A Setback for Dan Choi - Judge Rules Against Choi's Selective/Vindictive Claim

The case between Dan Choi and District of Columbia doesn't look so good.

Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that Choi can't claim he was targeted for “selective” or “vindictive” prosecution from his White House/DADT arrest.

Washington Blade reports:

In a 17-page decision, Chief Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia overturned an earlier ruling by Magistrate Judge John Facciola that allowed Choi’s lawyers to pursue allegations of selective or vindictive prosecution in the trial, which began Aug. 29.

Lamberth’s decision, among other things, granted a petition by prosecutors for a Writ of Mandamus, a formal and unusual request challenging a ruling of a trial judge by appealing to a higher court or to another judge with greater authority.

Under Lamberth’s decision, Facciola is prohibited from “considering selective or vindictive prosecution as a defense to the merits of the prosecution,” prohibited from “allowing evidence as to either claim” and barred from entertaining any motion filed by Choi to dismiss the case based on selective or vindictive prosecution.

Facciola is presiding over a non-jury trial in which Choi is being prosecuted for a misdemeanor charge of disobeying a lawful police order to disperse from the White House fence. Although the prohibition against Choi’s use of a defense based on selective or vindictive prosecution is a blow to the defense, one of his attorneys, Norman Kent, said Sunday that the defense will move forward on other grounds and that Choi’s defense team remains confident that Choi will be found not guilty.

Choi was the only one of a group of protesters arrested during the November 2010 protest that did not agree to plead guilty to the charge in exchange for having the case dismissed if they weren’t arrested again at the White House within a four-month period.

Through his attorneys, Choi has argued that he had a constitutional right to handcuff himself to the White House fence.

I'm confused. He broke the law and he was the only one who claimed 'not guilty' . It feels like this case would move forward in this manner. I don't think the White House have time to personally attack Choi. However, Choi should have realized the stakes for playing this type of hand.