Judge Patricia Lucas: Criminalizing Dissent in Santa Clara County - Police Excessive Force
Channel: California Judicial Branch News Service
Date: 2018-01-31

This video catalogs a series of events documenting how Santa Clara County,  California is criminalizing dissent by harassing and arresting whistleblowers, reporters, and publishers. 

In the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara County Superior Court Presiding Judge Patricia Lucas has issued unconstitutional court orders restricting protest, free speech, and the ability of the public to document police misconduct. 

On the orders of Judge Lucas, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department deputies have abdicated their oaths of office - which include upholding the Constitution and laws of California and of the United States. 

At the direction of Judge Lucas, deputies who provide security in and around the Silicon Valley courthouses Lucas oversees effectively are acting as a private, mercenary police force that is not required to observe the rule of law.

This video features Santa Clara County government misconduct whistleblowers Susan Bassi and Scott Largent. Bassi is a publisher and investigative reporter.  Both Bassi and Largent have been criminally charged for violating unconstitutional court orders issued by Lucas. 

Controversial Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen has failed or refused to acknowledge that the orders issued by Judge Lucas restricting free speech, protest, and the ability of the public to record police misconduct incidents are unconstitutional.

DA Jeff Rosen has been charged with retaliation before: https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/11/18/state-employment-board-sides-with-prosecutor-against-santa-clara-county-da/

Santa Clara County officials have accused Rosen of defrauding taxpayers: https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/06/13/santa-clara-county-blasts-district-attorney-jeff-rosen-secret-action-demands-prosecutors-give-back-inappropriately-granted-perk-or-face-investigation/

Rosen was caught giving his hand-picked managers a lucrative vacation benefit - they could later covert to cash - in defiance of a pay cut mandated by a union contract with the county:  https://www.mercurynews.com/2013/04/06/santa-clara-county-da-quietly-offers-some-of-his-top-deputies-lucrative-perk/

And: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/DA-Jeff-Rosen-Gives-Free-Time-Off-201785961.html

View these Susan Bassi and Scott Largent news reports: 

https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Woman-Claims-Santa-Clara-Deputy-Broke-her-Hand-After-Courthouse-Confrontation-458410203.html

http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2017/12/06/court-watchdog-arrested-just-weeks-after-violent-encounter-with-sheriff-deputy-over-video/

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/12/01/is-the-courts-no-smart-phones-policy-really-all-that-smart/

http://www.sanjoseinside.com/2017/12/01/santa-clara-county-courts-game-the-system-with-no-photo-policy/

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/15/san-jose-council-to-discuss-a-meeting-curfew-maintaining-gift-limits/