A federal judge in Idaho recently overturned the 1995
convictions of 12 wilderness activists on the charge of violating a
road closure in the Cove-Mallard area (HCN, 9/2/96). District Judge
Edward Lodge ruled that when the Forest Service closed roads to the
Jack Creek sale, it infringed on the First Amendment right to
petition the government for a redress of
grievances.
The 12 protesters all served jail
sentences ranging from seven to 20 days.
“It’s a
pretty major victory,” says cleared activist and Cove-Mallard
Coalition staffer Mike Bowersox, 33. He says it means the Forest
Service “won’t be able to use closures to suppress our ability to
monitor what they’re doing on public lands.”
*
Sarah Dry
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Idaho activists win one.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
