Dotcom Extradition Judge Steps Down After “U.S. Enemy” Comment

enigmax
July 18, 2012
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MegaUpload
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The New Zealand judge handling the extradition case of Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has dramatically stepped down from the role. Speaking at the NetHui conference last week, Judge David Harvey had voiced his feelings on the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, describing the United States as “the enemy”. Accepting that the comments could lead people to question his impartiality in the case, Harvey has surrendered his role.

For the greater part, Kim Dotcom and his co-defendants will have been pretty happy with Judge David Harvey, the man overlooking their increasingly controversial extradition case.

Things had been going well, with the Judge ruling favorably towards the Megaupload founder and his friends on a number of occasions, but last week he apparently overstepped the mark.

It happened during the NetHui conference after the launch of “Fair Deal”, a campaign opposing amendments to New Zealand copyright law that could become part of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. In common with ACTA that went before it, TPP negotiations are being held in secret and being used by the U.S. entertainment industries to push for tougher copyright law.

One of issues surrounds the circumvention of DVD region codes which currently allows New Zealanders to watch DVDs from other regions without committing an offense. TPP seeks to remove that freedom, and Judge Harvey made it clear he wasn’t happy with that.

“Under TPP and the American Digital Millennium copyright provisions you will not be able to do that, that will be prohibited… if you do you will be a criminal – that’s what will happen,” Judge Harvey said, adding:

“..we have met the enemy and he is [the] U.S.”

Quickly, NZHearld quoted Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge describing the comment as potentially “unhelpful” but clearly the pressure has been building since.

This morning, Chief District Court Judge Jan-Marie Doogue announced that Judge Harvey had decided to step down from the case over the comments.

“He recognizes that remarks made in the context of a paper he delivered on copyright law at a recent internet conference could reflect on his impartiality and that the appropriate response is for him to step down from the case,” she said.

Over the past few months, Judge Harvey has ruled several times in favor of Dotcom and his co-defendants.

Back in April, he praised Dotcom and his associates on their “commendable” behavior, going on to reinstate Dotcom’s Internet access, his swimming sessions, and visits to a recording studio to finish his album.

He went on to grant Mathias Ortmann, Bram van der Kolk and Finn Batato permission to travel to Dotcom’s home once a week for a maximum of six hours so that they could work on their defense.

And in May and against U.S. wishes, Judge Harvey ordered the disclosure of all documents related to crimes the “Megaupload conspirators” had allegedly participated in.

The extradition case, scheduled for 2013, will now be heard by Judge Nevin Dawson.

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Guest

Another good human being bites the dust thanks to Big Brother.
- Sketch
  
  bonehead, he was a judge, I.E. a lawyer….therefore by definition…..NOT A GOOD PERSON.
  - ScrewEwe2
    
    Which is a more honorable occupation, a lawyer or a used car salesman?
    Both tend to lie in the trades that they ply and both can cause a good man to die.
    - ScrewEwe2
      
      I’m also wondering how much wood a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Be interesting to know. :-)
    - http://twitter.com/CrystalTierney1 Crystal Tierney
      
      he knows it wont be over untill well afters he’s dead… and he wanted to retire sometime in the near future. http://AlluringWay.blogspot.com
    - Redy
      
      A woodchuck would chuck as much wood as a wood chuck could chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood.
  - Danny
    
    Judge != Lawyer
    
    Judges by definition should be impartial. Its only in America where they take huge backhanders which wavers their impartiality.
    
    Obviously this Judge has done the right thing as a Judge by stepping down if there is a conflict of interests.
    - Bananas
      
      people are not impartial, that’ s just not possible
    - Eriken
      
      @c16dc9cdef59f2186c6e847730c48d76:disqus
      
      We are all well aware of that. That doesn’t mean that we can’t or shouldn’t hold judges to a standard of impartiality. People can be impartial to certain issues, and can maintain an impartial attitude despite preexisting beliefs. By stating his views publicly, the judge has shown himself to have fulfilled neither of those criteria in this case, and therefore does not meet the standard of impartiality we place on judges.
  - FinalApokylypse
    
    I don’t know where you are from but a judge is not a lawyer. He is an impartial (meant to be) part of a court. Unlike the lawyers who are out to win the case for their clients even if they know they’re guilty and using whatever tactics to get to their result. By definition not all lawyers are “BAD PEOPLE” too, even if there is a trend to being that. That’s like saying all Nazi’s were bad, which I assure you was not the case.
    
    Also the justice system in NZ is completely different to that of the US. Suing is prevalent there, here I don’t even think you can, at least not under normal circumstances..
    - Eriken
      
      I have a hard time thinking of lawyers as being naturally bad people. The job does tend to attract/create bad people, but the job they are supposed to do, assuring that absolutely everyone gets a fair trial under the legal system, is inherently noble. Even the man defending the client who he believes to be guilty can have a good purpose, ensuring that the man is only judged by the legal system, after being given the same chance to fight the charges as anyone else. I know that it doesn’t always (or usually) work this way in practice, particularly when you get high amount of money and expensive lawyers in play, but I can’t fault the profession of criminal/civic trial lawyer for its own existence.
      
      Also, I’m not sure what you mean by here and there in your last paragraph, because I don’t know where here and there are? Are you saying that people can’t sue in NZ or in the U.S? I ask because I know suing to be prevalent in the U.S., and I was under the impression that NZ has a problem with it too.
    - Jeff The Kiwi
      
      No, I live in NZ and you can not sue
- yello
  
  heck, the judge just wanted to get off the case, he knows it wont be over untill well afters he’s dead… and he wanted to retire sometime in the near future. lol
- Anon
  
  This isn’t Big Brother’s fault, it’s the judge’s own fault. He was presiding over a case where the US was involved and he said “we have met the enemy and he is [the] U.S.”; imagine if he has said “we have met the enemy and he is cyberlockers like MegaUpload”, we would be calling for him to be taken off the case, and rightly so.
  
  The fact is that judges must appear impartial to all parties involved, and if you go around claiming that one of the parties involved in one of your cases is “the enemy”, you have a really hard time appearing impartial.
  
  There’s no one to blame but the judge himself in this case; he should have known better.
  - Guest
    
    But the US is the fucking enemy. They orchestrated an illegal raid, they’re refusing to return data they illegally copied with no legal basis for their refusal, leaked diplomatic cables revealed that the US government bullies other countries(Spain, for example) to obey Hollywood’s copyright demands, and the list goes on and on.
    
    Judge David Harvey is stepping down not for showing impartiality but for speaking the truth, and that is all kinds of fucked up.
    - Guest
      
      Whoops, make that not for showing partiality
    - Eriken
      
      The raid has not been shown to be illegal in a court of law, a court hasn’t decided that the data must be returned, and New Zealand remains an ally of the United States, so they don’t hold the legal status of enemy.
      
      The judge’s impartiality means that they are supposed to hold a neutral view of everything that isn’t proven to the extent the law requires. And despite what the truth in the matter is, it hasn’t been proven in a court. It hasn’t been proven before the law. He violated impartiality by speaking on something that hasn’t been legally proven. That’s all there is to it.
- Eeewfwfwewefw
  
  Its his own fault.
  I don’t care how angry you are/how strong your feelings – If everybody’s hearing your voice, you better chose your words carefully.
  - Guest
    
    “Political correctness” and euphisms are the scourge of honest people everywhere. I don’t care how much of a scared little shit you are, so what you fucking mean.
- No1_2_u
  
  I agree.
  
  From his comment, & decisions he’s made in the DotCom case, Judge David Harvey, seems to have a cristal clear understanding as to what the US is doing, & how they are breaking all the rules in order to get their way.
  
  Maybe in a moment of frustration Judge Harvey spoke his mind (a very normal Human reaction when one clearly see the mountain of shit before their eyes); unfortunately, because of the burden of impartiality judges need in order to perform their duties, he had to pay the price for his public comment.
  
  We ALL have said things we shouldn’t have said; Judge Harvey seems like an honest man, I wish I could meet this guy in person & buy him a beer, or whatever it is he prefers to drink.
- FreeBSD
  
  he has a big mouth, that’s why this happened.
Anon1

This can either be a good or a bad thing. The new judge might be as good or better at handling the case, but more likely he’ll be in the MAFIAA’s pocket and fuck up Dotcom’s chances of winning.
- ScrewEwe2
  
  I agree, this could be good or bad for the case.
Guest

He didn’t step down on his own, he was forced to step down, we all know that! How much more of this corruption do we have to bear before some heads are chopped?
- Danny
  
  He should have and did. Judges are supposed to be impartial, dumbass.
  - Rekrul
    
    Yeah, most of them impartially bend over for the government…
    - Danny
      
      You are mixing the US judicial system compared to the rest of the western world and fail miserably.
  - Guest
    
    lol. So what about all those judges who presides over these cases and have significant ties to the copyright industry?
- Guest
  
  He made comments that clearly established his views on the case prior to hearing evidence and exposed preexisting notions that will determine his ruling. After having proved that he lacked impartiality in this case, he knew that it was his job and duty as a judge to step down. He said as much himself.
  
  Tell me, do you think he should have continued to preside over the case after his comments? Do you think that such a destruction of the impartiality of the legal system is acceptable when it benefits your cause? I do hope not, because that destructive idea is what gave us the worst parts of the Mafiaa, and I would not like to see any of us pursuing their methods.
  - Guest
    
    “Tell me, do you think he should have continued to preside over the case after his comments?”
    
    Yes.
    - Guest
      
      Why? Because it helps your cause? Because violating the system of justice is OK if it gets you what you want? Because the law shouldn’t apply to us? What’s the reason?
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chingonas0

Kay lets be serious. No one gives a shit till Dotcom has Megaupload up.
http://jasonwryan.com/ jasonwryan

A correction: Judge Harvey was a keynote speaker at NetHui, a three day conference organized by Internet New Zealand. The Fair Deal campaign was launched during the conference, but so were other (non copyright or trade related) initiatives. To suggest that the judge was speaking at the launch is a misrepresentation – they ocurred on separate days…

Incidentally, his decision to stand down was both correct and honourable; he would not want the judicial process to be tainted by perceptions of bias. New Zealand is lucky to have jurists of his calibre and integrity serving on the bench.
- ErnestoTF
  
  Thanks, will edit the article to make clear that he was speaking at NetHui,
- http://torrentfreak.com/ Rob8urcakes
  
  I agree 100% Jason. Judge Harvey was perfectly correct to stand down after being quoted “on record”, and it is indeed a HUGE indication of his own personal honour & integrity that he did stand down. This action also shows he holds the NZ legal system in the highest regard and has the utmost respect for it.
  
  I’m sorry to see him go but his error was saying in public what he said. And that alone was fatal. The fact that he didn’t anticipate the backfire may even be sufficient enough to raise questions as to his judgment and level-headedness.
  
  Other folks posting here at TF who say he’s been nobbled by the MAFIAA and is now in their pocket are 100% wrong and utterly nuts.
  
  I see from a search for “Judge Nevin Dawson” that he’s already heard and ruled on parts of Kim D’s case, eg see http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/megaupload-founder-kim-dotcom-released-on-bail-7291565.html
  
  So he’s already au fait with the Megaupload case. Whether or not that’s a good sign, only time will tell. But according to the news report I linked to he did release Kim D from jail and put on bail -
  
  “North Shore District Court Judge Nevin Dawson found that the German-born
  Dotcom
  no longer posed a significant flight risk because, as far as the court
  was aware, he wasn’t hiding any money or assets that could help him flee
  the country….”
  - FinalApokylypse
    
    He is supposedly considered an expert on copyright law. The way I interpret comments like the one he made is that America has an opposing stance to him on a specific issue.. While that issue is loosely linked to the MegaUpload case I would argue it would not be relevant to his impartiality on the case. Having said that, I do respect his decision to leave the case and I can understand how there could/would be perceived bias. So, disappointed to see him step down, he clearly was up to the challenge of understanding the case and making good decisions on that information.
  - Violated0
    
    Judge Harvey under the rules only needed to step down if he showed a biased opinion on the Kim Dotcom extradition case. He did not mention that case and his words were only about TPP-A.
    
    So stepping down was not needed. I expected he was pressured to do so by the DoJ/FBI/NZ authorises. And so we have a lost a good Judge who made many good calls on his rulings.
    
    There is no good in him stepping down when comments about TPP-A does not change the law he correctly upholds.
    - Guest
      
      I normally agree with you, but I have to disagree with you. While his comment was made in the context of discussing TPP-A, it presented a much larger claim, that the United States was simply the enemy. Because the Kim Dotcom extradition case does involve the United States, his stated opinion on the United States does matter. He doesn’t have to mention a case directly to show partiality. A stated opinion that directly reveals his views on a matter important to the case can be enough to question his impartiality on the ruling he would make.
      
      I acknowledge that it is possible that his comments are being taken out of context, and it does seem likely that he faces external pressure to step down, but it seems that the decision ended up being his own, and I agree with him that it was, if maybe not completely necessary, still prudent.
    - Violated0
      
      This Judge’s comment was solely limited to TPP-A and then solely limited to the section that would make unlawful multi-region DVD players.
      
      Now had the situation been reversed and he said “We need tougher anti-circumvention laws and the US is our friend on this” then no one would have cared any despite a complete opinion reversal. Would you have expected him to step down for a pro-US comment?
      
      While this personal comment was quite unhelpful on the NZ/US diplomatic front but this does not in any way mean this Judge cannot support the DoJ & FBI should their acts uphold NZ law.
      
      All we have hear is one Judge who is very aware and skilled on both the technology and copyright fronts making him perfect for this case. Then like millions of other people he is very concerned about new laws like SOPA, PIPA, ACTA and TPP(A).
      
      Well considering all this shit pouring out of the USA then are they not the enemy of our Internet Freedom by proposing a realm of increased censorship? A Judge is certainly allowed a personal opinion and this does not affect his job of upholding the established law.
- Anon
  
  And yet judges who side with, and even run Copyright cartel organization, continue on their cases without problems. How weird is that?
  - Truth
    
    I was thinking the same thing. It is very strange that judges (in some countries) who are active affiliated members of anti-sharing, commercially sponsored, groups partake in patent/copyright trials. And even specialise their entire life in this one narrow, lucrative, area of law..
    
    And they never speak out publicly against copyright/patent monopolies, but they do so publicly support anti-sharing groups. And they are never asked to step down, because these “groups” help give them corporate insight, apparently. And that is totally OK ?!?!?
    - Guest
      
      It isn’t OK, but until it gains more public notice, it won’t change.
    - Guest
      
      As could be seen with TPB case where the judge in the trial and then the judge hearing the appeal had ties with the copyright industry.
    - Bananas
      
      In my country that would not be possible. The judge would have to step doen by himself ot foreced to.
- Anonymouse
  
  He should show his bias as did the judge in The Pirate Bay Case it would be good to have someone on our side for a change.
Guest

Why are judicial personnel defending alleged pirates honourable enough to declare their affliations and willingly step down, yet judicial personnel prosecuting alleged pirates never ever declare their own affliations to IP maximist organisations, and continue to allow driftnet tactics in suing people?

You can’t fight fire without fire.
Guymcintosh

Jews are the enemy
- ArtyBoy
  
  Jesus will never be my enemy.
  - Guest
    
    Jesus is a figment of your imagination.
  - Guest
    
    An imaginary fairy tale character isn’t able to be your enemy.
    - Eriken
      
      I’m not so sure. I’ve been struck by lightning three times, but ever since I stopped blaspheming against the thunderlord Thor, I haven’t been struck again. Coincidence? I think not.
    - Anyone
      
      that’s Zeus, not Thor
      
      my Thundergod > your Thundergod!
    - Eriken
      
      Zeus is a pussy, and Thor could take him down anytime.
- Anyone
  
  I like juice
- Stopford8
  
  grow up
- Guest
  
  The “Jewish conspiracy” is a distraction to keep us from turning our attention to the real enemy, namely greedy businessmen who bribe greedy politicians to draft and pass corporate dictated legislation, and bury their hooks in the justice system.
  
  But no, no, please keep blaming the amorphous legion of Jews. I’m sure it makes the likes of Chris Dodd and Joe Biden sleep much easier at night to know that crackpots are swinging at the wrong target.
Jimbo

i wonder if this was in fact a ‘set up’? you can bet a dollar his replacement wont be ‘as impartial or neutral’ as he was.
Anonymous

Pirate Bay gets tried.
Judges are copyright advocates.
Everyone complains.
Complaints are ignored.
Injustice.

Megaupload gets tried.
Judge doesn’t like copyright.
Nobody complains.
Because he already recused himself.
Justice.
- Violated0
  
  Yes I was thinking about the TPB trail as well. Those Judges were so far up the Copyright Cartels anus that they would need to be crapped back out. Then I recall I proved back then that the Judges who ruled that the original Judge was not biased where in fact biased themselves.
  
  I would not go as far to say that the ruling was wrong but all the acts seen before and during the trial was completely shameful and should not have been allowed.
- Guest
  
  Actually, it’s not even that Judge Harvey doesn’t like copyright. It’s that he correctly identified the bully as the US.
LOT

Sad News what makes a person of thought with experience say something out of place such as he did it’s shame to lose someone in the fight against this plaguing corporate evil influencing their corruption world wide, Sickening our only course of action in the near future will be to sack these corps in the true sense of the word SACKING.
angelo

I guess his error was intentional so that he could step down. He probably was coherced to do that. We’ll only be sure when we see the new judge’s rulings. Most likely, he will reverse some of the previous rulling and US will win.
Violated0

Well this is a great shame when he was doing a great job, and he was doing nothing wrong, and he was following the law correctly.

Most people are very concerned about TPP-A when it can harm people’s current freedom. The USA is behind ACTA and TPP-A so it is fair to say that the U.S is the enemy of people’s freedom.

Judge David Harvey did not say anything about the Mega trial including Kim Dotcom where that is where he could have a problem. So I am very surprised he would step down on this case.

All I see here is that the DoJ and FBI does not like Judge David Harvey due to his many rulings against them. So this one anti-USA comment was what they hoped for to put pressure on the NZ Government so they pressured the Judge to step down.

I can only believe we should take action to have him step back up UNLESS he has a VALID reason to step down.
Guest

I guess you aren’t allowed to talk about the bloody truth if it concerns the holy world police? Hell, it wasn’t even in a court room. He said that at conference.

I bet someone told him to step down…
- Guest
  
  He’s a judge, it doesn’t matter where he says it. He’s supposed to be impartial. We all know judges aren’t actually impartial, but it’s the manner they are legally expected to carry themselves in at any time where they are in public.
  
  Someone probably did bring up the matter of stepping down to him, but from all the evidence we have, including what he has said on the matter it seems rather clear that the decision was his own.
  
  Think about it like this; if we hate it when judicial bias is used against us by the Mafiaa, then we have no excuse arguing for the use any form of possible judicial bias for our own ends. The judge made the right decision in stepping down. The Mafiaa perverts justice enough on its own; we should be glad this man decided to keep the impartiality of the justice system intact.
Dupe

never happens when the ‘possibility of bias’ is pro copyright. just look at the arse hole judge that presided and ruled in TPB trial. you couldn’t have found anyone more bias, yet he didn’t volunteer to ‘step down’, nor was he forced to! i smell a fucking great rat here, in the guise of the US government!!
GUEST

MegaUpload isn’t winning this one. You can’t fight a Government. Period.
- Guest
  
  lolwut
  
  You might want to take a look at history, bro.
Guest

Whats the betting now that the appeals that are going on with regards to the illegal searches/warrants etc. will now be overturned and will now be deemed to be legal.
- http://profiles.google.com/zerianis10 Christopher Kidwell
  
  I doubt it. Another judge cannot go back and ‘overturn’ a previous judges decision, only a higher court judge can do that.
SirkMang

Its pretrty obvious this kangaroo court judge has been bought and paid for. Its the American way lol.

Need-Anon.it.tc
Guest

Whats the betting also that the the evidence that has to be disclosed before extradition will now be overturned and stated that the evidence no longer has to be disclosed before extradition and that the extradition is valid.
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Fuckyourshit

Stupid Judge. 1st rule of Interaction with the public: keep your mouth shut. You can think all you want, you don’t SAY IT OUT LOUD. Especially when the PSA (Paranoid States of America) are involved.
ThumbsUpThumbsDown

What’s that coming over the horizon?

The war between Corporate Copyright Distributors and dissident File Sharers teeters on a balance: Perhaps we can’t see that balance, but we can see its effects reflected in the overwhelming legislative defeats of PIPA, SOPA, ACTA, CISPA, and, hopefully, TPP; and, also, in the severe difficulties that the American Prosecutor of MegaUpload is facing getting his judicial wish list met within New Zealans’s Judicial System.

On one hand, there’s the Judiciaries.

On the other hand, there are the Legislatures.

Between them is the fulcrum that will determine Kim DotCom’s and MegaUpload’s destiny; and, the destinys of Important Civil Rights protecting Individual Citizens from concentrated Economic and Political Power in the Western Democracies.

Kim DotCom and MegaUpload are now fighting within the Judiciary for survival; but, ALL of what falls within the scope of War between Corporate Copyright Distributors and dissenting File Sharers will ultimately be addressed by the Judiciaries.

Kim DotCom, MegaUpload, and File Sharers in general, have a very good chance right now to prevail on the basis of EXISTING law within the Judiciaries and, in so doing, set new very different standards for a more socially responsible non-corporate future management of Intellectual Property.

Yet, there’s the other side of that fulcrum thing. If the history of Corporate Copyright Holders proves one thing, it is that they are much better than Individual Citizens at imposing their needs as Law within the Legislatures.

The Legislatures are either where Rights are granted, or where they’re taken away.

Under Corrupt Laws, even Good Judges will make Corrupt decisions.
Rekrul

The rulings will now start to go against Dotcom and the others.
- Violated0
  
  Well at the current time these cases are only in the lower court system and due to current appeals it is likely they will one day end up in the Supreme Court.
  
  Unfortunately by this stage awareness of modern technology tends to be lost, under a more draconian copyright stance, which is exactly what the DoJ and FBI are hoping for.
Neil

That comment was so stupid, especially for a judge that I can only conclude he deliberately shot himself in the foot so he could be replaced with a more ‘friendly’ judge.
I see the future for Judge David Harvey and it contains a large brown envelope.
- Guest
  
  Or, it was just a comment made in passing by someone who didn’t consider the ramifications of his actions. People make mistakes, particularly when dealing with things they are passionate about. The comment was stupid, perhaps, but we have no evidence to suspect bribery.
  - Neil
    
    My tin-foil hat won;t let that possibility in.
Zato77

Oh dammit, that’s really a shame. It seems this was a reasonable man.

Read this:

“New Zealanders need to involve themselves in a forthcoming review of
copyright law or they will “suffer what the conglomerates and
corporates” hand to them, says a District Court Judge.

Speaking from the audience at yesterday’s NetHui conference, Judge David
Harvey said copyright concerned everybody and urged people to become
interested.

“We have to be interested in this, because if we aren’t then we’ll be
told what will happen by the big, vested interests. I would urge you to
put your views forward in the 2013 review of the Copyright Act, because
if you don’t then you will have to suffer what the conglomerates and
corporates give you,” Judge Harvey said.”

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10818963
Lostinlodos

um, censorship?
A judge points out FACTS in the case and is called to step down? Sorry all you from AU, but you have now shown your legal system can be just as corrupt as the US’
End of discussion.
- Eriken
  
  He called a major world power an enemy. From the point of view of the law, that’s not a fact, it’s an opinion. It can be true outside, but the law doesn’t see the U.S. as an enemy until it is proven, and it’s not proven until demonstrated in a court of law.
  
  He pretty much told the public how he would rule. How would it not be corrupt to keep him presiding over the case?
  - Guest
    
    Try telling the 2 judges who oversaw the TPB trial and then the appeal about corruption presiding over the case when both judges had ties and connections to the copyright cartel in question. Should they have not stepped down on the grounds of impartiality.
    - http://profiles.google.com/zerianis10 Christopher Kidwell
      
      Good point, Guest. Yes, they should have stepped down and this judge should not have stepped down.
    - Eriken
      
      Yes, they should have stepped down, just like this judge did. That they didn’t step down is an affront to justice, and it should be the focus of an effort to declare a mistrial.
      
      Let me ask you a question now. Since we know that the copyright cartel violated justice by keeping corrupt judges presiding over the case, does that make it acceptable for us to not want the judge who sides with us to step down when he reasonably should? I don’t think it does. Their crimes against justice wouldn’t excuse ours if we decided to do the same.
- https://twitter.com/#!/OffensivAtheist bismarket
  
  Isn’t it New Zealand?
http://www.socialvideogaming.com/ SteveO GameO

who would have guessed.
think he should have shut up and just done his job. would have been better for the outcome.
- Anon
  
  That’s not fair. He was trying to stand up for the people in his country by telling them about the dangers of the TPP-A agreements on copyright being handed down from corporate interests. As a New Zealander, I am grateful that he alerted my attention to it.
  
  I agree that it may have been better for justice in the courtroom if he not even gone to the NetHui but he was trying to do the right thing and I am glad he did. What is happening with dodgy trade deals in our country is important, too.
  - http://www.socialvideogaming.com/ SteveO GameO
    
    you must not let your personal feeling get in the way of the law
    he might not think its ok but thats not his job to say if it is ok or not his job is to judge based on the law in place.
    
    we all must do our part to change the law and make sure new laws are by the people for the people. We the people have been failing on that and need to step up a lot more on that.
guess

hhmm… interesting, specially if you contrast it with the trial/case in Sweden with the pirate bay founders, NZ expressing comments that can bring into question your impartiality on a case your presiding over = step down from said case, Sweden having strong links to the copyright industry while sitting on a case related to copyright = no conflict of interest or impartiality and not having to step down from said case….
ftusa

Fuck them, what did the USA do to him? Bribe him, threaten him? URRGGHH. MAKES ME SICK.
- Vincent Giannell
  
  More like criticize him.
http://nsputnik.com nsputnik

The judge is right. The United States with their terrible foreign policy, IP policy and their lack of respect for the sovereignty of any country should be seen as threatening. The
United States Government is the enemy of the world. It is a shame this judge had to step down.
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steve nicholson

DAMNIT im american and I know the judge is right!
Neotoasty

Well the irony is, is that U.S is making itself an enemy and is too stubborn to admit it. The only problem is that if anyone goes with the “U.S is an enemy” then the U.S would be dumb enough to be like “Whut?! Bomb ‘em! BOMB NOW!”

God I hate how this world is bending over backwards for this shit of a country that is the USA.
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Eddy

I will say this cause its what I think…I may be a conspiracy theorist [I'm not even American].

This judge was doing a great job, wasnt swayed by US corporation bullying tactics and HAD TO GO…so now he has gone.
The bullies can get a judge in who they want….and the decision they want..?
Think again fellas..this is New Zealand not the US, fair play still works here, not the dollar. ;)

Later guys :)
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Monster

Why he would make that comment is fucking crazy! he had the opportunity to take a stand against this dog & pony show and blew it. Now the case will be in some other judges hands and who knows what fucking side they’re on!
- https://twitter.com/#!/OffensivAtheist bismarket
  
  Couldn’t have put it better. What’s even more annoying, is that when the Judge/s involved with the last Pirate Bay trial were accused of the same thing (but from the other side) they refused to step down. Sometimes conspiracies exist & i’m starting to wonder.
Desu1

The US is the enemy.
http://profile.yahoo.com/XKKMTSZCAGWAGUKJUPHSYRVBTU Ellen

NZ population must be proud of they politicians giving NZ ass to US make a bang
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