20 January 2022

'Don't you dare': sovereign citizen protesters cause chaos in court

| Albert McKnight
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Woman leaving court

The woman, whose name is unknown, leaves court after placing a large folder on Magistrate Beth Campbell’s bench. Photo: Albert McKnight.

Three people apparently tied to the sovereign citizen protests at Old Parliament House have brought chaos to a Canberra courtroom, including when one approached the magistrate and plonked a voluminous folder down in front of her, which was met with a yell of “don’t you dare” from the bench.

Elder Bruce Shillingsworth appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday (20 January), charged with a count of trespassing on Commonwealth premises.

He, along with a woman also joining him in the courtroom, had been in court earlier this month to support alleged protest ringleader Bruce Shillingsworth Jr, who is accused of being linked to the Old Parliament House fire.

READ ALSO Police move to clear ‘sovereign rights’ protest camp at Old Parliament House

The hearing had a confusing start. When Magistrate Beth Campbell asked if his name was Bruce Shillingsworth, he replied, “objection”.

“You may call him Bruce of clan Shillingsworth,” the woman supporting him said.

Mr Shillingsworth repeatedly yelled over the top of Magistrate Campbell, including saying there was “no jurisdiction”.

While Magistrate Campbell was writing, the woman walked from the gallery to the prosecutor and placed a large folder on the desk in front of her, then walked up to the magistrate and put a similar folder on the bench in front of her.

“Don’t you dare!” Magistrate Campbell yelled at her, knocking the folder off her desk.

Bruce Shillingsworth

Elder Bruce Shillingsworth leaves court to greet supporters on Thursday. Photo: Albert McKnight

Police were called and the woman was removed from the courtroom.

Mr Shillingsworth continued to yell from the back of the courtroom, including: “Let the record know you have now been served.”

“I haven’t,” Magistrate Campbell replied.

He continued to talk even after she completed the mention of the case and left the bench for the protesters to be removed from the room.

READ ALSO Fire at Old Parliament House condemned by Aboriginal Tent Embassy

“This kangaroo court doesn’t exist on this country,” he said once she’d left.

“We are the sovereign, original owners on this land.

“You have now been served.”

After being escorted outside, passing a large number of police near the courthouse’s entry, he was cheered by a crowd of supporters, including one who yelled, “they got no jurisdiction”.

Magistrate Campbell had said she would enter a not guilty plea to his charge in the absence of him indicating which way he would plead. The matter was adjourned to 5 August.

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Australia does not have a bill of rights

Capital Retro8:23 am 23 Jan 22

I hope that “voluminous folder” was searched thoroughly by security.

JetFuelstein7:11 pm 22 Jan 22

I wasn’t expecting any insightful commentary here; the average Canberrans education on the Magna Carta & Common Law is pretty non-existent people ACTUALLY think the Government has arbitrary powers to detain you based on not following health directives. If you think that is how law works you just may have drank the Cultural Marxist Kool-Aid.

That being said these protesters have no idea what they’re talking about either.

Wouldn’t that depend on whether not following the health directive was made an offence. If it is made an offence, then wouldn’t the crimes act then be used to apprehend for that offence?

JetFuelstein8:17 am 14 Feb 22

As long as they do not conflict with our Constitution, Bill of Rights, the Manga Carta or the common Law – Mask & Vaccine mandates do conflict and therefore would require a referendum.

James-T-Kirk10:23 am 21 Jan 22

Heck yes!!!

Remove their government benefits.

Remove their licences.

Treat them like aliens.

Close their Australian Bank accounts.

Remove their constitutional protections.

Let the Hunger Games begin.

May the odds be ever in their favour.

Ocumus Prime9:22 pm 20 Jan 22

I wonder if they have applied for or receive any government payments/benefits?
No. Surely not, that would be amazingly ironic and they would definitely of protested it.

5 August is a long time for us to wait to see if Bruce of clan Shillingsworth receives a custodial sentence to prove
that the Court actually does have jurisdiction.

Finagen_Freeman5:59 pm 20 Jan 22

All that’s missing is the tinfoil hat!

sovereign citizen poses for pictures whilst clan member of clan blah leaves with capitalist Mach-bag and environmental killer single-use plastic bottle, no doubt purchased using crown coins.

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