Monthly Archives: January 2011

Closing Arguments — 27 January 2011 Last Thursday’s oral arguments brought Jarvis Master’s evidentiary hearings almost to an end.  (Almost, because there is still one more expert witness for the petitioners/defense scheduled for 15 February.)  Judge Duryee had asked both … Continue reading →

21 January 2011 Jarvis Masters’ evidentiary hearings reached a kind of conclusion around noon, after nine days of testimony.  The first planned witness, a former prisoner and ex-gang member implicated in the Burchfield attack, was not called.  In the housekeeping … Continue reading →

20 January 2011 Today’s hearing was uneventful, which is not necessarily bad.  There were not a lot of us in attendance — about 14 or 15.  And a smaller crew of corrections officers guarding Jarvis.  A lot of the questions … Continue reading →

18 January 2011 The courtroom was packed again this morning.  The day began with some drama.  Court was in session as we took our seats, and there was palpable tension. When the hearing broke last Thursday, the witness (call him … Continue reading →

I’ve been studying on Martin Luther King Jr. for the last decade — reading his sermons and speeches, examining his actions and strategies, and mourning his loss. As much as any person of the 20th Century, he is my dharma … Continue reading →

Morning and afternoon all the visitors’ seats were filled.  There were about thirty Jarvis Masters supporters at today’s hearing, and a large group of corrections officers.  It felt like the hearings had gathered momentum, as the Jarvis Masters legal team … Continue reading →

Another short day.  Today’s witness was a current inmate, 40 years into a “life without parole” sentence for murder/robbery.  For many years, this inmate — very articulate — had been a regional prison gang leader in California’s prisons, transferred around … Continue reading →

Good friend, teacher, dharma sister Darlene Cohen/ Surei Kenpo/Great Spirit Manifesting Dharma, died at home in Guerneville, CA at 1:15 this morning. Her passing was graceful and painless, surrounded by family and those who love her.  Darlene’s husband Tony says … Continue reading →

I am beginning to do some local readings in support of my new book The Bodhisattva’s Embrace: Dispatches From Engaged Buddhism’s Front Lines.  Reviews are coming in and they are very positive.  Tyson Casey’s piece in “Turning Wheel” and two thoughtful … Continue reading →

10 January 2011 The hearings continued today in the surreal surrounds of the Marin Civic Center. Jarvis Masters’ team called three witness. The first was co-counsel for defense at the original trial. His testimony was very brief, and, to me, … Continue reading →