KANGAROO COURT

Courtroom drawing of Judge Caffese. Courtesy: Fran De Sena

Court and counsel convened on June 1st, 2026 without the jury to hear the judge’s rulings on defense’s motions to dismiss counts and work through the wording of jury instructions.

WHAT HAPPENED:

1) Count 2 of False Imprisonment of Mr. Lortz is DISMISSED. Mr. Lortz testified that he did not feel restrained and he helped people get off the bridge. Despite his testimony, the prosecution refused to drop the charge on their own because they argued that Mr. Lortz was biased because he believed in the Palestine cause. The Judge found that there was not enough evidence for a reasonable jury to find he was held against his will, and dismissed the count.

2) Defense motion that defendants could not be charged with false imprisonment for blocking a road because they were already charged with blocking a road is DENIED by Judge Caffese

3) Parties argued about how to explain the law to the Jury.

WHAT THIS MEANS: Kangaroo Court

The “Justice” system is created to criminalize dissent. Arguing this issue in the language of the court is obviously beneficial for the government and the prosecution.

Of the 38 counts of false imprisonment, only 4 remain. Of those, two felt threatened by the message of Free Palestine. And all 4 agreed they could have left.

It was a kangaroo court, because any reasonable explanation of the law would immediately acquit the defendants.

1) Blocking the road has never been false imprisonment

2) A person who never drove during the incident is not a driver to be charged with a violation of the Vehicle Code, and

3) Felony conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor is absurd.

But the trial judge says this is not the forum to decide those things. If she will not be a check on the DA’s power, then we hope the people of San Francisco will be.