$40K Bond Miffs OpenCHRG Crowd

At OpenCHRG.com, Mary Souza isn’t happy with Judge Benjamin Simpson’s decision to require that Jim Brannon post a bond of $40,000 to continue in his lawsuit to overturn his five-vote loss to incumbent Mike Simpson. She called the decision “arbitrary” and “stunning” and insists in a headline to her latest post that you need $40,000 to buy justice in Coeur d’Alene. Quoth Mary: “His action appeared random because the number was apparently plucked from thin air, as we all watched, without reason or rationale given by the judge.” Indeed, Huckleberries hears that the OpenCHRG crowd was out in force to cheerlead for Brannon and his attorney Starr Kelso Tuesday in Simpson’s courtroom. Few of us who followed this case were surprised by the bond Simpson is ordering. However, I was a bit surprised by a statement in Mary’s post that attorney Kelso is working for free. That would be interesting, if true. And would explain how Brannon has been able to continue this far. For more reaction from Brannon’s supporters, you can use this link to read Mary’s complete post here .

• Update: Brannon could pay even more
• Judge raises Brannon bond to $40,000

Question: Were you surprised by the size of the bond that Judge Benjamin Simpson ordered in this case?