You figured things might go bad for Tom Owens when he stared blankly at the judge and asked, “What’s that mean? Pro se?”
DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Cynthia Becker explained to the county commission candidate that it meant he was acting as his own attorney. Pro se is Latin for “’Y’er on your own, bud.”
Owens sees himself as a crusading figure and is running to replace former DeKalb Commissioner Elaine Boyer, who is headed to the pokey for filching tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars.
But Owens has a problem: George Chidi, a fellow who's a bit of a crusader himself. Citizen George is a former newspaperman turned blogger/activist. In a scathing article this month for online Peach Pundit, he said Owens is a scary man with a history of stalking and irrational behavior.
Owens, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound bear of a man, and a Vietnam vet to boot, says he's the one who's in fear. In fact, Owens was so frightened that he got a temporary restraining order on Chidi to keep the muckraker 100 yards away from him as he went about campaigning. Owens claimed Chidi sidled up to him at one forum and vowed, "I'm going to destroy you."
At first blush, the idea of a candidate for office convincing a judge to issue a temporary protection order against a journalist (albeit a newfangled one like Chidi) just seemed like more crazy DeKalb nonsense. I even teased Chidi (who used to work for the AJC) that he soaks up crazy like a Brawny paper towel.
But then it sank in that there was Something More at Stake!!! Political candidates could get compliant judges to issue restraining orders against any reporter they didn’t like. That would insulate the candidates from having to ignore embarrassing questions in person.
And the next thing you know, the Washington Post, the Georgia First Amendment Foundation and the Society of Professional Journalists were all holding up George Chidi as a journalistic Norma Rae. The case even became a question in a campaign debate between the candidates for Georgia attorney general.
Wednesday’s court hearing was as nutty as one imagined it might be. Owens rolled in with a handful of wing men to serve as witnesses to Chidi’s threatening antics. But it was immediately clear that Owens had no barrister in him, causing Judge Becker, who is known for being testy, to speak to him like a firm, but kindly, kindergarten teacher. Finally, the judge took over for the struggling Owens and questioned his witnesses herself.
Five minutes into the hearing, Owens told the judge, “I’d give him an interview if he’s not out of control or obnoxious and gets in my face and says ‘I’m gonna destroy you.’”
“People can be obnoxious, Mr. Owens; I’ve run for office,” the already weary judge responded. “Obnoxiousness is not worthy of a protective order.”
Owens’ team presented a videotape to show Chidi’s aggressive stalking. Instead, it portrayed Chidi as a frustrated journalist showing up at a forum to confront a candidate who was avoiding him.
The courtroom’s overhead video screen wasn’t working, so the parties involved huddled around the judge’s bench to watch the video on a laptop.
The video showed Chidi confronting Owens and then shouting questions at him as he retreated. Then Chidi told a bystander, “I’m just trying to be a responsible journalist, and part of that is ensuring him I give him every opportunity to answer the questions.”
Owens’ cameraman (yes, he has one) then cut off the tape, but Chidi’s lawyer, Tom Clyde, asked that the video keep playing. Clyde, who represents media companies, including the AJC, in First Amendment cases, was representing Chidi for free.
The tape showed Chidi being confronted by Owens’ friend Joe Newton, who is somewhat of a rabble rouser himself. Newton called Chidi a “gadfly” and a “fool.” An offended Chidi spat back, “Don’t call me a fool. You’re a coward because you won’t identify yourself.”
Newton then called Chidi a “violent Muslim,” causing an incredulous Chidi to respond, “My goodness, you’re substantially worse than (Owens) is.”
At this point, the look on Judge Becker’s face spoke louder than words: “How’d this steaming pile of a case end up on my bench?!”
Becker then went on to rule in Chidi’s favor, saying he was afforded First Amendment privileges and tossing the restraining order.
Outside the courtroom, Owens and Newton complained about the decision. “She’s taking Chidi’s extreme version of the First Amendment over those of us who want respectful debate,” Newton said. “She has destroyed public debate.”
The Owens’ forces licked their wounds for maybe a minute and then asked where District Attorney Robert James’ office could be found. They were angry that it looks like Boyer, the disgraced commissioner, will get county pension money. They wanted to urge James’ staff to file state corruption charges to stop that from happening.
Ten minutes later, they were bending the ear of a young and perplexed prosecutor.
On to their next battle.
About the Author
