Editorials

Partial verdict reached in Earth First! case

By Chris Nichols Daily Planet Staff
Tuesday June 11, 2002

Jurors on Monday reached a partial verdict in the Bari vs. FBI and Oakland Police Department trial and could reach a final judgment today.  

The 10-member jury in the case accusing the FBI and OPD of framing and violating the civil rights of environmental activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney, delivered the verdict to Judge Claudia Wilken who instructed jurors to try to agree on some unresolved issues. 

For 16 days the jury has tried to reach unanimous verdicts on the more than 160 questions. 

Wilken indicated that she would keep the jurors no later than 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday unless Wilken decides that additional time would allow the jury to reach a unanimous decision on the remaining issues.  

If no additional time is given, the verdict is expected to be read some time between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.  

Supporters of Bari and Cherney expect a large turnout for the verdict reading. A verdict today could mark the end of more than 12 years of events and controversy surrounding the 1990 car bombing of Bari and Cherney.