Joe Dillard - 03 - Injustice for All by Scott Pratt Read Free Book Online Page A

faithfully.”
    I drop my head into my hands, certain that this is a preamble to a decision that only he can rationalize. I’ve already considered what I’ll do if he rules against me, and I resign myself to the fact that this battle will be fought elsewhere.
    “However,” Green continues, “a judge must occasionally make a ruling that is not popular. He must do what’s right under the law. He must protect the very foundation of our laws and our government, the Constitution of the United States of America.”
    He’s making dramatic pauses while he speaks. I want to throw up.
    “I hope those who read about this in the newspaper tomorrow morning or watch it on the evening news will understand that this ruling is for all of you. It will protect you from future illegal intrusions into your privacy. There is no doubt in this court’s mind that the state’s primary witness in this case, Mr. David Dillinger, was acting as an agent of the government when he hacked into the defendant’s computer. Mr. Dillinger has testified that he was abused as a child by someone he believes was a pedophile, and that he has undertaken a mission to see that other pedophiles are exposed and brought to justice. In order to accomplish his mission, Mr. Dillinger intrudes on the privacy of other citizens by clandestinely hacking into their computers with the intent to have them prosecuted under the criminal laws of this country. The court finds that the fact that the governmental agencies involved in this particular case were unaware of Mr. Dillinger’s activities is irrelevant. At the very core of it, Mr. Dillinger is a wannabe police officer, a ‘cyber vigilante,’ as Mr. Kay so adroitly pointed out. Mr. Dillinger obviously regards himself as a sort of charitable mercenary, working on behalf of the government without the expectation of compensation or recognition, but in reality, he’s no different than a common burglar. Instead of stealing jewelry, he steals information, and he does so by secretly invading the privacy of his victims’ computers. He then expects his targets to be prosecuted, which in this court’s view, makes him an agent of the government. His warrant-less search of Mr. Carver’s computer was illegal, and any evidence obtained as a result of that search is hereby suppressed.”
    Kay stands. I’m sure he wants to get out of the courtroom as quickly as possible. I also stand and turn to look at Dillinger. I want to apologize to him on behalf of the state of Tennessee, on behalf of the entire U.S. criminal justice system. But he’s already out of his seat, heading for the door. He slams it as he leaves, and the bang rips through the courtroom like a gunshot.
    “Bailiff!” Judge Green shouts. “Stop that man and bring him back here.”
    I fix a stare on the judge as the bailiff hurries out the door. I hear shouting in the hallway. Thirty seconds later, the bailiff walks back through the door, holding Dillinger by the elbow. The look in Dillinger’s eyes is one of fear and humiliation.
    “Bring him to the lectern,” the judge says.
    Dillinger stands before Judge Green, looking down at the lectern.
    “You’re in contempt, Mr. Dillinger. Your punishment is a hundred-dollar fine, payable in the clerk’s office before you leave the building. If you don’t pay it, I’ll have you arrested and jailed. Go back to Canada where you belong, sir. The Canadian government may allow you to invade the privacy of others to your heart’s content, but this is the United States of America. We don’t tolerate such behavior.”
    Dillinger’s shoulders drop, and he walks out of the courtroom like a condemned man. As soon as he leaves, I speak up.
    “In light of your ruling, Judge, the state moves to dismiss the indictment against Mr. Carver.”
    “Really, Mr. Dillard? You mean you don’t plan to appeal?”
    He’s smug. He knows an appeal will take two years. Even if his ruling were reversed—and I feel certain it would be—so