Alert 11/25/07 COURT WATCH

We have started a Court Watch program sponsored by VAW, the tax-deductible sister of VVAW. Immediately below is the list of cases for November we are following. More will be added.

The Court Watch backgrounder follows the list. We are anxious for your participation and reaction.

These are the November cases we are following:

11/26/07 1 pm Taylor/Wythe County (animal cruelty – cattle)

11/27/07 9 am Vick, Phillips, Taylor & Peace/Surry County (animal cruelty and dogfighting)

NOTE: to be held Sussex County though a Surry County case; state charges

11/29/07 9 am Cross/Clarke County (petition – seizure of starving horses)

11/29/07 9:30 am Eide/Virginia Beach (animal cruelty – cats)

11/30/07 9 am Peace & Phillips/Richmond City (animal cruelty and dog fighting) federal charges

If you want additional information on a case (usually about half a page), let us know.

If you can volunteer to help with Court Watch on a regular basis, please tell us.

VAW COURT WATCH

 

COURT WATCH BACKGROUNDER

 

VAW has started a Court Watch program with Maureen Federico heading the program as Editor. The focus is animal cruelty/fighting in Virginia courts.

There are multiple purposes which can be addressed by such a program:

• decrease incidents of animal cruelty/fighting
• support the ACOs, humane investigators, prosecutors, and judges, letting them know we are grateful for their work, encouraging them to do more, contacting them with both positive (and negative) comments
• contact Commonwealth Attorneys – the prosecutors of such cases – with reaction to their work, remembering that Commonwealth Attorneys are elected for terms of 4 years
• let judges know of reaction to their rulings, remembering that judges are appointed for 6-year terms, and are reviewed prior to reappointment by the Courts of Justice Committee which consists of both Virginia Senators and Virginia Delegates; reappointment is not automatic
• contact the prosecutors when you know ahead of time that you will attend a hearing, trial or sentencing, so that the prosecutor can point out during the proceedings the interest the public has in animal welfare cases
• spread the word in law enforcement/judicial community that people are watching
• by knowing what/where/who is involved and being better informed about the process of law enforcement, we help ensure abusers are convicted and punished
• help people understand they can make a difference in law enforcement and prosecution of animal cases
• promote the mindset that animal welfare laws must be obeyed
• recruit humane investigators
• determine if there are patterns which should be corrected, such as judges which habitually slap on the wrist rather than penalize wrong-doers, people in for same complaint over and over, jurisdictions where cases are never pursued
• see that the penalty is in line with the deed
• see if seized animals are being held unnecessarily long times waiting for the case to be heard
• see what kind of publicity results and what newspaper/TV coverage there is

We will gather information on upcoming cases, including dates, time, and the place where the case arose or is being heard.

Our goal is to have such a list updated on as frequent basis as possible. We’re still working out the kinks in this program, and want the Court Watch information to be as complete and accurate as possible.

This is what we ask of you:

1. contribute case information; when you learn of animal abuse, make sure that Court Watch/Maureen is made aware of it; while the focus is on animal abuse/fighting of dogs and cats, cruelty is cruelty, and we want to know about all animal abuse cases

2. names of defendants/abusers are important because names are a starting point to gather information from the courts

3. names of others involved are important, particularly ACOs or police in areas where they are several ACOs and law enforcement people

4. when you know your local ACO, sheriff, or police is called because of an animal abuse complaint, follow up and see what happened to the complaint; if nothing was done, find out who made the decision to do nothing, when, and why; get as much as possible in writing

5. when action on a case is being held near you, do your best to attend; consider letting the prosecutor (the Commonwealth Attorney handling the case) know you will be there; send us a brief report to tell us what happened; those who cannot attend might let officials know of their interest in following the case

Please email Maureen relevant information and notes about what transpired in court cases. Maureen’s email: vicmaureen@comcast.net, or to LSClancy@crosslink.net

Thank you.

Lillian Clancy, Don Marro and Maureen Federico

11/25/07