• Posted on Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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Appeals court upholds sanctions against 'birther' attorney Taitz

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California attorney and "birther" proponent Orly Taitz must pay $20,000 in sanctions, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.

In the two-page decision, the appeals court said that after considering Taitz' arguments, "we find them unpersuasive and therefore affirm the district court's sanctions judgment." The ruling was issued Monday.

Taitz' appeal stems from a suit filed on behalf of Capt. Connie Rhodes, who argued in September that Barack Obama's presidency wasn't legitimate and that she shouldn't be deployed.

U.S. District Court Judge Clay Land dismissed that suit Sept. 16, telling Taitz that she could face sanctions if she ever again filed a "frivolous" suit in his court. Taitz then filed a motion for emergency stay, and Land gave her two weeks to explain why he shouldn't sanction her $10,000.

On the deadline, Taitz, who no longer represented the captain, responded with a motion to recuse Land from the case and a request to extend her deadline. Land denied the motions and sanctioned her $20,000. He later ordered the U.S. Attorney’s Office to collect.

Taitz appealed to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. She has said that she has no intention of paying.

Read the complete story at ledger-enquirer.com

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