Hefty U.S. marshals guarded the entrances to Chicago's Federal Building, searching every package carried in and jostling anyone who did not move quickly enough toward the elevators. Other officers patrolled the aisles on the 23rd-floor courtroom. The black defendant sat chained to his chair by leg irons and handcuffs, emitting muffled obscenities toward the bench through a gag of muslin and tape. The jack-in-the-box jury scurried in and out of the chamber at the judge's direction, as outburst after outburst turned the proceedings into a bitter farce.
Dr. Benjamin Spock dropped by, but District Court Judge Julius Hoffman declined an invitation to meet him. "My children have grown," deadpanned Hoffman. Sometimes part of the gallery was packed with Black Panthers shouting "Right on!" in support of their gagged, chained chief, Bobby Scale. When the Panthers left, their places were promptly taken by silent old men wearing tiny paper American flags in their lapels.
None Rise. Despite the nightmare setting, this was no play by Jean Genet. It was, in fact, the deadly serious trial of eight radicals charged with conspiring to incite the riots that occurred during the Democratic Convention in Chicago last year. Convinced that they will be convicted, the defendants deliberately defied normal courtroom etiquette. All refused on at least one occasion to rise when Hoffman left the court, and several addressed the court at will. They claim not to be looking beyond the present trial, but much of their high jinks seems aimed at laying the basis for future appeals or having a mistrial declared. Their tactics are identical to those used on the streets during the convention riots; they seek to provoke Hoffman in the same way that demonstrators baited Chicago police into overreaction.
Ringleader in the disruptions was Defendant Seale. Since the trial began six weeks ago, he has consistently demanded his right to cross-examine witnesses. He contends that he is without legal counsel because his preferred attorney is recovering from an operation. Hoffman argued that Seale is adequately represented by William Kunstler, a lawyer for the other seven defendants, who earlier had filed as Seale's counsel.
The dispute has led to repeated attempts by Seale to address the court and Government witnesses. He has hurled such epithets as "pig," "racist" and "fascist" at Judge Hoffman. At one point, the judge said: "I admonish you, sir, that you have a lot of contemptuous conduct." Seale rejoined: "Let me admonish you for being in contempt of the people's constitutional rights." Hoff man then warned Seale that the court had the authority to chain and gag him. "Gagged!" Seale replied. "I'm already railroaded." Finally, at midweek, Hoffman had had enough and ordered Seale restrained with handcuffs, leg irons and a gag.