Steele Trial Delayed and Moved

March 7, 2011

Steele Trial Delayed and Moved

Filed under: Probable Cause — Bill @ 4:02 pm

The Idaho Statesman newspaper is reporting that the federal trial of Edgar Steele is being delayed until April and moved to Boise.

Do you think the delay was justified? Do you think Steele could have received a fair trial in Coeur d’Alene? Why or why not?

Comments (13)

13 Comments

What a circus.

I don’t agree with Steele’s philosophies, but there is no way he would receive a fair trial in Coeur d’Alene, and now it looks like Boise is going to have it’s own issues.

What’s interesting is how the judge reversed his decision to delay and move it out of CDA. Justifiably so, but it’s not far enough.

People forget how the state intervened and removed Steele from the McGuckin case out of Bonner County, Idaho years ago. Was national news. There is too much bias in Idaho for a fair trial concerning Steele and the inactive bomb allegedly placed to kill his wife.

Comment by Stebbijo — March 7, 2011 @ 5:34 pm
It is refreshing to see any judge, let alone a federal district court judge appointed for life, admit when he/she is wrong and do the right/constitutional thing. The first ruling of the judge, denying defense counsel more time to prepare for trial, was based solely on the court’s schedule. It is remarkable to see any judge nowadays put the interest of “justice” ahead of the court’s “calendar schedule.” It would have been “humorous” to watch a federal appellate court weigh the interest of a defendant, charged with “murder for hire”,in having a fully prepared defense team at his side versus the interest of the federal district court judge in making sure the trial is not “inconvenient” for its schedule. Perhaps other judges will learn from this honest self evaluation by this judge. Rather than looking like a “keystone cop” by standing on his earlier, clearly erroneous, ruling the judge acknowledged the err of his decision, admitted he was wrong, and did the right thing. Someday, hopefully, more judges will decide to do the right thing, even if doing that means the judge has to admit he was wrong initially and then correcting the wrong. This example of “fallibility” (e.g. a judge is not always right just because he/she is a judge) is what will bring judges the respect that they so want…and the people want to give them. Until judges learn that it is okay to make a mistake, admit the mistake, and then correct the mistake they will always be seeking that which they will never receive.

Comment by Happy Trails — March 7, 2011 @ 7:24 pm
This whole case is just facinating. If you have read any of Steele’s wife’s comments on the Bonner County Daily Bee – you would understand.

It has all the elements of a 007 plot – including Russian brides of some sort. Anyway, Steele’s wife says he was trying to get to the bottom of the illegal russian bride trafficking, thus the reason for the contacts with the ‘other’ women.

What, I speculate is – what if this was actually Steele’s ‘business’ and his wife knew it? She is his legal assistant.

Yep, it’s a movie.

Comment by Stebbijo — March 7, 2011 @ 7:29 pm
Stebbio – Yep, it’s a movie. I agree. Think Fargo and Bill Macy playing Edgar and maybe even Francis McDormand (Marge, the sheriff) as Mrs. Steele. And for a federal judge, how about Jim Carney and William Shattner for an attorney. For starters, ya know.

Gary

Comment by Gary Ingram — March 7, 2011 @ 8:43 pm
Well, I would definitly go see the movie if William Shattner plays the criminal defense attorney and maybe Kathy Bates as the prosecuter? Then hype it up with all those Russian brides looking like James Bond sex kittens and you have it all … the star Russian girl that is the “other” woman could be Irina Shayk, the new cover of Sports Illustrated.

this case will have more success getting testimony from Russia, then Brannon had with Canada.

Comment by Stebbijo — March 8, 2011 @ 6:18 am
Happy Trails,

Generally, people will forgive an honest mistake and have greater appreciation for the honesty and integrity of someone who admits the error and then corrects it. A judge’s unwillingness to correct an incorrect decision is an admission that he or she really doesn’t trust or respect the very citizens from whom he or she demands respect. That’s true of any public official, though.

Comment by Bill — March 8, 2011 @ 6:35 am
Stebbijo and Gary,

If not a movie, definitely a 12-episode soap opera. But what to call it? Hmmm…

In honor of the perception our Mayor and City Council have of Coeur d’Alene, we could call it, “The Guiding Blight.” Or maybe, “As the Potato Turns.” Or “Daze in Our Lives.” How about “The Young and the Arrested.” We could call it “Another World,” but that name’s already taken. Finally, how about “The Edge of Blight.”

Any other ideas?

Comment by Bill — March 8, 2011 @ 6:42 am
Stebbijo,

Well, if you cast it using the Bond girls, you’ll have no trouble getting sponsorship from Allergan and Eurosilicone S.A.S.

Comment by Bill — March 8, 2011 @ 6:48 am
I’m curious about the “extensive pretrial publicity” as the reason for changing venue. I wonder what specific content the Court recognized as being sufficient to warrant the change of venue. Was it the regular characterization of Steele’s political views and the listing of some of his clients in the news/views/skews media that Judge Winmill saw as prejudicial to a fair trial?

Here’s an off-the-wall question: Given our area news/views/skews media’s obsession with seeing Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai County, and north Idaho always portrayed favorably for economic reasons, is it possible that those same media intentionally loaded stories with irrelevant inflammatory and prejudicial information hoping to get the trial moved out of Coeur d’Alene? Why or why not?

Comment by Bill — March 8, 2011 @ 8:07 am
Interesting point regarding the media. I did think it a bit odd to have a front and second page article in the Press the day before the start of the trial, when the jurors would be asked if they had heard of or were aware of the case to be “interesting”. Taking that thought about favorably portrayed a bit further…Steele trial “bad”, thus print a couple big stories so it can get shoved away to Boys town with a nice big article. NIC property purchase of Mill Site “good” so don’t print any story about NIC being entitled to receive $6.7 million dollars back from the Foundation…and not even asking for it to be returned.

Comment by Happy Trails — March 8, 2011 @ 8:30 am
Bill, I agree – that the local media may have loaded the story to get it out of town which I have no objection to. The KKK clan and it’s wingnut members would be picketing the courthouse daily while the trial was on – not good for summer business in the world class destination resort of CDA – they probably don’t want the movie publicity and all the bad press that will hit Idaho again – for being so Nazi. It’s Boise’s turn.

As far as the movie or soap, I think maybe Matt Damon would be good as the hired hit man – then they turn him into a good guy of some sort that saves the day and the along with a steamy romance with the Russian bride. The movie should be called – Supremacy – and it still fits the theme of a local CDA political soap opera and the federal constitution. Full of action – stolen bullion, survelliance, phone taps, espionage … a real blockbuster hit.

Comment by Stebbijo — March 8, 2011 @ 12:25 pm
Well, if local publicity, especially blogs, is a valid measure of extrajudicial violation of rights, wait until the bloggers in Boise get their fingers on the keyboard. You ain’t seen nothing yet. By April 11, poor guy will wish he’s back up here.

Comment by Gary Ingram — March 8, 2011 @ 3:14 pm
Gary,

Yep – it will be a disaster and all the more reason for them to move it into Wyoming.I think Amendola has a good reputation as a criminal lawyer as well as Whelan who is well known for putting perverts away.It’s going to be a dandy.Of course,I am just speculating, but hey … why not? I doubt if anyone in Wyoming knows how to blog. Another twist for the movie …? 😉

Comment by Stebbijo — March 8, 2011 @ 5:23 pm

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