Federal Judge Rejects Motions To Dismiss Trial Against Convicted Murderer Kopp

U.S. District Judge Richard Arcara on Thursday rejected all defense motions to dismiss the upcoming federal trial against convicted murderer James Kopp and ruled that Kopp cannot discuss his antiabortion views during the trial, the AP/Jackson News-Tribune reports (Thompson, AP/Jackson News-Tribune, 12/7). Kopp in 2003 was convicted under state second-degree murder charges and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for murdering Buffalo, N.Y., abortion provider Barnett Slepian in 1998. In the upcoming trial, he faces charges of violating the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act. The federal charges could carry a sentence of life in prison without parole. Kopp's former attorney, John Humann, had filed a motion to suppress Kopp's confession to the murder despite Kopp's objection. Kopp subsequently made a request to represent himself, which Arcara granted in May. Prosecutors had asked Arcara to prohibit buttons or T-shirts displaying abortion-related slogans in the courtroom. They also attempted to prevent Kopp from explaining his reasons for opposing abortion, describing the experiences of former abortion patients and how fetuses develop or showing the jury pictures of aborted fetuses (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/19). Arcara ruled that Kopp cannot discuss his antiabortion views or offer abortion-related photographs or testimony because they are irrelevant (AP/Jackson News-Tribune, 12/7). Arcara has tentatively scheduled the federal trial for Jan. 3, 2007 (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 7/19).

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