Every inch of all eight wooden benches was occupied Tuesday, July 24, 2007 when the long-awaited Holy Land Foundation trial began. Among the attendees were many supporters of the defendants, law students, journalists and other anxious individuals. A little past 9 a.m., U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish started by reading brief instructions to the jury. The indictment is not evidence, so don’t treat it as such, he said.
After a week of individual interviewing, a diverse jury was selected on Friday, July 20. The jurors are about one-third Hispanic, one-third White and one-third Black. Eighteen individuals will sit in the jury box throughout the trial, but only 12 will deliberate. The other six are alternates. Let's pray that the jury will be fair and impartial.
On Monday, July 16, 2007, jury selection for the Holy Land Foundation trial will begin.
Family members of the defendants in the Holy Land Foundation case launch FreedomToGive.com to educate the public about the charity, the families affected by the government's actions and why this case is a threat to every American's First Amendment rights.
