District Justice Mark W Martin has committed the following wrongdoings in the case of Ernest Perce vs. Talaag Elbayomy:
1. Justice Martin told Mr. Perce that the First Amendment does NOT allow him to mock a religious/historical figure, in this case a brutal warlord, murderer, rapist, and pedophile from the 7th century. This is blatantly incorrect.
2. Justice Martin allowed Mr. Elbayomy to get away with a violent assault on Mr. Perce. Even if Justice Martin WAS correct about the First Amendment (see above) this would still be no excuse for a violent assault.
3. Justice Martin said that the case was simply one person's word against another, DESPITE the fact that Officer Bryan Curtis (the arresting officer) testified that Mr. Elbayomy admitted to attacking Mr. perce.
4. Justice Martin said that the plaintiff did not prove his accusations beyond a reasonable doubt, and yet REFUSED to allow video evidence that WOULD prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.
Additionally, Justice Martin wrongly took the following into account when delivering his verdict:
1. What the legality and punishment for this incident would have been in Islamic countries. This should be given NO consideration whatsoever in an American court.
2. Accused Mr. Perce of being uneducated when it comes to Islam. This is a false accusation, but more importantly is completely irrelevant to Mr. Perce's First Amendment rights.
3. Gave a rambling, disjointed diatribe full of incomplete thoughts and self-contradictions.
Conclusion:
Justice Mark W Martin should be immediately removed, and a mistrial should be declared.
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