Judge won’t unseal UCI Muslims case records
According to prosecutors, the disruptions resulted in Oren being able to deliver only three minutes of his scheduled 30-minute speech.
During Thursday’s hearing, a handful of supporters of the “Irvine 11” stood outside the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, holding signs with cloth covering their mouths. One sign read “Free Speech 4 UCI Muslims.”
Prosecutors say the students violated the law and they deny claims by the defendants that the case stems from religious or ethnic bias.
Wilson issued the gag order May 13 following allegations by the defendants that prosecutors were making improper public comments about the case and potentially tainting the jury pool – claims the DA’s office has denied.
Prior to the issuing of the gag order, Susan Kang Schroeder, chief of staff of Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and one of the defendants’ targets, along with Assistant District Attorney Dan Wagner, told the Register:
“We don’t prosecute people based on their religion or ethnicity – we prosecute people who violate the law, and this case is a clear violation of the law.”
