Place: Court House at Reston, Virginia

Date: March 17, 1793

Presiding Judge and Prosecutor: Abe Foxman

It was small court house by post-Revolutionary War standards. Every seat in it was taken. Heck, this was the most excitement around these parts, since old Patrick Henry had said, "Give me liberty or give me death."

The defendant, James P. Moran, was a popular local delegate to the House of Burgesses, in Williamsburg. He had been in office for several terms. Most of the voters really liked him. They called him, "Big Jim."

Defendant Moran was asked to stand by Judge Abe Foxman, who, strange enough, was from New York City, and not Virginia. He had arrogantly appointed himself as the delegate's judge and prosecutor.

Foxman announced that Moran was charged with two counts of wrongdoing. Under Count One, he had, "Injured the Zioncrats, (a politically active sect, known for its campaign fundraising abilities), by accusing it of covertly wanting a Virginia led war against the Iraqi Tribe, which was camped on the west side of the Blue Ridge." Under Count Two, Moran had further harmed the Zioncrats by insisting they had, "The power to stop this war from happening, if they wanted to do so."

Oddly, Moran was charged with crimes that weren't on the statute books or recognized under English Common Law. It was an alien kind of experience for the defendant, and the locals, too. They thought as Virginians, that their new federal Constitution, (co-drafted by James Madison, himself), and Bill of Rights, (inspired by Thomas Jefferson), were supposed to protect them from the wrath of any arbitrary authority. They were wrong! There was a new menace threatening their liberties.

Foxman declared a jury wasn't needed in the matter, "since his private organization, 'The Zioncratic Protective League,' had absolute jurisdiction in any case of this type." The Zioncrats also owned the local newspaper. It had been running a series of vicious editorials, even before the trial began, roundly condemning Moran for being a "conspiracy kook." It had also branded the peace protesters in town, "as appeasers."

When Judge Foxman finished his remarks, a man, later identified as Ariel Sharon, an unhinged member of the Zioncrats, stood up. He screamed, "We don't need any trial. Moran is guilty and he should be taken out and hanged! In fact, everybody that lives in his district should be subjected to collective punishment. They are all guilty. They are all terrorists and terrorist supporters. Reduce their homes to rubble."

Well, that violent outburst was too much for Moran's friend, Captain John Marshall. He rose up in righteous fury, as he had done so many times in the Revolution War, as a Continental Army officer. He took Sharon by the back of his pants and swiftly ran him out of the court room and tossed him into the street. He told him, "Don't come back into this court room. It belongs to the people of the sovereign state of Virginia."

Windbag Sharon, who was used to bullying teenagers, dusted himself off. Like all cowards, he refused to fight anyone his own size.

The bold action of Marshall, who was later to serve as a chief justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, unnerved Foxman. It had also liberated the crowd, that seemed to have been mesmerized. Foxman barked at them, "Order in the court or I will call out Sheriff Joe Lieberman!"

Then, another of Moran's friends - George Mason, a young lawyer - roared defiantly back at Foxman, "Who are you to sit in judgment of a citizen of our Republic? Who gave you any of the judicial power of our government? What right to you have to intimidate our elected representative from speaking out on issues of war and peace?"

Foxman, a weasel of a man, was stunned by the questions. No one in any of the 13 new states had ever dared to address him in a confrontational manner. Moran then spoke. "As a delegate, I have every lawful right to my own opinions. Everyone knows that there are Zioncrats, neocons, in this government, who have been cunningly urging a war with the Iraqis. This powerful group must be exposed. And you, Sir, and that propaganda sheet, too, have no right to vilify me or people, like me, who are opposing this unjustified war. The Zioncrats are not above our laws."

Foxman, red-faced, said the court would "adjourn until tomorrow morning." He then quickly exited out the back door, followed by a very angry crowd. The last time, the so-called "judge" was seen, he was running out of town. The locals were right on his tail, shouting "down with the wire pullers," while carrying their tar and feathers, along with a long rail.

"Big Jim" Moran was the last elected official that was ever brought to trial to answer such dubious charges, before such a bogus court and a rogue judge. The reason was simple: Once the American people got their Yankee Doodle Dandy up, the wire pullers knew the game was over!

William Hughes is a Baltimore attorney and the author of "Andrew Jackson vs. New World Order" (Authors Choice Press), which is available online.

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