Legal Actions

At the request of counsel for the defendants, the hearing on the contempt citation had been postponed until Friday morning, March 1. On Thursday, union attorneys filed a petition to have the matter shifted to federal district court, arguing that the injunction violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments, the rights of free speech and due process of law. On Friday morning, Chancellor Robert Hoffman refused to relinquish jurisdiction voluntarily, but did grant a continuance until Tuesday, March 5. On Friday afternoon, the federal court refused to take jurisdiction. Subsequently, the leaders were given sentences of 10 days in jail and $50 fine in state court. They were freed pending appeal.