The chief judge of the federal court in Washington, D.C. chastised the Blue Springs man and his attorney during a hearing Friday to set a trial date for his Capitol riot case.
The trial of John George Todd III, who is accused of making threatening remarks to police during the January insurrection, has been pushed back to November. He needed more time to prepare for Friday's hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The trial was requested to be moved to October of next year.
The chief judge was shocked.
She told them to come on. The case has been going on for a while. She wanted to know when the date was.
A number of new cases are expected to be filed by the government. The case needs to be tried quickly.
With all the other cases, a December trial would be difficult. That didn't sit right with him.
When you took this case, there was a trial date scheduled for November 14, and you have professional and ethical obligations, Mr. How could you take on this case when the trial date was set?
The November date was canceled because Todd needed mental health treatment.
He is receiving adequate mental health treatment based on the report. He seems to be working well.
Todd is charged with entering or remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.
According to prosecutors, Todd was in the Capitol building on January 6. According to the charging documents, authorities tracked his movements through images and videos. The footage from the body-worn camera was obtained from the Metropolitan Police Department.
Todd III yelled "I swear to God, I'll hip toss your ass into the crowd, mother" at one point inside the rotunda.
The hearing began about four minutes into it.
Just a moment, I apologize. Where are you? Mr.Todd?
My son is going to the school bus.
Do you find it hard to fit in your status conferences before this court?
Todd said he was attempting. I didn't have any help with my son after he was born. I had to take care of what I had. You have my full focus.
Let me tell you something, Mr. Todd. The proceedings are important for you. Paying attention to what is happening is important. You will have to come to court in D.C. for all future hearings if you can't do it remotely. Are you aware of that?
I am aware of that, your honor.
I don't want you to look at the screen. Paying attention to these proceedings is what I want you to do. Do you know what I'm talking about?
It's your honor.
Todd was assigned a public defender because he couldn't afford one. She wanted to know if he was paying for his representation.
He said he was being paid a small amount, but that he was raising money to assist the defendants.
The man retorted, "Are you spending too much time, Mr. Pierce, raising funds to pay yourself rather than paying attention to Mr. Todd and figuring out exactly what his mental state is and whether he's ready to go to trial?"
He wouldn't say that was the case.
He said he was trying to balance many things. I was under the impression that the trial wouldn't go ahead on November 14 because of the mental health condition.
Delaying a case doesn't work to the benefit of the defendants, because the government continues to investigate.
She said that they had found more tapes. There are public tapes that may support additional charges. It is incumbent on you as a defense lawyer to get to trial as quickly as possible for your clients.
Todd was asked if he was okay with having something hanging over his head until the fall of 2023.
Todd said he was okay with that.
He said that if he can get adequate counsel to where they can get up to speed on the case and get him a fair trial with what they feel comfortable with, then he is okay with that. I get the time to go through my VA counseling. A three-month process is what it is, just because I am doing okay right now doesn't mean I'm okay.
The trial date set by Howell wouldn't work byPierce He has a trial on January 6.
You know what. "I don't have time for this." She ordered both sides to come up with three trial dates that would work in October and get them to her by the end of the day.
The government wasn't being let off easy. She was surprised that Todd was going to be tried for four offenses.
She asked if the government told her they were going to have a trial on the charges.
James said that the government was considering filing a felony charge.
He could not say that we would do that right now. We have not done so, but we have considered it.
You're running out of time.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
