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LetMyPeopleVote

(166,992 posts)
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 10:39 AM Jul 24

LA Grand Juries Are Refusing to Indict ICE Protestors

trump's DOJ are trying to intimidate ICE protestors. Luckily we have grand jury who are no-billing these attempts



https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/la-grand-juries-are-refusing-to-indict-ice-protestors

A major new development out of Los Angeles, where the LA Times reports that U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli has been no-billed by grand juries in some attempted prosecutions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protestors:

The three officials who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity said prosecutors have struggled to get several protest-related cases past grand juries, which need only to find probable cause that a crime has been committed in order to move forward. That is a much lower bar than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard required for a criminal conviction.


But among the most damning revelations in the LA Times article is Essayli ordering a subordinate to ignore the DOJ’s Justice Manual:

On the overheard call, according to the three officials, Essayli, 39, told a subordinate to disregard the federal government’s “Justice Manual,” which directs prosecutors to bring only cases they can win at trial. Essayli barked that prosecutors should press on and secure indictments as directed by U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, according to the three officials.


The Trump administration targeted Los Angeles for heavy-handed immigration enforcement, including deploying the National Guard and active duty marines to the Democratic-run city, that set off mass protests and some street clashes with law enforcement.
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LA Grand Juries Are Refusing to Indict ICE Protestors (Original Post) LetMyPeopleVote Jul 24 OP
I am so pleased to read that some grand juries are refusing to indict Ice protestors. CaliforniaPeggy Jul 24 #1
Agree CP popsdenver Jul 24 #20
This is how we get the most impact in the justice system. slightlv Jul 24 #39
Great news!! The people can stop Trump! Jim__ Jul 24 #2
The next effort will be creating tribunals. SSJVegeta Jul 24 #3
Tribunals. Like the one they are going to put johnnyfins Jul 24 #4
i like the ones we'll have barbtries Jul 24 #10
Indeed. Hornedfrog2000 Jul 24 #24
not a supporter of the death penalty, barbtries Jul 24 #25
I think a slow fade away JustAnotherGen Jul 24 #28
or saddam coming up from his hidey hole NJCher Jul 24 #41
I know folks are laughing at his cankles JustAnotherGen Friday #46
Good! SheltieLover Jul 24 #5
Righteous. Solly Mack Jul 24 #6
Grand Jury gfarber Jul 24 #7
Welcome to DU! More, please! ancianita Jul 24 #14
Wait, they are trying to deny justice to people who are not Trrumpers. That is a no no no. No. twodogsbarking Jul 24 #8
I would put it a little differently.😉 ShazzieB Jul 24 #17
Thanks for reading it. I meant to say "deny" instead of "do". I srewed up. Mea culpa. twodogsbarking Jul 24 #21
Aww, no apologies needed! ShazzieB Jul 24 #37
so, you've got barbtries Jul 24 #9
This message was self-deleted by its author ShazzieB Jul 24 #18
Well stated! ShazzieB Jul 24 #19
Now, that's what I call a "GRAND" jury. Bravo. Ping Tung Jul 24 #11
This is why we need regular people to answer their jury duty summons! questionseverything Jul 24 #12
What is "no billing"? swong19104 Jul 24 #13
It takes three seconds to find on Google's DeepMind AI: ancianita Jul 24 #15
Thanks for asking. Nittersing Jul 24 #23
but... but... I thought they could easily indict a ham sandwich nuxvomica Jul 24 #16
Jury nullification SCantiGOP Jul 24 #22
And don't forget, in more recent times, slightlv Jul 24 #40
Good! JustAnotherGen Jul 24 #26
Is it "jury nullification" or a righteous reaction to "trumped up" charges? Midnight Writer Jul 24 #27
Jury nullification! We need more of this! ck4829 Jul 24 #29
Excellent republianmushroom Jul 24 #30
Ikr, once in a while, regular people win! questionseverything Jul 24 #32
Yup and it does ones heart good when it happens republianmushroom Jul 24 #33
Does this mean that Trump can get his NoBill prize? usonian Jul 24 #31
that had me NJCher Jul 24 #42
I live for word play. usonian Friday #44
I don't think this is nullification, that happens if jurors believe the defendant technically broke the law questionseverything Jul 24 #34
I have never bought the canard that a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich. TomSlick Jul 24 #35
Can anyone here look at that photo BidenRocks Jul 24 #36
Excellent proud patriot Jul 24 #38
Good! The real criminals are ICE and the Trump administration! Initech Jul 24 #43
What does "no-bill" mean? Grumpy Old Guy Friday #45
No indictment, so they walk hatrack Friday #48
Kick Passages Friday #47

CaliforniaPeggy

(154,649 posts)
1. I am so pleased to read that some grand juries are refusing to indict Ice protestors.
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 10:44 AM
Jul 24

This is an excellent move for justice.

May it only continue!

popsdenver

(91 posts)
20. Agree CP
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 01:58 PM
Jul 24

but knowing Trump and his CABAL, they will take this as a challenge to their authority, and next time will have their own bus ready to transport those arrested, directly to the airport where they will have an "Air-Con" plane standing by, and them flown to a detention center totally under MAGAot control like Florida......

It is like they have us by the cojones. Trump is just waiting for a demonstration, (even if it is not violent, but peaceful), so he can enact the Insurrection Act, to ignore the Posse Comatus Act, and activate the entire U.S. Military against the citizens by authorizing Martial Law. across the entire nation.....

And with this Epstein thing gaining legs and not just going away, he is already grasping at straws to divert attention from the Epstein/Trump thing.

Reagan....(Actually HWBush) was a pro at that. Every time he was cornered, and they needed to divert attention, he would deflect attention by doing some BS thing, like an Invasion of Granada.....

Oh, and CP......love your posts......thx

barbtries

(30,614 posts)
25. not a supporter of the death penalty,
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 04:45 PM
Jul 24

but i won't waste any tears if it comes to pass. all the people they have killed and plan to kill. i sometimes think about mussolini hanged upside down in the public square and think that's too kind of a fate for these fascists.

JustAnotherGen

(36,000 posts)
28. I think a slow fade away
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 04:50 PM
Jul 24

At Gitmo or Alligator Alcatraz would suffice. And serve as an example to the maga pub Confederate electorate to sit down, shut up, or you're next.

NJCher

(40,843 posts)
41. or saddam coming up from his hidey hole
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 11:48 PM
Jul 24

that's what brings me relaxation and joy.



However, the slobfather is in such poor health that if he had to go to a hidey hole, it would become his grave in about 20".

JustAnotherGen

(36,000 posts)
46. I know folks are laughing at his cankles
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 07:15 AM
Friday

But my mom was diagnosed with LEWY Syndrome in early 2024'- then died June 5. She was with me for a few weeks in May - and I had to make sure she kept her feet up and iced.

He has all of the markers of the heart failure.

gfarber

(62 posts)
7. Grand Jury
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 11:38 AM
Jul 24

Bill Essayli, a prosecutor so grand,
Had a case that he couldn't get planned.
He told his young crew,
"Ignore what you're due,
And do what Pam Bondi's command!"

Young Bill, a prosecutor so grim,
Had a case that looked awfully dim.
"Ignore the DOJ!" he cried with a scoff,
"And get those indictments! The cuffs won't come off!"
But the grand jury balked at his whim.

twodogsbarking

(14,655 posts)
8. Wait, they are trying to deny justice to people who are not Trrumpers. That is a no no no. No.
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 12:14 PM
Jul 24

Last edited Thu Jul 24, 2025, 03:13 PM - Edit history (1)

ShazzieB

(21,217 posts)
17. I would put it a little differently.😉
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 01:40 PM
Jul 24

They are trying to do INjustice to people who are not Trrumpers. And Grand juries are saying, "That is a no no no. No."

barbtries

(30,614 posts)
9. so, you've got
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 12:16 PM
Jul 24

purported "victims" who are violating the Constitution and reported "perpetrators" who are upholding it by exercising their First Amendment Rights.

easy decision. the wrong people are being prosecuted.

Response to barbtries (Reply #9)

ancianita

(41,183 posts)
15. It takes three seconds to find on Google's DeepMind AI:
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 01:02 PM
Jul 24
In criminal law, a "no bill" from a grand jury is a significant decision indicating that the evidence presented against a defendant is insufficient to justify a trial. It's also known as a "not a true bill".

A grand jury's role is to assess whether there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed, not to determine guilt or innocence. A "no bill" signifies that the grand jury didn't find enough evidence to establish probable cause.

The immediate consequence of a "no bill" is that the criminal charges are dropped or dismissed. The individual is not formally charged and is spared the need for a trial.

It's crucial to understand that a "no bill" is not the same as an acquittal or a finding of innocence. It simply means the prosecution lacked sufficient evidence at that particular time

Grand jury proceedings, including a "no bill" decision, are usually kept confidential to protect the reputation of individuals investigated but not charged. This means the defendant might not even learn the specific reasons behind the grand jury's decision.

In essence, a "no bill" is a positive outcome for the person being investigated as it halts the criminal proceedings against them, at least for the present. However, it's not a definitive exoneration and carries the possibility of a future indictment if new evidence comes to light.

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=What+is+%22no+billing%22+from+a+grand+jury%3F%3F&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

nuxvomica

(13,496 posts)
16. but... but... I thought they could easily indict a ham sandwich
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 01:05 PM
Jul 24

So I guess all those so-called "railroaded" indictments of Trump et al were actually legit.

SCantiGOP

(14,557 posts)
22. Jury nullification
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 04:05 PM
Jul 24

That was routinely practiced mid-1800’s by Northern juries when people violated the law by assisting escaped slaves, and many college town juries, like Ann Arbor and Berkeley, would refuse to indict or convict Viet Nam protesters or those who refused draft notices.

Midnight Writer

(24,404 posts)
27. Is it "jury nullification" or a righteous reaction to "trumped up" charges?
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 04:49 PM
Jul 24

A lot of these ICE arrests seem to be peaceful, lawful protesters being victimized by over-aggressive and poorly-trained deputized thugs.

Do the authorities in these cases have any evidence that the protesters went beyond their First Amendment Rights?

usonian

(19,391 posts)
44. I live for word play.
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 12:06 AM
Friday

Just posted in the "Why are Thomas' English Muffins so darn good?" thread in the lounge.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10182204164

Spoiler:
Because they have crooks and nannies, like an Avengers' episode.

A French teacher explained it in French.

A play on words is "Jeu de mots laids" (play on ugly words),
which sounds almost the same as
"Jeu de mollets", which is playing with legs 🦵

questionseverything

(11,124 posts)
34. I don't think this is nullification, that happens if jurors believe the defendant technically broke the law
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 05:11 PM
Jul 24

But the jury feels they had a right to do so ( could be for a variety of reasons)

What we have in the article, no true bill means either the jury didn’t believe a crime was committed or didn’t believe the defendant was involved in the crime.

Sadly when I served on grand jury duty, one time we returned a no bill and the prosecutor just took it up with the next grand jury (like 2 months later), and remember grand jury only look at felonies so these were serious crimes people were accused of

TomSlick

(12,624 posts)
35. I have never bought the canard that a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich.
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 05:46 PM
Jul 24

The truth is that the probable cause (or as lawyers say probably because) standard for an indictment is low.

The grand jury can be an important check on prosecutorial over-reach. It all depends on how seriously the grand jury takes its responsibility.

That said, failing to get an indictment is a bad day for a prosecutor. They will be offered a lot of ham sandwiches.

Initech

(105,789 posts)
43. Good! The real criminals are ICE and the Trump administration!
Thu Jul 24, 2025, 11:57 PM
Jul 24

Yet they are the ones that keep insisting "no one is above the law". Well, neither are they! Nor are their ass kissing propaganda channels! Justice will come for them soon.

hatrack

(63,138 posts)
48. No indictment, so they walk
Fri Jul 25, 2025, 07:26 AM
Friday

As noted above, it's a big "Fuck ALL y'all!" to Shitstain's goons.

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