Amero

A By-product of the Julie Amero Case

The group of experts who pooled their talents in a volunteer effort to aid the defense of Julie Amero have set up a website that hopes to address the myriad issues that afflict teachers, parents, schools, business, and others who get trapped in the legal system.

Region 19 BOE Gazette

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of others who are in the same boat as Julie Amero.

Our purpose here is twofold: First, to bring attention to those situations where injustice is being done through the misuse or misunderstanding of computers and computer forensics; and second, to prevent future injustice wherever we are able.

The Julie Group

Amero, former Norwich substitute teacher, has been granted a new trial in light of fresh forensic information.

Assistant State’s Attorney David Smith had argued in her first trial, that the evidence was “clear cut” Amero was at fault because she caused the pornography to appear on the computer.

Today, Smith said the state would take no position on Dow’s motion for a new trial, making it unlikely Amero will be tried again. Smith acknowledged erroneous information about the computer was presented during the first trial.

The Hartford Courant.
Rick Green
Amero Granted New Trial

Amero’s case became a hot issue for bloggers throughout the country, many of whom sharply criticized the guilty verdict. Strackbein criticized the bloggers today, saying they tried to “improperly influence” the court.

Say what…….

You may recall it was reported that the judge, Hillary Strackbein, was seen falling asleep during proceedings and made comments to the jury that she wanted the case over by the end of the week. Rather ironic at this point.

Someone had to be awake at the gate.

Brian Krebs from The Washington Post Substitute Teacher Granted New Trial in Porn Case

Is it over?
Alex Eckelberry, Some comments on the Julie Amero case

Norwich Bulletin

Originally scheduled for Friday in Norwich Superior Court, sentencing is now set for June 6 in New London Superior Court. It is unclear at this time at who requested the postponement.

{ 0 comments }

Julie Amero was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in Norwich Superior Court. However for the third time since March, sentencing has been postponed, now set for May 18, 2007.

The request by Assistant State’s Attorney David J. Smith, who prosecuted the case, was signed by Judge Hillary Strackbein.

“The state has not completed a full examination of all the issues which may affect its position at the sentencing hearing,” was Smith’s written explanation.

You may recall it was reported that the judge, Hillary Strackbein, was seen falling asleep during proceedings and made comments to the jury that she wanted the case over by the end of the week. Rather ironic at this point.

The Hartford Courant reported that the sentencing of Norwich substitute teacher Julie Amero has been postponed until April 26, 2007 and that the state’s attorney gave no reason in asking for the delay.

One could surmise that increasing press, driven by the blogosphere, is turning up the heat on Connecticut state officials.

Sighting: Connecticut news reporter with a sense of humour.

The Hartford Courant.
IT Pros Say It Ain’t So
March 2, 2007

Rick Green writes:

The angry geek gods of the computer world are besieging Norwich, shredding the credibility of a community on the verge of sending an apparently innocent woman to jail.

For this, every teacher in Connecticut should be thankful. Because if a Superior Court verdict in Norwich isn’t tossed out and there’s a computer with uncertain protection in your classroom, you’d better worry.

Article

Eset’s ThreatBlog
Director of Technical Education Randy Abrams, wrote an essay February 15th 2007, titled “Can a Legal System Unversed in Technology Result in a Fair Trial?”

Copyright © is the original authors.

Julie Amero

From the Norwich Bulletin.

The former Norwich substitute teacher convicted of exposing her seventh-grade students to Internet porn is getting extra time to bolster her defense team.

Superior Court Judge Hillary Strackbein agreed Monday, court documents show, to postpone Friday’s sentencing for Julie Amero, 40, the Windham woman convicted last month on four counts of risk of injury to a minor. Her sentencing will take place March 29 in Norwich Superior Court, where she faces 40 years in prison.

From the header on Daniel Axelrod’s blog:

My goal is to give readers the news they crave from the local schools.

Axelrod is the Norwich Bulletin’s education reporter who previously wrote a rant on his blog condemning Julie Amero.

Paperghost writes:

He eventually pulled his blog entry, but this didn’t really solve anything. So in the spirit of public enquiry, I left the following comment on his blog yesterday:

“So, why DID you remove your poorly written rant about Julie Amero?”

Well, knock me sideways with a bag of angry monkeys - everything has been pulled and his blog now only contains one entry!

Vitalsecurity Article

Attorney John Cocheo, who defended Amero last month during her trial in Norwich Superior Court, said Wednesday he has enlisted aid from New Haven attorney William Dow before the March 2 sentencing and the appeal process. Amero faces up to 40 years in prison.

“He’s one of the top lawyers in the state,” Cocheo said of Dow.

A formal request for a postponement will be submitted to Judge Hillary Strackbein, he said, to allow Dow time to become familiar with the case. He expects a response by next week.

Article: Norwich Bulletin

The Julie Amero Tragedy (PDF)
By Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D.