Judge Enters Not-Guilty Plea for Angry ‘Freemen’ Follower

Over furious protests, a federal judge Monday entered a not-guilty plea for M. Elizabeth Broderick, the Palmdale woman charged with mail fraud and conspiracy for an alleged phony check scheme inspired by the Montana “freemen.”

“I object! I want to protest!” cried Broderick, shackled and clad in a blue jail jumpsuit, as U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Block entered the plea during her arraignment at the federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles.

Two codefendants, who also say they are outside the jurisdiction of federal courts, similarly objected as Block entered their not-guilty pleas.

Broderick, 52, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of mail fraud and conspiracy for allegedly distributing $120 million worth of bogus checks to thousands of people who attended her antigovernment seminars in Lancaster.

A member of the burgeoning “patriot” movement, which holds that the federal government has declared war on its citizens, Broderick claims to be a virtual bank who can write checks backed by liens she has lodged against the government. She charges up to $200 admission to her seminars, at which she distributes forms that are good for one check.

Broderick says she is answerable only to a court of her like-minded peers. Against Block’s advice, she refused an attorney Monday and insisted that she had the right to be represented by a Tucson tax resister who is not a licensed lawyer.

“I am a common-law sovereign woman of the land. I am not a U.S. citizen,” Broderick said. “I feel very defenseless in this war court.”

Broderick said she could not understand how the United States of America could bring charges against her. “Who’s this clown, the United States of America? I need to know who’s coming against me--the IRS or the IMF [International Monetary Fund].”

When Block explained that the United States of America and the U.S. are the same entity, Broderick and a supporter in the audience shouted: “Objection!”

“In my opinion,” Block said, “you’d be better off if you were represented by a trained lawyer.”

“There’s going to have to be a higher power to decide this case than any human being,” Broderick replied. “I’m not guilty of anything! This court has no jurisdiction to even be talking to me!”

As Block told her he would enter a not-guilty plea on her behalf, Broderick warned him that that would be a crime. When Block entered the plea, Broderick began to object repeatedly.

“Sock it to him, Elizabeth,” a supporter in the crowd whispered.

Also arraigned were two Broderick disciples, also charged with conspiracy and mail fraud: Barry Switzer of Canyon Country and Julian Cheney, a Reseda chiropractor. Both quietly objected to Block entering their not-guilty pleas.

Two other codefendants in the case--Adolph Hoch and Laura Marie Hooey, both of Moreno Valley--did not attend the arraignment due to medical reasons. Hooey, who is eight months pregnant, is free pending $25,000 bail, and Hoch was in custody at an undisclosed medical facility after complaining of chest pains. They are scheduled for arraignment on fraud and conspiracy charges next week.

Trial is set for June 18 in federal court.