or PAC's and that the statute circumvented the speech of individuals.&nbsp

The attorney for Nobody relied almost entirely on the McIntyre case in Ohio (McIntyre was an “as-applied” challenge to an Ohio law that sought to prohibit anonymous handbills to be distributed at a school board meeting.)   Mr. Carner repeatedly compared the current case to McIntyere and said the cases were very similar.  He argued that anonymous pampheleteering was part of the history of America's founding.  Carner said the law overturned in McIntyre was narrower than the Mississippi statute.  Carner repeatedly said the law was broad and covered "everything".  It covered any and all speech of any type.

One interesting point was raised when Carner addressed the Younger extension- a federal court will not stop a state criminal prosecution while it is ongoing.  He said  the case was limited to Madison County and that he was "sure" that there was no prosecution underway in Madison County.

Carner wrapped up his argument by stating that once the  case began, the plaintiff's anonymity will be "forever lost".  The TRO will protect his identity until the case is actually adjudicated.  The anonymity will be dropped and thus moot if the state can prosecute the case.

Carner sat down and Pizetta stepped up to take his swings at bat.   He said this case was different than McIntyre.  He said the court can't find a statute to be unconstitutional based upon a hypothetical case because one could always create another hypothetical case.  There must be some limits to the court's discretion.  However, Pizetta made his strongest argument as he claimed the Mississippi statute is similar in all aspects to the federal statute and those of most other states.   The defender for the Attorney General said Citizens United clearly held that speech limitations were unconstitutional but disclosures and disclaimers would pass muster.   Pizetta further argued:

If this particular mailer is a specific item for a specific election, this is not ‘general political speech’ but is electioneering as defined in Citizens United.The facts of this case are not similar to those in McIntyre – a phamplete distributed to influence school board members on a proposed tax increase; a couple of local citizens had distributed to the members of the local school board a small number of pamphlets encouraging the board to vote against a tax increase.In this case we have a mass mailing to residents throughout Madison County encouraging them to vote for or against a particular candidate

Thus the applicable case is Citizens United, not McIntyre. Pizetta also argued that paragraph 16 of Nobody's complaint states "the purpose of the mailing was to inform residents of a candidate’s actions, provide facts that the voters might want to know in making their decisions about specific candidates in the upcoming election.

Pizetta also attempted to rebut the claim that there was no ongoing criminal investigation. He said that the federal statute does not “restrict” speech. It just requires who is making the speech or paying for its distribution. Addresses Younger Extension. States that there is an ongoing criminal proceeding – there have been supeonas and search warrants issued by a state court.

Judge Reeves asked if the law would apply to an individual in Little Yazoo (his hometown) who passes out a few dozen leaflets on a street corner. Pizetta said the state would probably lose that case but each case had to be considered on an individual - "as applied"- basis instead of hypothetical scenarios.

McIntyre v. Ohio
Citizens United v. FEC
Mississippi statutes at issue.







4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Although I supported those attacked in the ads, the state loses this case.

Anonymous said...

The mail piece doesn't appear to be an electioneering piece to me. It doesn't instruct anyone to vote for or support or elect anyone, or to vote against or oppose anyone. Just because it is political, and just because it is negative, doesn't mean it is electioneering.

Anonymous said...

The mail piece doesn't appear to be an electioneering piece to me.

Anonymous "me", credentials unknown, has spoken.

Anonymous said...

Kingfish, what ever happened with this case? Last I can find, case was supposed to have been heard in October.



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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