Man who distributed FIJA fliers outside courthouse's "free-speech zones" sentenced to 5 months prison

By Anthony Colarossi / The Orlando Sentinel
BostonHerald
Jul. 28, 2011

ORLANDO, Fla. — Roofing contractor Mark Schmidter learned the hard way Tuesday what can happen when you defy the administrative orders of Orange-Osceola Chief Judge Belvin Perry.

Following a trial Tuesday, Perry found Schmidter guilty of "indirect criminal contempt" for violating two such orders. One deals with handing out pamphlets outside the courthouse aimed at influencing jurors. The other prohibits First Amendment activities outside specially designated "free-speech zones."

Perry sentenced Schmidter, 64, to roughly five months in the Orange County Jail — 141 days for violating his first order, regarding jury pamphlets, and 151 days for his second order, regarding free-speech zones. The sentences are concurrent. Perry also handed him a $250 fine for each violation. [...]

"I think it’s totally absurd to put someone in jail for 151 days for passing out a leaflet," Sudbury said after his client was sentenced and escorted from the courtroom in handcuffs. "Mr. Schmidter’s rights are not going to be determined here in the Ninth Circuit."

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