Judge overturns conviction of woman arrested for laughing at Jeff Sessions

Code Pink activist Desiree Fairooz made headlines after she got arrested during now-Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing. She was charged with “disorderly and disruptive conduct.” Her crime? Laughing. 

She wasn’t the only person to laugh during the proceeding, which is why it was so surprising that her case went to trial, which ultimately ended in a conviction in May. Fortunately, a DC judge threw out that conviction based on the government's argument. HuffPo reports:

Chief Judge Robert E. Morin of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia tossed out the guilty verdict on Friday because the government had argued that the laugh alone was enough to warrant the verdict.

Morin said it was “disconcerting” that the government made the case in closing arguments that the laughter in and of itself was sufficient.

“The court is concerned about the government’s theory,” Morin said. He said the laughter “would not be sufficient” to submit the case to the jury, and said the government hadn’t made clear before the trial that it intended to make that argument.  

Unfortunately, things aren't completely over for Fairooz just yet; Judge Morin ordered a new trial. Tighe Barry and Lenny Bianchi, two fellow Code Pink activists who were also arrested and tried, were found guilty. They will be able to avoid jail time but have to pay fines.