Closing arguments begin (September 17, 2007)
Much like a sold-out theatrical performance, the courtroom was packed on September 17, 2007. It was filled with many awaiting the fate of five Palestinian-American men and their families — including defense supporters, government officials, media members and even a courtroom artist. Two months into the Holy Land Foundation trial, the United States government began […]
Defense attorneys rest their case (September 11, 2007)
Jurors scrolled their eyes across the defense table on Tuesday, September 11, 2007, as each defense attorney stood up and rested their cases on behalf of their clients. The jury’s eyes moved toward prosecutor Jim Jacks who announced that the government closed their case without a rebuttal. The jury then looked at U.S. District Judge […]
Defense’s fifth witness testifies (September 10, 2007)
A modern-day Albert Einstein was called to the witness stand on Monday, September 10, 2007 as the defense’s fifth witness. His gray hair was a little shorter and neater than the 20th Century physicist, yet his mustache and his intellect were similar to that of Einstein. The witness, Nathan Brown, is a professor of international […]
Three defense witnesses in one day (September 6, 2007)
Prosecutors walked out of the courtroom with their heads down on Thursday, August 6, 2007 after defense attorneys presented to the alert 15-member jury the long-awaited truth of the Holy Land Foundation.
Second defense witness testifies (September 5, 2007)
They seemed exhausted, yet thrilled. As the 15-member jury walked out of the jury box in two neat rows on the late afternoon of Wednesday, September 5, 2007, some grinned so wide that their pearly whites became visible. Why the joy? They had just been told that after almost seven weeks of the Holy Land […]
First defense witness testifies (September 4, 2007)
There were no mid-day snoozes on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 as jurors got a crash course on the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and its heartrending impact on the Palestinian people. The jury frequently nodded and leaned forward to listen to the testimony of the first defense witness — former United States diplomat Edward […]
Government rests its case (August 30, 2007)
It wasn’t a dramatic moment on the afternoon of Thursday, August 30, 2007. Some jurors nodded their heads while others gave small sighs as U.S. government attorney Jim Jacks quickly pushed his maroon leather chair back, stood up and said, Your honor, ladies and gentleman of the jury, the government will now rest its case. […]
FBI agent testifies a 3rd day (August 29, 2007)
Greg Westfall, defendant Abdulrahman Odeh’s attorney, stood tall in a dark suit and black cowboy boots on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 as he continued cross-examining FBI agent Lara Burns. Many in the courtroom — including the 15-member jury and U.S. District Judge A. Joe Fish — seemed relieved when prosecutors announced that the government could […]
Last witness continues testimony (August 28, 2007)
One juror had a runny nose while another constantly doze off. As the sixth week of the Holy Land Foundation trial continued on Tuesday, August 28, 2007, the jury seemed weary. But they also seemed hopeful because they were told that the government could rest their case before the end of August.
Last government witness testifies (August 27, 2007)
With her light gray suit and her pasty face, FBI agent Lara Burns was called to testify a second time on Monday, August 27, 2007 as the U.S. government’s final witness. The jurors stretched, yawned and stared at the clock as Burns continued to repeat her previous testimony and talk about issues of which she […]
