The State : Anti-Abortion Activists Lose

Despite a tearful, Bible-quoting closing argument by a defense attorney, a Fresno Municipal Court jury deliberated less than 30 minutes before convicting six anti-abortionists of various charges in connection with a demonstration at a local abortion clinic last March. Defense attorney Cyrus Zal said he was not surprised by the convictions because he said Judge R. L. Putnam took away the defense’s main argument when he ruled that Zal could not use a “necessity” argument that the trespassers had acted to prevent a greater evil--the alleged killing of babies. “In effect, the judge made the decision for the jury,” Zal said. Ignoring several warnings from Putnam that he would be in contempt of court if he continued the “necessity” defense in front of the jury, Zal included in his closing argument a tearful reading from the Bible about innocent children going to heaven. The six defendants could receive as many as 18 months in jail and be fined up to $3,000.