232 Comments
Jun 9, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

Thanks for this uplifting post. Some in the media are calling this a "dark" or sad day in America. I so disagree. The dark day in America was back on Nov 2, 2016. This is sunrise in America, the beginning of the end of darkness. It may not be time to celebrate, but it's a start. Now we have to steel ourselves as the Fascist will try to stir his followers to join in his pretension of innocence. Yup. We are in this together. Stay strong.

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Sunrise in America!

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I told my husband this morning that it was a brighter day because Trump is indicted!

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Jun 9, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

Jack Smith, thank you. On behalf of our country. Thank you.

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And thank you, Leslie N! We are all in this together. I, too, am thanking Jack Smith. Now we must make sure we get out the vote. Hope all is well with you.🐼❤️

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AND the Supreme Court ruled against Alabamas gerrymandering so voting rights got a boost ….it was a very good day

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Yes...that was certainly wild, was it not? I mean Roberts and Kavanaugh both siding with the Dem justices...

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I can't help wondering if the deepening and expanding criticism of the right-wing SCOTUS majority has gotten through at least to Roberts and Kavanaugh, that they realize that the integrity of the Court is very much at stake. Roberts in particular has seemed concerned with his legacy (which IMO is pretty terrible no matter what he does going forward). Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, and Barrett, OTOH, seem so sure of their divine inspiration that nothing has gotten through to them.

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Finally, a night of rest for RBG.

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It did seem unusual.

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I feel the presence of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was instrumental in the Alabama decision. I suspect she is shifting the court from within. Now a precedent is set. Can it be applied in other cases? I also am wondering whether the courts are watching the Republican Party implode and whether this might concern them that they are going to face a day of reconning after the next election where their not recusing themselves and taking money from people with cases before the court will not only be scrutinized but also taken to court. This Department of Justice will go down in history as restoring law and order after the lawless presidency from within the lawless party. Let us hope that it lasts. This is the country we should be.

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Love that line. "This is the country we should be." Amen

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And they want a big pat on the back for not completely trashing the constitution. Roberts was even willing to forego his lifelong desire to completely gut the Voting Rights Act, just so long as he got something in return, like the media forgetting his abject failure to do anything about ethics.

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Article 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) lives on with huge implications in 4 southern states & 4 to 6 real Reps in fairly drawn districts likely headed for the next Congress in 2024.

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It was a good day for Alabama and the rest of the country.

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Jun 9, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

I am so happy this group exists. Feels like the 1st time I can breathe. AND I find solace in Joyce’s sort of stoic delivery on TV. Thanks for remind me of the seriousness of all of this.

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Thank you, Joyce, for the reminder that this scary moment is actually a better moment than the scary moments just one year ago. The pro-Trump rhetoric tonight has fogged that truth for me. Now I can go to sleep somewhat more reassured.

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Brilliantly stated! Thank you Joyce for these calming and informative words.

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Launching “Civil Discourse” a year ago was timely. Glad you’re here to help us navigate these litigious times. As you say, “We’re in this together.”

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author

What a year, right? And we're going to need each other even more in the coming year.

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Peter, absolutely right. It is great to have Joyce offering some knowledgeable insights.

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A year that felt like a lifetime...

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Little donnie is in a bind. Wounded. Crazy. Scared. Very dangerous.

He has second rate legal counsel headed for a rocket docket court. Keep us up to speed Joyce. 😏

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Jun 9, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

He is dangerous now like a trapped animal…we all need to stay positive & alert

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Exactly Linda. Alert & calm.

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Jun 9, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

What is a rocket docket? I heard it alluded to on TV too but nobody said what it meant.

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Sorry, that's my fault. It means they move more than many courts that are plagued by delays and long waits for trial. Places like Miami and Birmingham have a majority of judges who try to keep their dockets movie and send cases to trial within the 70 day time period allowed by the speedy trial act or no longer than absolutely necessary when reasonable delays occur.

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Let’s get this show on the road...

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Earlier today, SC Jack Smith specifically stated he would be seeking a speedy trial.

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Yes, but I suspect Loose Cannon will grant DJT's attorneys all the delays they request.

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Some comments I've read suggest Judge Cannon will preside over the arraignment and setting the calendar and other details for trial but possibly not serve as the trial judge. Let us hope this will be the case.

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The Miami fed district adheres to a strict timeline for cases. I believe it is seventy days to completion. Defense cannot drag it out

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Jun 9, 2023·edited Jun 9, 2023

I wonder if this also was a reason for the Miami venue. Maybe the appetizer, in preparation for the main "Coup" course? Oh, and of course Mr. Bragg, for dessert.

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Part of the crimes occurred in that jurisdiction so it was proper venue. I think speed of proceedings is icing on the cake. Original crime of taking the documents occurred in DC. Hope they follow with action there also.

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Exactly. It does seem though that the taking of the documents was in itself, not a crime. It was the retention that made it so.

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And Ms. Willis for the after dinner cordial.

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I like your way of thinking!

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I think this indictment is the 'main course' taken out of traditional sequence. While there are a number of specific reasons, not least of which is pulling the teeth of a potential appeal over venue, it seems better to have two such important cases to be charged in separate venues, especially with a very different jury pool. We may be served with sequential meat courses at the federal level plus we have Georgia to look forward to.

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You made me grin. Maybe E. Jean Carroll as an intermezzo? ❤️

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70 days to Trial,would be a 'Rocket Docket': Pre-trial motions in limine & motion to dismiss will mean some inevitable delay. Jury selection alone will be intense. I had a jury selection proceeding in Marin County CA that had to be assigned into the largest Courtroom to accommodate 270 potential jurors. The Judge handled personal juror excuse claims in sidebars with counsel present. The process can move quickly.

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Will this trial be televised? I don't know the local court rules. I can see a Catch 22 in that - riling up his supporters (further) vs making clear to all Americans just what an abhorrent, narcissistic, thieving POS this former president is. If televised, I can see audiences as addicted to the trial as many have been to Succession, and maybe even being shifted if their stance has been support for tfg.

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No, no cameras in federal trials

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I thought as much but, wishful thinking.

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Not knowing the legal term 'in limine', I looked it up. "A motion in limine is a motion made to the court before a jury has been selected in either a civil or a criminal case. Motions in limine ask the court to order the opposing party, its counsel, and witnesses not to talk about, or even mention, certain facts or evidence in the presence or hearing of the jury."

BTW, is tfg required to be present in court during this criminal trial?

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You got motion in limine correct aka "MIL"; pre-trial some judges rattle off the decisions on MILs in a few minutes. In one (1) case my co-counsel had a pre-trial hearing with witnesses & documents that lasted four (4) days before being GRANTED.

Yes, tfg can be compelled to come to trial personally. You can also serve trial subpoenas for tfg to bring documents to trial. The Judge controls the Parties. I would subpoena the missing "Bedminster" US War Plan with Iran that was the focus of a big battle between tfg & General Milley after Biden's election but, before J6.

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How about Ivana's casket? Can they subpoena that? (Only partly kidding.)

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Strict but I've read not absolute.

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Cuts through cases quickly. Low tolerance for BS.

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The court likes to move quickly, they make decisions quickly, move things along

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I am so tired of hearing pundits say that it is a dark day for our country. No, the dark day was the day that Trump was elected president. Today is a day to celebrate. Today is the day that the DOJ proved that no man is above the law. 🍾

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worthy of a little popcorn and a small margarita. Small portions for court appearances. More indictments to come — Georgia was set up for July or August, wasn’t it, for possible outbreaks of violence? Then the rest of the Federal indictments, for J6 coming out of DC? Small amounts of popcorn and a margarita for all those and court appearances. THEN, the big celebrations with every single guilty verdict, and I believe and have faith there will be many, so stock up folks, we are going to party!

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🎼🎶🎶🎶🫡🧳🍾🥃🍸🍷

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Jun 9, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

"We, like always, have much important work ahead of us as a country to make sure we have a more perfect union... We have the strength and the grit to restore ourselves." And while we try 45, we will be forced to increase our strength and grit to take care of Mother Earth and make sure we have a viable planet... work delayed while this selfish man stop response to the worse crisis Earth has every faced.

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I believe a majority of Americans are happy that the rule of law still applies here. No man is above the law.

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Let’s hope it is a big majority with plenty willing to stand up to those who will not readily accept this.

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Awesome post, Joyce. Just spot-on. Thank you.

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I can hardly believe this has finally happened. And I know we are just getting started.

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For sure! We are still in for a lot of dust up. Let’s take Joyce’s stoic report and stay calm. As she said, we haven’t yet seen the actual indictment documents. We might expect the ship of State is going to rock a bit in the weeks ahead. Yes! As one post said, I am glad I have this group, Robert Hubbell, and Heather Cox-Richardson - truth tellers all.

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I lost a bet with my husband on whether Andrew Weissman was correct in predicting this indictment would happen this week. Neal Katyal suggested it might not be that fast. I am quite grateful to have Joyce's perspective, and it will be interesting to see how the next few months unravel, develop, and knit back together. But sir, it sounded just a teensy bit like you were telling me as a woman to calm down. I hope that's not what you meant. Because, as Joyce says, we're all in this together.

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founding
Jun 9, 2023Liked by Joyce Vance

Some your most powerful words to date, Joyce. Thank you, and let justice take it’s course. No one is above the law....

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Agree about this forum! Good to feel I’m among friends--such absolutely different sense of reality out there!

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This day started with Christian Right Leader Pat Robertson's death and it ended with Fascist Liar Loser Donald Trump's indictment; Excellent!

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I have such a strong sense of relief but also a queasy feeling that won't let me fully enjoy this moment. Makes me sick that he is fundraising off of this. Ex President Golden Weasel. I won't feel complete until he's in jail.

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I know. He is taking money from people who can’t afford it. A fool and his money are soon parted. Never more true.

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