CHATTANOOGA, July 16, 2019 — This morning I begin my interactions with the Hamilton County grand jury. I come to the courts building to deliver a letter of inquiry to the foremen of the grand jury.
By David Tulis / 92.7 NoogaRadio
My ultimate goal is to determine whether the legal and political establishment is abusing clearly written laws in disfavor of the people, and in favor of state convenience, backed by the bar, whose members fill the ranks of the judicial branch.
The power of the state upon the grand jury is everywhere evident, even to a casual observer. I am directed by a clerk to give the copy of my document intended for Jimmy Anderson, foremen of the grand jury, to Jerry Sloan.
He is an assistant district attorney, he explained, who works with the grand jury. “
“I work in the grand jury and I give them legal advice,” he says. He says he is not in the grand jury when its members vote on cases. “I simply tell them what the law is.”
Mr. Sloan says Mr. Anderson is head of both grand juries, which he says are the same.
“I’ll make sure he gets it right now. We are getting ready to start.”
The grand jury is intended in the American legal system to defend the people from the abuse by the state. It’s job it so investigate crimes on its own authority when its members, randomly selected from among the people, smell crime and abuse.
They are not servants of the state. Its members are not to be compliant with district attorneys or judges. They represent the people and their righs.
I also meet Hugh Moore, a former federal prosecutor and at longtime attorney who is the foreman of a second grand jury. He is about to lead members of the grand jury on a tour of the jail. As I take my camera out to photograph the gathering, Mr. Moore stands among the people, and weaves about; I find his face hidden in several frames.
As a member of the press and one of the people of Tennessee, I have an interest in the people’s having the power of review over police practices in the county.
My arguments for local economy and free markets will make the most headway locally, with local people taking the initiative, and effectively working an action in replevin to take back their property — namely their lost rights.
