Today was a lovely Texas sunshiney day, and I could hear my anxious readers calling out for justice. So, since I had to go down that way anyhow, I headed on over to the United States Federal Court. It is located at 515 Rusk Avenue, in downtown Houston. If you pass through security, and take an elevator ride up to the fifth floor, you will find the Court Clerk's lovely offices.
Alongside one wall is a computer bank where any citizen can obtain files on any case with open public records. The women working in this location are extremely professional and kind. They will happily hand over the documents as you hit the print button. The walk was short, but the exercise certainly didn't hurt me. I don't think walking around Houston on a beautiful day is anything short of a privilege.
This is why I can't understand why anyone from the ultra soft, and sensual, Sealy News can't find their way over here to get this important public news. Everyone who has knowledge of this case is simply mystified by its length, and overseas complexities. Guilty or not, this defendant has truly created a mess worth study, and the facts around this case are frightening at best.
I have the Order to my left of my laptop while I sit in my favorite coffee bar in Katy, Texas. When I get home tonight, I may scan this thing and post it for your viewing benefit. At any rate, it reads like this:
The Court has considered the Fourth Joint Motion for Continuence wherein counsel for Defendant, Stephen Wayne Sudduth, has represented that more time is needed to resolve the state charges pending against him, and that failure to grant a continuance would result in a miscarriage of justice.
Did you read that carefully? Did you see that we are now talking about "resolving the STATE charges?" I am not an attorney, and I am not sure if this means what it says, but do you think we have to wait for the State of Texas to DO something? Does this mean this mess is hung up in Austin County? Please, don't tell me that!
It goes on to read: Based on the representations made in the Fourth Joint Motion for Continuance, the Court finds the ends of justice served by granting a continuance outweigh the best interest of the public, as well as the Defendant, to a speedy trial.....blah, blah, blah....failure to grant a continuance would result in the miscarriage of justice, and that a continuance is necessary to allow reasonable time for the resolution of other charges against the Defendant.
Of course, there is no mention of his small victims, and their miscarriage of justice.
This document was filed on February 7, 2012, and he has another pretrial conference set for April 23, 2012, at 2:00 p.m.
For the first time, I am starting to sweat the outcome of this just a bit. I am beginning to wonder if they are going to let this guy walk without even a trial. Could this happen? Please, tell me this terrible thing will never happen! He was caught with the stuff...the miserable horrific evidence. Surely Judge Atlas has the stomach for this...she could never have risen to the top without being the toughest of the tough. She sees criminals all of the time...federal prisoners accused of murder, kidnapping, and even this kind of trash. If she can't deal with the terrible evidence that will surely be presented at this trial, then maybe she should recuse herself rather than let the lawyers kick the ball down the field.
After all, we were told the Federal prosecutors were taking first shots at this guy, and then the State of Texas would follow up. Was all of that a mistake...could we not have come to this conclusion sooner? What in the world is going on here (how many years now)?
