By DANIEL HERATY
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – A Third Circuit Court judge delayed decision in an appeal by Florida pastor the Rev. Terry Jones Oct. 6. stemming from a 19th District Court judgement against him earlier this year.
Jones and fellow pastor Wayne Sapp did not attend the hearing.
Jones, who planned to host a rally in front of the Islamic Center of America,19500 Ford Rd., April 22, was denied a permit for the rally after 19th District Court Judge Mark Somers ruled that Jones and Sapp posed a credible threat to public safety and ordered that the pair pay a $1 peace bond. Jones and Sapp refused, and were taken to Wayne County Jail. They were released later that day and returned to stage their rally in front of City Hall April 29.
Judge Robert Ziolokowski ruled that the attorneys in the case, Robert Muise of the Thomas More Law Center representing Jones and Sapp and prosecutor Robert Moran, needed to conduct more research in their cases.
Both sides have until Oct. 28 to conduct further research. Ziolokowski said he would issue a ruling in the case Nov. 10.
Muise, who said the “parade of horrbles” –— threats of violence and potential traffic problems — all came from the protesters. He argued that the city’s trial and incarceration of Jones and Sapp violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. He said if the judge rules against Jones and Sapp, the appeals process will continue.
“At the end of the day, the city got what they wanted,” Muise said. “We want to get these decisions reversed.”
(Daniel Heraty can be reached at [email protected])